Habitat returns to French retail parks

Habitat is making a comeback in French retail parks: the interior design brand is opening corners in the stores of multi-brand chain Fabrique de Styles. It is a remarkable return for the label that went bankrupt in 2023.

Digital core

24 Fabrique de Styles stores will feature a Habitat corner, in addition to the brands the chain is already carrying, such as Sema Design and Home Deco Factory. The chain has a clear preference for French brands to supplement its own private label furniture.

Habitat has had a difficult couple of years: a restart in 2020 failed, leaving its owner Cafom to sell the chain to Thierry Le Guénic. However, his attempts to supply the chain with a new lease of life ended in 2023 in a final liquidation. Surprisingly, it was former owner Cafom who bought back the brand rights at the time, and as such it relaunched the interior design brand online last year.

“The partnership with Fabrique de Styles allows us to diversify the shopping experience we offer our customers. While the digital experience remains the core of our vision, we know that the in-store experience is just as important to many of our customers”, brand director Lucie Crouzet told LSA.