Toulouse. Despite the Covid-19 crisis, they set up their business (and they testify)

Through Gabriel Kenedi
Published on 4 Feb 21 at 7:04 am

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They are 20, 30 or 40 years old and in the midst of a health crisis, these Toulouse residents did not hesitate to take the plunge and create their own business. In Haute-Garonne alone, 9,670 business creations were identified in 2020, despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

A figure that is certainly down slightly compared to 2019, but which shows that entrepreneurs are still there and have no shortage of projects. Toulouse news decided to give a voice to some of these men and women – who have decided to change their lives. Testimonials.

Euriel Morvézen bounced back during the crisis

Euriel Morvézen, Toulouse by adoption since 2012, launched his company, specializing in the making of French-made woolen quilts, Loulenn, in the fall of 2020.

“I wanted to praise wool, by creating a French wool duvet like no other. After 18 years of career in the International freight transport, I was laid off quite abruptly in February 2019. From one idea to another, I finally decided to look for a “stable” position in January 2020 to be able to settle down with my partner with our 4 children. CDI and loan to the bank oblige! Unfortunately, the first confinement has arrived. The job search scared me. So I decided, to occupy myself at least intellectually, to embark again on a business creation project.

Quest for meaning

“At the same time, I had been looking for a long time to change my woolen duvet that I had brought back from Australia,” explains the young woman. In search of a professional life with more meaning, to have less impact on the planet, I have the impression that all the planets have aligned, and everything has gone very quickly. (…) I managed to have my first “prototype” in my hands on October 9th.

On November 2, the company was created and on November 10, I launched a pre-order campaign on Ulule, which exceeded my objectives. In December, Loulenn joined the Starter de la Mêlée, with his first office in a coworking space, and obtained his first loan with Initiative Haute Garonne and following, an Innovation loan from Banque Populaire. And finally, I was able to launch Loulenn’s website! In 9 months, the company had come to life!

Naturally optimistic and fiery, the first thing I said to myself on the day of my dismissal was: “everything happens for a reason”. My own pandemic was more in 2019, since I only bounced back in 2020. Containment was truly THE trigger for this reboundd. »

Vincent Thiam, the employee who buys his company

Employed for 8 years at Valdelec Sécurité, this 34-year-old electrician bought the company in which he worked from his boss, who wanted to take over.

“I took the crazy gamble of buying the company in which I had been employed for 8 years. My former boss, who is a few years away from retirement, wanted to hand over while remaining in the company as an employee. He had declined some external offers, and in the end, we found a solution that suited everyone, including the 8 employees. The hardest part was convincing the banks. And the administrative process was complicated. It wasn’t easy, but we did it.

My former boss, who is now an employee, accompanies me in this project, introduces me to his customers. It is very reassuring. I work a lot more than before but for me it was a godsend to grab. I’m coming to an age where I think it’s the right time to start a business. I have the feeling that I have passed a milestone ”.

Jérémy Binette, the engineer turned handyman

At 29 years old, Jérémy Binette set up his custom-made furniture manufacturing company, Iwik, in Cugnaux. And the start-up and promising.

“I am an engineer by training but I have a somewhat unusual background. I have always been a handyman. I lived for two years in New Zealand where I worked in a workshop for the creation of sets for theater and cinema. I returned to France to lend a hand to my brother, who was setting up his second restaurant. So I made custom furniture for his establishment. Basically, I had to go back to Australia but the Covid made it no longer possible. Suddenly, the long-term project I had, which was to set up my business, suddenly accelerated.

I set up my custom furniture business in October 2020 and found a workshop in Cugnaux. And very quickly, I had the first orders, both from individuals and professionals. In January, I reached the sales target I had set for myself. I am much better in my workshop than in an office working as an engineer. In addition, tailor-made is coming back strong. People are getting a little tired of Ikea, so I already have many requests for projects, through word of mouth ”.

Mickaël Picheyre, young entrepreneur

At 24, the Toulousain Mickaël Picheyre did not wait for the end of his studies to launch his business.

“The idea germinated during confinement. I was confined to the countryside with my future partner, Charles. We had the idea of ​​setting up a platform for students and businesses, called Asapidea. It is the first platform that connects students’ ideas with business issues to turn them into concrete innovations, in particular through competition for ideas. Initially, the crisis was an accelerator. We invested fully in the project, we did a market study and we saw how we could position ourselves.

The company was created in August 2020 and we launched a first ideas competition in the fall, which was encouraging. But the crisis is not helping us because we realize that, like everyone else, our potential clients (who are often large groups) have visibility problems and do not always want to embark on new projects. What is certain is that without confinement, we would never have launched this company, which we hope to develop in the coming months ”.

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Bertil Lauth, sake sommelier

Aged 38, Bertil Lauth embarked on the creation of the “Toulouse Saké Club” in November 2020, specializing in the sale and tasting of Japanese spirits (sake, whiskey, liqueurs, etc.).

“I worked in the insurance industry and following a work accident, I was made redundant in December 2019. I have always been passionate about Japan and had this idea in mind for several years. The current crisis has been a catalyst and a brake too. Catalyst because I had a goal, which was to launch my business before the end of 2020. But it’s also a drag because I can’t put everything in place that I had planned.

The idea was to create a tasting workshop, to participate in trade fairs and events, and this whole part is impossible to set up today because of the health crisis. The goal, ultimately, is to have a room but the current context does not help. Because in terms of charges, it is not the same thing. “

Albert Cabrit, embarks on home services

Albert Cabrit launched his company specializing in home services during the first confinement.

“I created Ayuda, a home services company (cleaning, ironing, childcare, gardening) during the first confinement. My sister was already working in the sector and I realized that more and more people needed time for themselves and wanted to delegate their household chores. So I created my business by targeting this clientele, who wanted to take advantage of their free time.

The recruitment of household help, which is usually very complicated, is much simpler if I may say so now because there are a lot of people looking for food work and this allows us to recruit qualified people or not, but full of good will. We support them in training to best satisfy our customers but also our employees. I also know that once the current special period is over, the market will be growing, as people will want more leisure time… ”

Yoann Audra, heritage advisor

Yoann Audra quit his job to start his own business as a wealth advisor.

« After many disappointments and growing professional dissatisfaction in my old job where I was an employee, I decided to give a new turn to my career. So I set up on my own in heritage consulting in Toulouse at the end of 2020. The current situation has been, for me, a trigger and driving force. With partial unemployment and teleworking resulting from confinements, the French were able for the first time to ask questions and think about their plans for the future. This is good, I offer my clients support to build, increase or use their assets according to their resources and their objectives. I quickly notice that the subject of retirement is a source of concern for the majority of my clients. This need to ensure the future has been reinforced by the health situation we are experiencing.

The main difficulty encountered was the meetings in distance when the situation did not allow the physical meeting. Usually when people put their future in the hands of an intermediary, they like to have someone in front of them. So I had to quickly demonstrate pedagogy and assurance to gain the trust of my customers. As for the future, I am rather confident. The “kick” that the pandemic has put in our daily lives has forced us to live and work differently« .

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