法國頗具知名度帽類服飾配件設計師品牌擬尋求我商投資人共同開發法國及國外市場，該品牌推出已15年。主要產品為帽類，以及成套搭配之手提包、鞋類及泳衣，在法國帽類專業界已具相當知名度，產品全數在法國製造，屬於中高階產品，多年參加法國服飾配件Premiere Classe及Atmosphere等展，產品經常入選法國知名流行及女性期刊，產品多在法國百貨公司銷售，外銷市場則以日本為主，自2006年起並將外銷美國。 

THE COMPANY 

APM sarl – capital of 8000,00 euros 

THE BRAND 

The designer’s creations reflect southern France origins and remain closely asscociated in the minds of buyers with a traditional french «  savoir-faire « .

The label enjoys today an extensive press exposure and has an ever growing reputation , thanks to the continued developpment of other product lines ; bags , swimwear and shoes.

In 1997 the designer designed her first collection of coordinated bags to match the hats , then in 1999 a collection of shoes and for the last 4 summer seasons a collection of swimwear. 

The company today is one of the creative brands who has been able to keep her own recognisable identity whilst diverisfying her products. 

Today a product of The company is immediately recognisable as Fabienne LABORET has succeded in creating a «  universe «  which corresponds to the needs of the modern and feminin woman. 

PRESS

Since the beginning the brand has always been supported by the women’s fashion press but especially over the last 2 years The company has made a come back and figures constantly next to luxury labels in magazines such as ELLE , VOGUE AUSTRALIA , L’OFFICIEL , MARIE CLAIRE , MADAME GIGARO , GLAMOUR , GALA , FEMME ACTUELLE to name but a few.

Out of all of the french accessory labels ( with the exception of luxury brands ) The company is always present in the SPECIAL ACCESSORIES supplements of ELLE magazine.

The special relationship with this magazine has lead to the selection of The company for the catalogue section ELLE PASSION – 2 articles for F/W 05 and 3 programmed for S/S 06 which with the diffusion of this leading magazine will allow The company to reach out to more than 130 000 french women. 

CREATION & DESIGN 

The success and the lifespan of a label depends on the designers ability to innovate whilst still preserving a creative identity. 

The designer Fabienne LABORET has succeeded over the years in transforming a classical traditionnel product HAT into a fashion item. 

Using her own «  savoir-faire « the designer has in the past created exclusive models for such prestigious names as CACHAREL , JOSEPH , CORINNE SARRUT , ET VOUS …. 

The original product : a foldable ribbon hat has today become the «  CLASSIC ‘ of the brand whereas the range of bags , shoes and swimwear combine to make an ideal cruise line . 

THE COMPANY launched her first line of cotton bikinis 4 summer seasons ago with a successfull «  VICHY «  collection – the slightly «  retro / Brigitte BARDOT met with immediate success as the soul of the brand came face to face with the latest fashion trends.

The line was then strengthened with the additional of coloursfull lycra models .

Amongst the first customers for THE COMPANY swimwear were CLUB 55 in ST TROPEZ , CALYPSO in ST BARTH , AQUAGIRL , TOKYO.

The lycra swimwear was sold exclusively in Paris by LA SAMARITAINE and was even chosen amidst more than 20 established labels for the billboard advertising campaign in the Paris metro in June 2005. 

Shoes – always made in France THE COMPANY has proposed for the last 5 seasons a range of flat coordianted slip ons and tongs as well as plat-form shoes using the same colourfull fabrics as the rest of the collection. 

The long standing relationship which THE COMPANY has developped with her French manufacturers remains a guarantee of quality for her customers. 

The new children’s line PETITE SARTAN presented for the first time in October 2005 is composed of shoes , swimwear , hats & bags to match the ladies range.

The line met with immediate success and allowed the brand to enter such prestigious outlets as PAUL SMITH & COUVERTURE , LONDON , BON MARCHE , PARIS and PULP , SWITZERLAND.

The initial success nourishes the possibility of developping the theme « mother/daughter « for F/W 06.

THE CUSTOMERS 

From the beginning THE COMPANY has always been bought by a customer base of department stores and high end fashion retailers. 

JAPAN has always been the number 1 customer of the brand with companies such as ISETAN , MITSUKOSHI , DAIMARU , AQUAGIRL , TOMORROWLAND etc giving their patronage to the french label.

Until 2003 JAPAN represented 80% of the annual turnover. 

In France LE PRINTEMPS , LE BON MARCHE , FRANCK ET FILS were the first customers. 

SALES NETWORK

 EXHIBITIONS : The company was present from the first launch edition of the international accessories exhibtion PREMIERE CLASSE and has also exhibited in Japan from October 2000.

Due to the wish to move up into the higher end of the market The company has also presented her collections at top level shows such as ATMOSPHERE , PARIS and more recently at LIVING ROOM Tokyo organised by HP France.

Today the main part of the present turnover is generated on exhibitions.

 AGENTS : Due to the high percentage of export turnover notably in Japan THE COMPANY has only recently begun to set up a network of agents for France and Europe.The difficulty in finding the professional and specialised agents , despite the quality and reputation of the brand has slowed down the increase and turnover and the developpment.

DEVELOPPEMENT SINCE 2004 

Convinced that there is a «  niche «  in the middle to high segment THE COMPANY has started since 2004 to turn a corner in terms of product and sales strategy.

Still offering a line completely MADE IN France The company is looking today for new export markets and the customers adapted to her products.

 France : THE COMPANY is beginning to build a network of specialised agents segmenting each product line.

 Hats & Bags : since the S/S 06 season THE COMPANY is represented in Paris by an agent with a showroom who has begun a long term introduction and presentation of the brand using the massive press coverage nationally as a foundation.

Shoes : the S/S 06 collection is represented for the first time by a specialsed shoe agent SHOWRROM SAINTMARTIN in AIX EN PROVENCE.

 The results in terms of figures and sales outlets will begin to show as from 2006.

The 2006 S/S SEASON 

The SPRING/SUMMER 2006 season has been a turning point and has shown some very positive results for The company. 

PRODUCT : by returning to the original product ; HATS to constitute the core of the present collection THE COMPANY has regained her rightfull place in all of the prestigiouses french department stores : PRINTEMPS , LE BON MARCHE , FRANCK ET FILS.

With the press coverage acting as an active support for the products the brand image will be strengthened in both new and old sales points. 

The shoes have found a place in their own right in shoe shops whereas before the shoes were bought in small amounts by fashion retailers. 

Children’s line : presented mid season in October 2005 at PREMIERE CLASSE in the Tuileries gardens , the line composed of shoes , bikinis , hats & bags met with both a commercial success and press estime.

The launch of this line not only allows THE COMPANY products to enter new sales outlets but reflets positively on the overall brand image. 

EXPORT MARKETS : The progressive decline in ordres from Japanese buyers who now manufacture more and more of their accessories under private label within Asia has of course had consequences on sales however for the first time AMERICAN buyers have turned their attention to the brand. This gives very interesting perspectives for the future.

An important contact in America at PRET A PORTER in September gives THE COMPANY the opportunity to develop either the women’s line or children’s line via the network of 25 stores detained by the group.

The children’s line will also be represented by a US agent based in NEW YORK from the end of the year 2005.

Despite the crisis touching the fashion and textile sectors in France and worldwide for the last 3 years THE COMPANY has found both the creative ressources and the motivation to continue to defend her «  savoir-faire «  and brand image .
 

THE NEEDS TODAY 

Today the position of THE COMPANY is clear. 

The image of the brand has never been as strong since its launch 15 years ago. 

The brand is on the brink of capitalising on all of her past efforts in terms of design and product positionning.

 Bringing back into the lime light the original product  hats , has been the positive step ensuring a place in department stores and prestigious  outlets.

The secondary lines are beginning to find the correct sales outlets and need to be enforced by constant work in the press and through sales contacts.

 Today THE COMPANY is looking for an active partner who can not only finance the future brand and product developpement but can ensure that the brand finds its true place in the market and that the overall turnover finally reflects the 15 years of effort and creation to establish The company as one of France’s leading hat designers.