Camif Habitat continues its renovation work

By Batipole Edition Published on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at 01:00

Photo credits : Camif Habitat

Summary for decision-makers

Camif Habitat, the market leader in home improvement, is strengthening its position after being acquired in May 2009 by Nicolas Daumont. The company has undertaken a significant restructuring, notably with the appointment of Christophe Bureau as Managing Director. With a turnover of €53 million in 2009, Camif Habitat has set ambitious targets for 2010, aiming for a turnover of €67 million and intensive commercial development, including the opening of new branches in major French cities.

To meet growing consumer expectations, Camif Habitat is establishing a dedicated sales force and strengthening its quality monitoring processes. The launch of the "Project Management Academy" and a new "Risk Management" service illustrates its commitment to customer satisfaction and the traceability of completed work. There will also be a focus on sustainable renovation, with greater integration of environmental services into its offerings, thus meeting growing consumer demand for environmentally friendly renovation solutions.

Following the renewal of its visual identity, Camif Habitat is continuing its restructuring by appointing a Managing Director, Christophe Bureau. These actions are part of the company's development strategy: while 2009 ended in balance from an accounting perspective, 2010 is marked by profitability, with its targets set higher.

Batipôle Editorial

Camif Habitat begins a new phase with the arrival of Christophe Bureau as Managing Director

Camif Habitat strengthens its commitment to consumers

Acquired less than a year ago by Nicolas Daumont (Archipelle group), Camif Habitat has restructured its operations and recruited a Managing Director. The Niort-based company, a leader in the home renovation market, is now setting two main objectives: conquering new markets and offering better guarantees to consumers.

Acquired in May 2009 by Nicolas Daumont, Camif Habitat has just undergone a year of restructuring, allowing it to start on a new footing. The company has decided to implement a more dynamic sales policy while strengthening its commitment to its customers.
At the same time, it changed its visual identity while retaining the term Camif (which has strong notoriety) in the brand name.
Finally, to seal this new start, the company moved into new premises on the outskirts of Niort.
This titanic task, started under the leadership of Nicolas Daumont, was able to be completed quickly thanks to the investment of the teams already in place during the acquisition of Camif Habitat.

CHRISTOPHE BUREAU, 42, APPOINTED GENERAL MANAGER OF CAMIF HABITAT
Today, the company has established itself and is entering a new phase of its development. It has just hired Christophe Bureau as its Managing Director. Nicolas Daumont, President of the Archipelle group (Illico Travaux, Domireva, Camif Habitat), who has invested heavily in this challenge, will now be able to devote more time to the overall management of his group.

A graduate of the Ecole Centrale de Paris, Christophe Bureau began his career as a works engineer and site manager at Bouygues Construction.
In 1999, he joined Camif Habitat as Quality Manager, before being appointed Chairman of the Executive Board two years later. In 2004, he became Chairman of the Executive Board of Camif Collectivités Entreprises, a distributor of capital goods for administrations and communities.
An excellent manager, particularly at ease in defining medium-term strategies and objectives, he now joins Camif Habitat as Managing Director, a company he knows perfectly.

A SATISFACTORY 2009 RESULTS AND INCREASED OBJECTIVES FOR 2010
In a context of crisis which affected the construction and housing sector, reducing the number of cases, and of reorganization of the company, Camif Habitat closed the year 2009 with a turnover of 53 million euros and a balanced result.

In 2009, Camif Habitat was contacted by 17.851 individuals to carry out their work, currently has 9.720 prospecting files, 66% of which are for renovations, the rest for home improvement, and has completed 1.063 projects, 85% of which are for Camif's long-standing members.
Camif Habitat is aiming for a turnover of 67 million euros in 2010 and plans to reach 100 million euros in 2011.

2010, ALL-ROUND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT
Camif Habitat has developed a new sales strategy, based in particular on the establishment of a sales force. To strengthen its presence and reach new customers, the company will employ around one hundred sales representatives over two years. By the end of 2010, it will already have a sales force of around fifty sales representatives, as well as 500 subcontractors.
Camif Habitat will also establish sales agencies in most major cities across France. It intends to expand its business in high-potential areas. The first agency has just been opened in Lyon. It will be followed by agencies in Paris, Toulouse, and Bordeaux.

A PRIORITY: TRACEABILITY OF THE WORK CARRIED OUT
To increase customer satisfaction, several measures have recently been implemented. Camif Habitat has first created a "Project Management Academy." Its aim is to unite all service providers and network partners and standardize their practices.
The company wants to refocus on fundamentals: commercial efficiency, competitiveness, methodology, etc. At the same time, the after-sales service has just been equipped with a new department, "Risk Management." Responsible for better anticipating potential disputes and managing them, it includes a team of five people and a lawyer.

Finally, Camif Habitat will also be expanding its offerings in the field of sustainable renovation, where it was already at the forefront. For example, during 2010, it will offer its customers the integration and implementation of thermal diagnostics in pre-construction studies.
Initially, Camif Habitat's priority is to secure the services of professionals specializing in the environmental field in the region. The company aims to integrate sustainable renovation into a broader context in order to better meet its customers' demands in this area.

About Camif Habitat:
Founded nearly 30 years ago, Camif Habitat holds a leading position in the home renovation market. Drawing on a network of professionals comprising approximately 300 project managers and 3.000 construction companies, it offers individuals turnkey management of home improvement, renovation, and extension projects, as well as various diagnostic services. It is also particularly innovative in the field of sustainable renovation.
The company, acquired in 2009 by Nicolas Daumont and now managed by Christophe Bureau, generated a turnover of €53 million excluding VAT in 2009 (67% in renovations, 33% in development). The company has completed more than 50.000 projects since its creation in 1982.