{{Short description|French clothing retailer in Europe}} {{Infobox company |name = Pimkie |logo = Pimkie Logo 03.2022.svg |image = |image_caption = |type = Subsidiary |founded = {{start date and age|1971|df=yes}} |founder = |key_people = Sandrine Njezic |hq_location_city = Villeneuve-d'Ascq |hq_location_country = France |num_locations = |area_served = France, Germany, Spain |industry = Retail |revenue = |parent = Lee Cooper |products = Clothing |num_employees = |website = [http://www.pimkie.com/ pimkie.com] }} [[File:LEpimkie.JPG|thumb|Pimkie store in Leipzig, Germany]] '''Pimkie''' is a French fast fashion label and chain store for young women. Its headquarters is in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France.<ref name="Reflex Logistics 2013">{{cite web | title=Pimkie centralizes its logistics flow management with Reflex WMS | website=Reflex Logistics | date=2013-03-20 | url=https://www.reflex-logistics.com/en/references/pimkie-centralizes-its-logistics-flow-management-reflex-wms | access-date=2018-03-07}}</ref><ref name="Nedap Retail 2018">{{cite web | title=Pimkie case study | website=Nedap Retail | date=2018-03-07 | url=http://www.nedap-retail.com/resources/case-studies/pimkie-case-study/ | access-date=2018-03-07}}</ref> They have offices in Germany and Spain. The first shop was opened in 1971 in Lille.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://job.pimkie.co.uk/pages/18144-our-history |title=Our history - Pimkie |website=job.pimkie.co.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727130513/http://job.pimkie.co.uk/pages/18144-our-history |archive-date=2013-07-27}} </ref>
After a long expansion period, Pimkie reached its peak presence in 2018 with 716 stores in 30 countries, but the company began to face difficulties in the late 2010s.<ref name="Pimkie">{{cite web | title=Pimkie en figures | website=Pimkie | url=http://job.pimkie.co.uk/pages/18148-pimkie-in-figures| access-date=2018-03-07}}</ref> In 2022, a majority share of the company was sold to Lee Cooper.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-10-26 |title=L’enseigne Pimkie est reprise par Lee Cooper et Kindy |language=fr |work=Le Monde.fr |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2022/10/26/l-enseigne-pimkie-est-reprise-par-lee-cooper-et-kindy_6147425_3234.html |access-date=2023-10-02}}</ref>
==History== In 1971, French fashion entrepreneurs launched a new trend: pants for women. Thanks to some success, the range was expanded to offer women's ready-to-wear fashions for 15-25 year-olds. Pimkie, then known as Pimckie, opened its first store in Lille during this era.
In 1983, Pimckie became Pimkie. At the end of the 1980s, Pimkie had established itself throughout France with around 100 stores. The brand grew internationally over 20 years. In 2015, the brand expanded its target market from 15-25 year-olds to 18-35 year-olds.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=WW |first=FashionNetwork com |title=France's Pimkie set to close 50 stores across Austria, Germany |url=https://ww.fashionnetwork.com/news/France-s-pimkie-set-to-close-50-stores-across-austria-germany,904581.html |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=FashionNetwork.com |language=en-WW}}</ref> By 2018, it had 716 stores in 30 countries, mainly in Europe, five purchasing-sourcing offices (Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey, China, and Hong Kong), one main warehouse in Germany, and five distribution warehouses in Europe.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://job.pimkie.com/bureaux|title=Notre implantation - Pimkie|website=job.pimkie.com|language=fr|access-date=2018-10-29|archive-date=2018-11-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122015805/http://job.pimkie.com/bureaux|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The company began to face difficulties in late-2010 following a proposed agreement on an indefinite number of contract terminations in France.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lavoixdunord.fr/285943/article/2017-12-23/suppressions-de-postes-et-fermetures-de-magasins-annoncees-chez-pimkie-le-8|author=Jean-Marc Petit|title=Villeneuve-d'Ascq Suppressions de postes et fermetures de magasins annoncées chez Pimkie le 8 janvier|website=lavoixdunord.fr|language=fr|access-date=23 December 2017|url-access=subscription}}</ref> In 2017, Pimkie announced it would close some 50 stores in Germany and Austria, amid several executive departures.<ref name=":0" /> In August 2018, it made 208 people redundant in France and closed 37 stores.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lavoixdunord.fr/293048/article/2018-01-08/pimkie-annonce-208-postes-supprimes-le-nord-fortement-touche|title=Villeneuve-d'Ascq Pimkie annonce 208 postes supprimés, le Nord fortement touché|website=lavoixdunord.fr|language=fr|access-date=8 January 2018}}</ref> In December 2018, Béatrice Lafon was appointed as CEO.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pimkie's CEO Béatrice Lafon setting up senior management team with international outlook |url=https://uk.fashionnetwork.com/news/Pimkie-s-ceo-beatrice-lafon-setting-up-senior-management-team-with-international-outlook,1080860.html |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2020-03-25 |website=FashionNetwork.com |language=en-UK}}</ref> The bankruptcy of Pimkie's Belgian and Swiss subsidiaries was announced in 2021, amid management issues and the pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lesoir.be/363882/article/2021-03-31/la-chaine-de-magasins-pimkie-declaree-en-faillite|title=La chaîne de magasins Pimkie déclarée en faillite |website=lesoir.be|language=fr|access-date=2021-03-31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.20min.ch/fr/story/en-pleurs-elles-racontent-comment-on-les-a-detruites-282522740979|title=Faillite de Pimkie en Suisse – En pleurs, elles racontent comment « on les a détruites »|website=20 minutes|language=fr|access-date=24 December 2021}}</ref>
On 29 March 2023, Pimkie announced a restructuring plan involving the closure of 64 stores over a four-year period and the elimination of 257 positions.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-29 |title=Pimkie : 63 magasins fermés et 257 postes supprimés d'ici à 2027 - ICI |url=https://www.ici.fr/infos/economie-social/pimkie-64-magasins-fermes-et-257-postes-supprimes-d-ici-a-2027-6050824 |access-date=2026-05-20 |website=ICI, le média de la vie locale |language=fr}}</ref> Following two redundancy plans implemented in March 2023 and January 2024, the company entered safeguard proceedings in May 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-08 |title=Pimkie : l’ancienne marque de mode de la famille Mulliez évite de peu la liquidation - Capital.fr |url=https://www.capital.fr/entreprises-marches/pimkie-lancienne-marque-de-mode-de-la-famille-mulliez-evite-de-peu-la-liquidation-1505173 |access-date=2026-05-20 |website=www.capital.fr |language=fr}}</ref> On 30 October 2024, the Lille Métropole Commercial Court approved a two-year continuation plan, and Salih Halassi became Pimkie's sole shareholder.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=conso |first=L. S. A. |date=2024-11-12 |title=Pimkie : voici les priorités de l'enseigne pour renouer avec la rentabilité |url=https://www.lsa-conso.fr/pimkie-voici-les-priorites-de-l-enseigne-pour-renouer-avec-la-rentabilite,458061 |language=fr}}</ref>
On 16 September 2025, Pimkie signed a partnership agreement with Shein. Under the agreement, Pimkie began offering online collections manufactured by Shein in China and sold under the Pimkie brand. The partnership drew criticism from both employees and the French Federation of Women's Ready-to-Wear Clothing. Some observers argued that the agreement could enable Shein to mitigate the potential impact of proposed French legislation aimed at regulating fast fashion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morestin |first=Florine |date=2025-09-19 |title=Quand Pimkie s’allie à Shein : un choc pour l’industrie de la mode française |url=https://www.novethic.fr/economie-et-social/transformation-de-leconomie/quand-pimkie-sallie-a-shein-un-choc-pour-lindustrie-de-la-mode-francaise |access-date=2026-05-20 |website=Novethic |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Guerin |first=Elsa |date=2025-09-17 |title=Pimkie x Shein : la FFPAPF et l'AFM montent au créneau |url=https://www.ecommercemag.fr/Thematique/retail-1220/veille-tribune-2169/Breves/pimkie-shein-ffpapf-afm-montent-creneau-485357.htm |access-date=2026-05-20 |website=EcommerceMag.fr |language=fr-FR}}</ref> One month later, Pimkie was expelled from the Fédération des enseignes de l'habillement, the French trade association representing clothing retailers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-19 |title="Destructeur pour notre pays": après son alliance de la discorde avec Shein, Pimkie est exclue de la Fédération des enseignes de l’habillement |url=https://www.bfmtv.com/economie/consommation/destructeur-pour-notre-pays-apres-son-alliance-de-la-discorde-avec-shein-pimkie-est-exclue-de-la-federation-des-enseignes-de-l-habillement_AN-202509190497.html |access-date=2026-05-20 |website=BFM BUSINESS |language=fr}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} *{{Official website|http://www.pimkie.com/}}
Category:French fashion Category:Clothing brands of France Category:Clothing companies of France Category:Clothing retailers of France Category:French companies established in 1971 Category:Clothing companies established in 1971 Category:2022 mergers and acquisitions