Pierre Théobald: How is Chaussures Léon doing?

Paulette Cahen: For a centenarian, it’s doing very well!

What does 100 years mean to you?

It makes me very happy. My husband and I have two daughters, Corinne and Magali. The shop turned out to be our third child.

A third child, I suppose, to whom you've given a lot?

Yes. My husband even more than me. It was his baby. His everything. It was thanks to him that the company always ran smoothly. We were very attached to it.

What character traits defined your husband as a boss?

First of all, his professionalism. He started at the age of 18. He genuinely loved it and kept abreast of everything. That passion stayed with him right to the end. Then there was his kindness. It's simple, everyone loved him very much.

What’s the secret of longevity?

The staff. Always friendly, always excellent advice. Quality of service is our hobbyhorse, and that's why our customers keep coming back. I'm most proud of our staff. Some of our sales assistants have spent longer in the shop than I have. They're now retired, but they still come back to see us. They've become friends.

What's the advantage of being a family business?

We have experience. And that experience is passed on. The same goes for our staff.

Has the question of selling ever arisen?

As long as someone in the family was willing to take over, the question never arose. It would have been heartbreaking, especially for my husband, if Corinne hadn't taken over. But it was her natural decision. We never forced anyone.

In 2024, who will be the target audience for Chaussures Léon?

The demographic hasn't changed. Customers who came to the store in the Gare [district] when they were children are still coming now that they're grandparents. We have a loyal clientele. We are an institution.

Do you sell shoes as you would any other item? Textiles, for example?

When it comes to clothing, it's very special. You try a garment on, it may or may not fit, but whatever the case, it won't hurt. With a pair of shoes... We need to know the customer's feet.

You have a location in La Belle Étoile shopping centre and the 'historic' one is in the Gare district. Do you still believe in the future of high street shopping?

If it's not franchises with little knowledge of the trade, the answer is yes. Retailers have the expertise. They know how to welcome and advise people. Above all, they know how to buy. To sell, you need quality. My husband had a nose for it. Intuition, experience...

What do you wish for the future?

That we celebrate many more birthdays!

Continuity

For more than 30 years, from the early 1970s onwards, Paulette Cahen, very attached to the "historic" address in the Gare district, supported her husband, André, at the helm of Chaussures Léon. Since then, has taken over the family business, which was founded in 1924.

This article was written for the  print edition of Paperjam magazine, published on 9 July. Click to subscribe to the magazine. Is your company a member of the Paperjam+Delano Business Club? You can request a subscription delivered directly to you. Let us know via .

Read the original French version of this interview