Cardinal Jardin : La franchise de conception d'espaces extérieurs

Creation of a reference center specializing in exterior design

By Batipole Edition Published on Monday, January 10, 2011 at 01:00

Photo credits : Cardinal Jardin: The outdoor space design franchise

Summary for decision-makers

The creation of Central'In&Out in Saint-Priest is the result of a strategic partnership between Cardinal Jardin and UTD, aimed at pooling their expertise in the outdoor decoration sector. This purchasing center, dedicated to the outdoor world, will list a variety of products such as garden furniture and decoration. Central'In&Out features a 2 m² showroom, the first in Europe for professionals, offering unparalleled visibility for members. Thanks to a specialized team of 000 people, the center will facilitate the development of affiliated companies and promote a well-structured network to optimize their growth.

Furthermore, Cardinal Jardin is reinventing its organizational model by moving from a franchise to a membership contract, believing this better aligns with its development strategy. The headquarters is now located in Lyon, close to UTD, strengthening the synergy between the two entities. With this development, members will be able to offer an expanded range of products and services, extending beyond garden design, while remaining competitive in a rapidly evolving market.

A network of exterior designers, Cardinal Jardin has just created Central'In&Out, the first independent center in the field of exterior decoration, with the Lyon-based UTD group, one of the leading specialists in the world of the home.

Cardinal Garden and UTD

The creation of Central'In&Out in Saint-Priest (Rhône) is the result of a partnership that began over a year ago. It originated from the meeting between Robin Ramousset, founder of Cardinal Jardin, and Daniel Buguet, CEO of UTD, a leading group in the management of networks of independent wholesalers and retailers in the decoration and bedding sectors. UTD already has four reference centers and more than 200 members.

In 2009, Robin Ramousset, who was planning to create a purchasing center in the exterior decoration sector for his network, contacted Daniel Buguet, who was carrying out a similar project.
With Cardinal Jardin looking to accelerate its development and UTD positioning itself in outdoor design, the two organizations decided to pool their experience and expertise. From this pool of expertise, Central'In&Out was born, whose objective is to welcome and reference brands offering products related to the world of outdoor living.
Central'In&Out has two business lines. The first is dedicated to the sale of decorations (shade, barbecues, lighting) and outdoor furniture for stores. The second focuses on the creation of outdoor living spaces for all outdoor-related businesses.

A 2M² SHOWROOM FOR MEMBERS
AND A POOLING OF RESOURCES

Also a network development structure, Central'In&Out has access to all the resources already deployed by the UTD group, which has just created the first European decoration showroom dedicated to professionals in Saint-Priest (2.000 m² of exhibition space).
"The creation of the plant truly changes the evolution and ambition of Cardinal Jardin," says Robin Ramousset. "By pooling resources, we have at our disposal a wide range of skills through a team of 25 people specialized in all the areas necessary for our business. In addition, thanks to the showroom, we benefit from unparalleled exposure and a quality showcase to present the concept to the candidate."
Cardinal Jardin members will thus be able to benefit from the quality of the suppliers referenced within the central office.

Taking advantage of this new momentum and the new tools at his disposal, Robin Ramousset decided to evolve his concept. Members now offer a broader range of services that go beyond simple garden design. They can, for example, sell furniture or decorative accents.

The nature of the network's organization is also changing. Cardinal Jardin is moving from franchising to membership contracts, a model that better aligns with its development strategy.
Finally, the headquarters was transferred from Strasbourg to Lyon to be closer to the UTD group.

> About UTD:
Founded over 40 years ago, UTD specializes in managing networks of independent wholesalers and retailers in the decoration and bedding sectors.
The group has built its offering around four centers, each specialized in a market: decoration, bedding, green, outdoor.
www.utd.fr

> About Cardinal Jardin:
Founded in 2002, Cardinal Jardin is the leading network of landscape and exterior designers whose strengths are inventiveness and project management. It operates in the mid-to-high-end segment and caters to individuals and professionals seeking to create an outdoor living space that combines aesthetics, tradition, and modernity.
Cardinal Jardin's areas of expertise are very broad. From landscaping gardens and terraces to integrating green walls and ponds, it combines plants with other materials (metal, wood, glass, concrete, etc.).
www.cardinaljardin.com

- Network technical sheet:
Entry fee: 25.000 euros excluding VAT - Total initial investment: 50.000 euros (including entry fee) - 5-year membership contract to a central office with its associated services - Royalty on turnover excluding VAT: 500 euros per month for the first two years, then 750 euros in the 3rd year and 950 euros thereafter - Brand communication royalty: included in the overall investment for the 1st year, then 500 euros per month for mandatory actions (catalogue, etc.) - Administrative management royalty: 250 euros excluding VAT/month - Location criteria: area of 40.000 houses with gardens.