Reconciling entrepreneurship, living space and water sports
Jacques Van Houteghem has long held management positions in various industrial companies with 50 to 100 employees in Rhône-Alpes. But the desire to become his own boss had become strong for Dinard's native. "A small home is better than a big home.." Fallen in love with the Gulf of Morbihan, it is there that he decides to look for a company to take over. When he met Christian Gourdon, who wanted to sell the Armorique Diffusion shipyard, he saw the opportunity to reconcile his entrepreneurial project, his desire to settle in the Gulf of Morbihan and his taste for sailing which he practiced in leisure. After a year of discussion, Jacques Van Houteghem took over the management of the shipyard at the beginning of March 2017.
A multi-purpose shipyard
Armorique Diffusion employs 10 people spread over 3 activities and 4500 m². The company is a dealer of Bénéteau boats and Suzuki Marine outboard motors. It also has a franchise store Accastillage Diffusion. The mechanical workshop ensures the wintering and maintenance of pleasure boats. Armorique Diffusion also rents 2 boats to Quiberon which are used to promote the Bénéteau brand.
If the boat sales activity is the most important in terms of turnover, maintenance and the hardware shop provide essential support for customer satisfaction.
Getting back to La Trinité sur Mer
Since the 2008 crisis, Armorique Diffusion had to reduce its commercial sail. The concessionaire had kept an office in Quiberon, but closed its branch in La Trinité sur Mer. The new owner wishes today to get back physically on the Morbihan port. He plans to reopen an office and recruit a Trinitain salesman with a good local network in this important market.