Testimonial: the network approach, essential for a successful career

Would you please tell us a bit about yourself and your career background?

I’m a Kedger from the class of 1998, 44-years-old, married, and mother of 3 children. I have 23 years of experience, including 17 years in the home and decor sector, which I am passionate about. What has marked my career is that I've always been lucky enough to be at the launch of new activities, new businesses, and new brands.

I started my off career at DPAM, in children's fashion, with the launch its baby brand – clothing (0 to 12 months), baby care items, and all items of decor, including furniture, bath and bed linen, lighting, etc. I learned how to create collections, source partner suppliers to produce lines, buy and negotiate, create retail concepts, and the power of merchandising. When I left, we had opened 30 stores, with a turnover of 20 million euros.

I got into the decor industry in 2003. At first, I worked for two quality general decor brands (BtoB), where I set up their household linen departments:

• Côté Table It was the beginning of the trend for deco items and the height of the Maison & Objet trade fair. I took part in the brand’s launch for the Verceral group and, in particular, I developed the entire textile side. When I left, we had a turnover of 20 million euros with a very high margin which was 55% of the group’s 60-million-euro turnover.
• Pomax (a Belgian decor brand). I opened the product development office in France and oversaw its launch of a range of household linen, which was voted 2^nd in France in 2008 (turnover around 20 million euros). 

I then went to work for JJA, a family business that specialised in the imports of home goods. My job’s goal was to turn JJA into a brand manufacturer, with its own products and its own identity which were designed and developed in-house. I launched the interior design brand ATMOSPHERA in 2011. My main responsibilities were as follows: 

• Creation of the brand (identity, platform) and definition of styles ;
• Structuring of the team, and the offer, design, purchasing, and marketing-communication departments;
• Creation of the website, collection catalogue, media campaign (press, radio and TV);
• Creation of a new 3,000 m2 showroom; and.
• Creation of the concepts for the Atmosphera corner in shops.

We reached a turnover of 150 million euros in seven years and had the best profitability of the group and the strongest growth (around 30% / year).

I managed this business unit, and in September 2017 I was appointed to the general management of all the JJA group’s business units and handled four other brands in addition to ATMOSPHERA: HESPERIDE (garden furniture), SECRET DE GOURMET (kitchen and tableware), FIVE (home utility), and FEERIC CHRISTMAS (Christmas decorations). 

I then left JJA to start my own business. I then joined the CRA (a dynamic network of business sellers and buyers) which trained me in business takeovers. I studied many portfolios, including two in-depth:

• An upscale B2B decoration company in the North of France: turnover = €35 million / 130 people;
• Decoration company B2C (retail) in IDF: Turnover = 15 M€/80 people.  

Unfortunately, the two takeover bids on which I was working were unsuccessful for various reasons, but I learned a lot. I was very busy and excited by analysing all the projects but I miss the hectic atmosphere of working in a company and I want to create and take on new challenges. So I decided to close all my takeover cases in the first part of 2020 and focus on finding an intrapreneurial challenge within a company to help me grow and get fulfilment in the second half of my career.

I started doing management/consulting in the interim, which seemed more appropriate in the middle of the health crisis, then began actively looking for a permanent contract in September

On 1 December, I’m starting a new position as Strategic Brand and Marketing Director  (DESCHAMPS ZUCCHI GROUP) with a great team of about sixty people spread out over Paris, Lille, and Milan.

A new challenge that promises to be exciting in a rapidly growing company.

In what context did you seek assistance from within your network (school alumni and professional contacts)?

Throughout my career, my professional network has played a  key.

When I was working on my takeover project, I understood how important a network is in sourcing cases. There are no or very few classified ads for selling a company. It's the same when seeking a job as a senior executive. So networking is a very effective way to become aware of opportunities.

All networks are important: alumni, headhunters, investment funds, groups of entrepreneurs or managers, sports clubs, friends and family, etc. It’s also important to maintain good relations with former employers, colleagues, and professional associates.

If you had to persuade a graduate to contact you, what would you say?

Regardless of age, position, or level of experience, meetings with other graduates are always very rewarding. I’m always interested in and curious about the backgrounds of the people I meet, and I also enjoy sharing my own experiences. I strongly encourage these encounters, where you give but you always receive in return.

CAMILLE MOTTE - LINKEDIN

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