Latest news with #PaulSzczerba
Fashion Network
a day ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
Balibaris: Experienced Capital sells its shares, a French family office joins the capital
Balibaris is relying on a new financial partner to continue on its path. Investment company Experienced Capital, which had taken a minority stake in 2016 via its ECP1 fund, has withdrawn from the capital. The brand, co-founded in 2010 and still chaired by Paul Szczerba, which in fifteen years has become a premium men's ready-to-wear network, has announced the arrival of a French family office to its capital, without however disclosing its name or the new balance. At the time of Experienced Capital's arrival, the brand had sales of 3.5 million euros and a dozen points of sale. Since then, Balibaris has become a fixture on the men's market in France. The company, which also counted Audacia and LO Capital among its minority shareholders, had passed the €50 million sales milestone by 2023, when it counted some 80 points of sale, including a dozen corners. "I would like to thank ECP for its contribution to the structuring of Balibaris. Their support has been decisive in increasing our reach and setting the brand on the path to success that it is today," said founder, Paul Szczerba. "I'm delighted to be starting this new chapter. This partnership is an exceptional opportunity to accelerate our long-term vision based on the founding values built by Balibaris." The brand, present in the French department store networks Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, claims to have continued its growth since 2023, notably via a 40% increase in digital sales in the last financial year, and states that it has 65 points of sale overall. The company's stated ambition is to consolidate its digital growth and expand into export markets, where it has four outlets in London and one in Brussels. Headed by Hortense Verspyck for the past two years, who has linked the brand to its original inspiration - classic cinema - the brand aims to attract new European customers. Several organizational elements have also evolved in recent months, with investments in e-commerce services and logistics. The men's brand was one of the first investments made by the fund founded by former SMCP directors Emmanuel Pradère, Frédéric Biousse and Elie Kouby. In recent years, Experienced Capital has sold its stakes in several brands, including Jimmy Fairly, Soeur and Sessun. It retains stakes in Le Slip Français and Figaret, in the fashion sector, and in Oh My Cream and L:A Bruket, in the beauty sector. It has also invested in leisure, decoration, and catering.
Fashion Network
a day ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
Balibaris: Experienced Capital sells its shares, a French family office joins the capital
"I would like to thank ECP for its contribution to the structuring of Balibaris. Their support has been decisive in increasing our reach and setting the brand on the path to success that it is today," said founder, Paul Szczerba. "I'm delighted to be starting this new chapter. This partnership is an exceptional opportunity to accelerate our long-term vision based on the founding values built by Balibaris." The brand, present in the French department store networks Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, claims to have continued its growth since 2023, notably via a 40% increase in digital sales in the last financial year, and states that it has 65 points of sale overall. The company's stated ambition is to consolidate its digital growth and expand into export markets, where it has four outlets in London and one in Brussels. Headed by Hortense Verspyck for the past two years, who has linked the brand to its original inspiration - classic cinema - the brand aims to attract new European customers. Several organizational elements have also evolved in recent months, with investments in e-commerce services and logistics. The men's brand was one of the first investments made by the fund founded by former SMCP directors Emmanuel Pradère, Frédéric Biousse and Elie Kouby. In recent years, Experienced Capital has sold its stakes in several brands, including Jimmy Fairly, Soeur and Sessun. It retains stakes in Le Slip Français and Figaret, in the fashion sector, and in Oh My Cream and L:A Bruket, in the beauty sector. It has also invested in leisure, decoration, and catering.
Fashion Network
a day ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
Balibaris: Experienced Capital sells its shares, a French family office joins the capital
Balibaris is relying on a new financial partner to continue on its path. Investment company Experienced Capital, which had taken a minority stake in 2016 via its ECP1 fund, has withdrawn from the capital. The brand, co-founded in 2010 and still chaired by Paul Szczerba, which in fifteen years has become a premium men's ready-to-wear network, has announced the arrival of a French family office to its capital, without however disclosing its name or the new balance. At the time of Experienced Capital's arrival, the brand had sales of 3.5 million euros and a dozen points of sale. Since then, Balibaris has become a fixture on the men's market in France. The company, which also counted Audacia and LO Capital among its minority shareholders, had passed the €50 million sales milestone by 2023, when it counted some 80 points of sale, including a dozen corners. "I would like to thank ECP for its contribution to the structuring of Balibaris. Their support has been decisive in increasing our reach and setting the brand on the path to success that it is today," said founder, Paul Szczerba. "I'm delighted to be starting this new chapter. This partnership is an exceptional opportunity to accelerate our long-term vision based on the founding values built by Balibaris." The brand, present in the French department store networks Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, claims to have continued its growth since 2023, notably via a 40% increase in digital sales in the last financial year, and states that it has 65 points of sale overall. The company's stated ambition is to consolidate its digital growth and expand into export markets, where it has four outlets in London and one in Brussels. Headed by Hortense Verspyck for the past two years, who has linked the brand to its original inspiration - classic cinema - the brand aims to attract new European customers. Several organizational elements have also evolved in recent months, with investments in e-commerce services and logistics. The men's brand was one of the first investments made by the fund founded by former SMCP directors Emmanuel Pradère, Frédéric Biousse and Elie Kouby. In recent years, Experienced Capital has sold its stakes in several brands, including Jimmy Fairly, Soeur and Sessun. It retains stakes in Le Slip Français and Figaret, in the fashion sector, and in Oh My Cream and L:A Bruket, in the beauty sector. It has also invested in leisure, decoration, and catering.
Fashion Network
a day ago
- Business
- Fashion Network
Balibaris: Experienced Capital sells its shares, a French family office joins the capital
Balibaris is relying on a new financial partner to continue on its path. Investment company Experienced Capital, which had taken a minority stake in 2016 via its ECP1 fund, has withdrawn from the capital. The brand, co-founded in 2010 and still chaired by Paul Szczerba, which in fifteen years has become a premium men's ready-to-wear network, has announced the arrival of a French family office to its capital, without however disclosing its name or the new balance. At the time of Experienced Capital's arrival, the brand had sales of 3.5 million euros and a dozen points of sale. Since then, Balibaris has become a fixture on the men's market in France. The company, which also counted Audacia and LO Capital among its minority shareholders, had passed the €50 million sales milestone by 2023, when it counted some 80 points of sale, including a dozen corners. "I would like to thank ECP for its contribution to the structuring of Balibaris. Their support has been decisive in increasing our reach and setting the brand on the path to success that it is today," said founder, Paul Szczerba. "I'm delighted to be starting this new chapter. This partnership is an exceptional opportunity to accelerate our long-term vision based on the founding values built by Balibaris." The brand, present in the French department store networks Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, claims to have continued its growth since 2023, notably via a 40% increase in digital sales in the last financial year, and states that it has 65 points of sale overall. The company's stated ambition is to consolidate its digital growth and expand into export markets, where it has four outlets in London and one in Brussels. Headed by Hortense Verspyck for the past two years, who has linked the brand to its original inspiration - classic cinema - the brand aims to attract new European customers. Several organizational elements have also evolved in recent months, with investments in e-commerce services and logistics. The men's brand was one of the first investments made by the fund founded by former SMCP directors Emmanuel Pradère, Frédéric Biousse and Elie Kouby. In recent years, Experienced Capital has sold its stakes in several brands, including Jimmy Fairly, Soeur and Sessun. It retains stakes in Le Slip Français and Figaret, in the fashion sector, and in Oh My Cream and L:A Bruket, in the beauty sector. It has also invested in leisure, decoration, and catering.
Fashion United
01-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion United
Family office invests in Balibaris to write new chapter
"A new chapter is opening for Balibaris," announced Paul Szczerba, president of Balibaris, in a message published on LinkedIn on Tuesday, July 1. The French menswear brand, with its Parisian elegance, formalises the entry of a French family office into its capital. Behind this discreet but eminently strategic operation, founder Szczerba confirms the sustainability of a project developed and structured over more than a decade. Beyond a simple financial contribution, this partnership signals a decisive acceleration in the structuring and expansion of Balibaris. "Balibaris is not changing. Balibaris is moving forward," summarises Szczerba. Resilient growth despite complex economic conditions While the French fashion industry is evolving in a complex economic climate – marked by inflation, slowing consumption, excess stock and rapid digitalisation – Balibaris is showing a resolutely opposite dynamic. Founded in 2010, the brand has skilfully capitalised on a highly qualified, loyal and demanding clientele. According to Fashion Network, its turnover exceeded 50 million euros in 2022, with estimated growth of 35 percent year-on-year. Simultaneously, profitability has consolidated, thanks to sharp stock management, an instantly recognisable aesthetic and a perfectly mastered omnichannel strategy. Under the direction of Julien Schneider, former head of Fnac and Lacoste and now EMEA CEO of L'Occitane en Provence, the brand has successfully digitalised its customer experience in a relevant way. In-store connected tablets, ship-from-store and click and collect are concrete examples. The omnichannel customer spends on average four times more than an exclusively digital customer. Sales via tablets can sometimes represent up to 10 percent of in-store turnover. A key partner to accelerate development The name of the family office remains confidential, but its arrival in the capital demonstrates explicit support for the founder's vision. This operation also takes over from Experienced Capital Partners (ECP), which entered in 2016 via its first fund (ECP I) and has now officially exited, as evidenced by the data published on the fund's website. This change in capital structure does not call into question Balibaris' strategic line. The brand retains its independence and remains true to its DNA, while displaying the ambition to accelerate its development – particularly in Europe – by relying on a now robust French base. The catalytic role of ECP Created in 2016, ECP is an investment fund specialising in high-end consumer brands (fashion, beauty, food). With a first funding of 78 million euros, then a second of 96 million, ECP has invested in recognised brands such as Balibaris, Oh My Cream!, Le Slip Français, Sessùn, Jimmy Fairly, and Bam Karaoke, as previously reported by Maddyness. ECP's support has enabled Balibaris to consolidate its operational structure, finance the opening of numerous points of sale, and prepare for its international deployment. In 2018, additional financing of four million euros was raised from Eiffel Investment Group, as part of a bond issue aimed at supporting the opening of 25 new shops. International expansion Balibaris now has more than 75 points of sale, including around 20 directly owned shops. The brand is aiming for international expansion and is intensifying its European deployment, targeting in particular the UK, Spain, as well as the Belgian, Swiss and Luxembourg markets. "The investment will allow us to accelerate our development in France and abroad," Szczerba declared back in 2017. In 2025, this vision is now becoming a reality on a continental scale. The vision of a European masculine lifestyle While the brand is not (yet) venturing into womenswear, Balibaris is charting a distinct path: that of establishing itself as a major European player in relaxed, elegant menswear. It is positioned at the intersection of urban ready-to-wear, lifestyle trends and unique French savoir-faire. The brand's promise remains unchanged: a combination of quality, simplicity and accuracy, far from any ostentatious branding. This positioning resonates with a generation of men looking for a wardrobe that is modern, accessible and unique. This article was translated to English using an AI tool. FashionUnited uses AI language tools to speed up translating (news) articles and proofread the translations to improve the end result. This saves our human journalists time they can spend doing research and writing original articles. Articles translated with the help of AI are checked and edited by a human desk editor prior to going online. If you have questions or comments about this process email us at info@
