During the lockdown, we launched the #SOLIDARITY initiative to help fight the virus and support vulnerable people and healthcare workers.
A supportive and responsible partnership
From the very start of the lockdown, Yoan Sauzedde and Matthieu Chatain, Districlos’ co-founders, considered how to help the people and organisations fighting the virus. “We are a responsible company and we believe we have a role to play in a difficult context for everyone,” explains Yoan.
“We then considered different options. As our first wish was to support healthcare workers, we chose to make a donation, backed by our 70 employees across France,” he continues.
To help fight COVID-19, we decided to donate a percentage of the total value of orders placed during the lockdown to various organisations whose aim is to support healthcare workers, the most vulnerable people, and research.
Results of the initiative
In total, €75,000 was donated to various organisations. Half of this amount, i.e. €37,500, was donated on June 15, 2020 to the “Tous unis contre le Virus” alliance, launched by the Fondation de France, AP-HP and Institut Pasteur.
The other half is intended for ten hospitals or university hospitals (CHU) in the regions where our Districlos stores are located, i.e. €3,750 per hospital:
- Cholet Hospital Centre
- Chalon-sur-Saône Hospital Centre
- Eure-et-Seine Hospital Centre
- Béziers Hospital Centre
- Fréjus–Saint-Raphaël Intermunicipal Hospital Centre
- Montélimar–Dieulefit Hospital Group
- Métropole Savoie Hospital Centre
- Sarrebourg Hospital Centre
- Seclin Carvin Hospital Group
- Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital (CHU)
These hospital centres were selected by the directors of the 10 Districlos stores across France in order to make a local contribution consistent with our company’s development strategy. Indeed, we are e-commerce pioneers in the fencing sector, but we are also deeply committed to our regional roots.
How we organised ourselves during the Covid-19 crisis
Very early on, we kept our teams safe by organising remote work for all office staff. To protect our employees and our customers, we quickly closed all our stores. Following the measures announced by the government, we reopened our stores for professionals only, with very strict safety measures. During the lockdown, we followed a reduced contactless delivery policy and contactless in-store collection for professionals as well. The stores then reopened to the public while maintaining the safety measures put in place.
A particularly difficult crisis context, but we were able to adapt quickly and effectively. We set up a hybrid customer journey, where technology serves customers and simplifies their steps. Our teams were always there, motivated and responsive. We thank them for their support and commitment!
Human support also has its place in this adapted journey, through the stores and the call centre, which has never been so in demand. Since the end of the lockdown, the stores have been open to the public while complying with safety rules.
“We are organised to meet customers’ need to speak with trained experts who bring real added value and help them define their project and see it through. Maintaining this kind of connection with our customers during this troubled period was a major source of motivation for our teams,” explains Matthieu Chatain, co-founder of Districlos.
Expert in fencing, gates, and outdoor landscaping since 2019.
Holds a Master’s degree in Digital Marketing – SEO, UX/UI.
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