From carpentry to e-commerce How did a small craft business become an international industrial group employing almost a thousand people in less than a century?
Demeyer has grown and evolved greatly over the years, from self-employed craftsman to leading furniture manufacturer on the European market. While it has remained loyal to its fundamental principles, the family dimension and the same basic business (furniture), it has also undergone many deep changes. It has demonstrated over time its formidable ability to adapt to the markets, methods and evolving consumer trends. We are proud to tell you about its history…
An entrepreneur with a free spirit. In 1909, Lucien Demeyere decided to work independently as a joiner and cabinet maker. He married Clémence Charlet in 1910 and founded his first company ‘Lucien Demeyere’ at 90, Rue de la Prévôté in Pérenchies.
The Demeyere brothers answered an advertisement to make sewing machine bases and signed a contract with Coppenolle in Lille.
They produced a thousand items per month.
The principles that would mould the company were already apparent: a family firm, an immense ability to evolve while remaining in the same field of expertise and a desire to innovate.
The workshop did not escape the destruction. The couple went to live in Paris, where Lucien Demeyere worked alongside a decorator, Mr Decour.
Lucien and Clémence Demeyere returned to Pérenchies and Lucien created ‘Demeyere Frères’ with his youngest brother.
They specialised in timber framing.
The two brothers decided to separate their clientele into two distinct entities: Lucien Demeyere kept the factory in Pérenchies and Léonard set up a factory in Normandy.
At 71 years old, Lucien Demeyere handed over the management to his son Pierre. He was appointed CEO and diversified the activities by importing particle board panels. This radical change happened at the same time as a second transformation: the automation of the veneering process.
The company supplied all the furniture manufacturers in the region and had nearly 100 employees.
Bernard was appointed CEO, marking the start of the third generation at the head of the company. Turnover was high and the time had come for large industrial investment to enable the company to continue to grow.
Demeyere began producing flat-pack furniture and acquired the skills of paper decor printing..
The company was hit by a big fire that destroyed the entire factory. The Demeyere family turned this accident into a chance to considerably modernise the production unit and installed assembly lines to be able to mass produce simple and affordable furniture..
Furniture by Demeyere was now being sold abroad. The company positioned itself for distribution throughout the world.
Meanwhile, the company continued a policy of wide industrial investment: several new production and storage units were opened.
An investment of 9 million Euros was made in order to double the production capacity.
Frédéric Demeyere, Pierre's youngest son, was appointed CEO. He set out the new strategy for ‘fast furniture’ and stressed the importance of responsiveness, quality, design, innovation and customer service..
Customers have always been at the centre of our considerations. A new warehouse was built to meet the needs of our distributors more effectively. Turnover was around 130 million Euros.
A new building was constructed on the same industrial site in the road the original company had been created.
Demeyere Group is European leader and one of the largest French exporters in the furniture sector. It provides genuine French know-how and products that are contemporary, innovative and affordable.
The company produces up to 30,000 products per day and exports both in Europe and to major export markets.
Safari Group is a moroccan family group, operating for more than 80 years in various fields of activity divided between wood and wood-based materials processing industry, distribution and services.
The Group counts more than 3500 employees and has a turnover of 650 million euros.
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