Liquidation of Habitat: is the Cafom group really coming to the aid of the 9,000 injured customers in Montpellier and elsewhere ?

Like 25 other stores, the Montpellier brand has been closed since December 2023. FREE MIDI – G. ITALIANO

The distributor Cafom, owner of the Habitat brand, announces in a press release a "major" in favor of customers dragged into its downfall by the judicial liquidation at the end of 2023. Customers who have never seen (and will probably never see) the color of the furniture of their dreams.

Is the Cafom group trying to save the furniture? Or to buy them back "for a handful of euros", as suggested on the Facebook group of "Collective of clients harmed by Habitat in liquidation& ;quot;, which brings together a good thousand, including Montpellier residents.

The group, which formed a purchasing center in 1985, is a player in home furnishings overseas through brands such as But, Darty or Nature et Découvertes, and an online sales site. Although he sold the operation of Habitat three years ago, Cafom remains the owner of the brand.

"A press release out of nowhere!"

This is a press release published this Wednesday which sets things ablaze and sends calculators into panic. Seductive, but"out of nowhere", says Fred, one of the administrators of the social network, who has given up on his 4 000&nbsp sofa ;€. Cafom announces its "major initiative in favor of 9 000 customers" harmed by judicial liquidation. The repurchase of "certain assets, prototypes, models, etc., for an amount of 300 000 €" authorized by the supervising judge, this March 27, would be a solution adapted to their benefit. This "in order to preserve the value of the brand", is it clearly specified.

"If the distribution is made pro rata to the amount of each of the customers' debts, i.e. 9 M€ in total, this makes 3.33 cents per euro of debt, or 33.33 € for a debt of 1,000 euros. Cool, I'll be able to buy a Sylvanian (children's toy, Editor's note) to replace the table which will never be delivered to me!& quot;, quips David.

A buyer who could capitalize on the good reputation of Habitat

For Fred, who is not conjecturing anything good, "Cafom is listed on the stock exchange, which obliges it to pose a strategy vis-à-vis of its shareholders, it’s business. I see it as a reactivation of the brand which is worth zero today. Is stock included ?". In which case, 9,000 customers with an average order of 2,000 €, "that's 18 M€ to which we apply the supplier percentage of course, but for 300,000 euros, this is not consistent! This is the price of commercial peace. The great deal…

But over time… Habitat, synonymous with quality, could also rise from its ashes without its stock, via a buyer who would have every interest in capitalizing on its "goodwill " (its notoriety), "using prototypes, models or samples, even in three years, everything will be forgotten ! ".

A request will be filed with the commercial court

"What Cafom plans to compensate us does not seem directly linked to this sum, it will be something else again", projects Aurélie, a contributor."It is possible that Cafom resells this brand before it is too dirty and that credits are offered to us in addition to specific offers…", positive Martine. "The owner has every interest in ensuring that it retains its value. By providing compensation in one way or another. To be continued…".

In any case, the group of administrators and moderators met to decide on action this Tuesday following the publication of the press release. "We are moving towards  a request to the commercial court".

What about unsold stock ? Bought at knockdown prices by a competitor ? Recovered by injured suppliers ? The future of Habitat items remains a mystery. As for Cafom, an Internet user who approached it said that the latter "cannot specify things further at the moment".< /em>