User:MOVITEX SAS/sandbox

Movitex is a French mail order company specialising in fashion. It markets the Daxon and Balsamik brands. Its headquarters are located in Wasquehal in the Nord département of France. Movitex is one of the founder members of the SolidarCité charitable organisation.

Creation of Movitex
Originally a millinery business, Movitex was founded in 1947 by MOrand and VIciot, a TEXtiles company from the Ain département of France. Taking the first few letters gave the brand its MO-VI-TEX name.

In 1951, Morand and Viciot created triboelectric fibre (a kind of fibre that provides protection against cold and damp, with active heat being created by an undergarment rubbing against the skin). Named Thermovitex, these garments were originally sold in pharmacies.

In 1974, Robert Seynave bought the company from Morant and Viciot; this heralded the birth of the Daxon brand, and the start of ready-to-wear fashion.

The first Daxon catalogue for mature and plus size women featured lingerie and comfortable clothing to wear around the house (dressing gowns made from wool from the Pyrenees, housecoats etc).

Movitex joins the PPR (Kering) group
The company was bought by the Redoute group in 1983, incorporating the Printemps group in 1988. The Mail Order brands became known as Redcats (Redoute Catalogues).

In 1984, the Plus Size element was developed further with the creation of the Edmée de Roubaix brand, later re-named Edmée: it focused on low prices, large sizes and bright colours.

1991 and 1998 saw the birth of the Charmance and Celaia brands respectively.

In 1994, the Leers logistics site was opened.

Between 1991 and 2005, the role of chairman was held by Thierry Daigne from 1991 to 1996, by Pascal Duquesnes from 1996 to 1999, by Jean Pierre Glarmet in 1999 then by Benoit Cambier in 2005.

2002: launch of the Daxon.fr website. In 2009, the most 'senior' section moved out of the Daxon catalogue to become Atout Confort with the Atoutconfort.fr website. The brand offers products to help with hearing, sleeping, moving around more easily, relieving pain and making life at home more comfortable.

The Edmée brand ended in 2005, as the concept had never succeeded in reaching an acceptable level of profitability.

The current CEO, Jean-Joël Huber, took over management of the company in March 2011.

On 22nd March 2013, PPR changed its name to Kering. Kering aims to refocus on clothing and luxury, and is gradually moving away from the Mail Order brands. In November 2013, Movitex joined forces with the Ipsos Social Research Institute to launch the BALSAMIK fifty-something survey. The survey revealed the sociological phenomenon of fifty-something women with an adolescent outlook on life, self-confident women who feel the same needs and aspirations as when they were younger. These women love fashion, but have difficulty finding styles to suit them as they do not conform to the dictatorial standards of current trends. Balsamik therefore became a fashion brand for clothing designed to fit the true body shape of today's women.

Movitex and Movitex Sharing
In 2015, Movitex left the Kering group and the CEO Jean-Joël Huber took over chairmanship of the Movitex group and Movitex Sharing for the symbolic sum of one euro. The company was reorganised as part of the handover. The logistics site based in Leers was the subject of a joint venture with the Log'S logistics partner, forming LOG LEERS. Movitex Sharing is the Holding Company that owns the Movitex Group.

Following 45% of the capital being opened up to employees, as of 19th January 2015: 88% are shareholders (95% among executives) based on 100% of the workforce. The company is 55% owned by a Management Committee comprising six members: Jean-Joël Huber, CEO and Financial Director; Hélène Barbier, Human Resources Director; Valérie Van Tichelen, Offer Director; Gauthier Dhélin, Information Systems and Innovation Director; Rolland Errigo, Operations Director and Eric Sarrazin, Marketing Director.

Movitex currently has teams in Wasquehal (head office), Tourcoing and Bradford (UK).

Brands
Daxon BALSAMIK Atout Confort