VST and ACEM inaugurate a 1800m² showroom in Vienne

VST (85) and ACEM (79) are strengthening their presence in the Vienne department (86). In mid-September, they inaugurated a showroom co-built under the Artisans Artipôle brand. This unique exhibition site, operational since June 12, is the most important in Vienna.

2 complementary building craftsman cooperatives

VST

VST, created more than 45 years ago, is the first artisan cooperative in France. The Vendée cooperative supports the development of 811 members plumbers, heating engineers, electricians, tilers, roofers, in Vendée, Loire-Atlantique, Maine-et-Loire, Deux Sèvres and in Vienne with 85 members.

ACEM

ACEM, has existed since 1998. The Deux Séviennes cooperative created in Châtillon-sur-Thouet offers a range of services to optimize the supply of wood and derived products (purchase management, stocks, orders, etc.) from professional carpenters , carpenters and roofers, cabinetmakers and fitters. It supports a total of 270 members, including 65 in Vienne.

Vienne, a territory to conquer

Eighteen months ago, the two cooperatives working to actively develop their presence in the Vienne department launched the joint project of a showroom co-built to meet the needs of the territory in terms of overall offer and local tools for woodworking and bathroom professionals.

For Thierry Jamin, ACEM General Director: « we were in full development in the Vienne sector, when VST expressed its desire to build a new showroom, it was natural that we decided to jointly launch this project.

The choice was made to create an SCI housing the 2 cooperatives on a land area of 15550m² whose location is ideally located in a busy commercial area, rue Gustave Eiffel in Poitiers.

In this context, 6.5 million euros in total without developments are invested to build a unique exhibition site under the Artisans Artipôle brand which gives visitors access to 2 worlds: that of wood and that of bathing.

Each party has committed 1 million euros for the interior fittings of the building which represents a total surface area of 1800 m².

In order for this new space to meet environmental challenges, particularly in terms of energy, VST and ACEM are calling on an architectural firm.

For Thierry Jamin, ACEM General Director: « The building was constructed in such a way that it largely capitalizes on natural light while ensuring perfect thermal insulation. »

Two expertises brought together under the same roof

The strength of this new operational space since mid-June is to bring together the two areas of expertise under the same roof: wood and bath, in order to offer customers of members of the two cooperatives a complete offer.

The ACEM space is organized with 850m² of indoor exhibition and 500m² outdoors in order to present all the products offered by members: wood and fittings, gates and fences, terraces and pergolas, doors and windows, parquet floors and paneling, stairs, kitchens, cupboards and dressing room.To strengthen the team, 2 people were hired and a third arrives to provide support on an ad hoc basis.
The VST space is made up of 2 centers: 850 m² of indoor exhibition and 200m² outdoors presenting all the references in terms of bathrooms, tiling, lighting, heating, connected solutions. 6 people have been recruited and one hire is planned this year.

Objectives and ambitions

For VST, the exhibition room is an essential tool for the development of the craft business. By directing customers to come and make their choices in his exhibition room, the craftsman thus controls his business right through to its finality.

For Thierry Orieux, VST General Manager: « With suitable tools, the cooperative will develop the loyalty of artisans and our long-term ambition is to develop the cooperative spirit; doing it together is a strong marker of our identity.»

For ACEM, whose desire is to continue its development in the department by relying on the needs of artisans.