It is a tap giant bronze horse head shaped

It is a tap giant bronze horse head shaped. It was commissioned by a Sheikh of Saudi Arabia for its royal stables. It took 15 days to develop the prototype. If it pleases, the rich Emirati will buy ten, a command more of 35,000 euros. Its manufacturer The THG company, the name of founders tadpole, Haudiquez and Grisoni, a specialist in the Luxury faucets. The creations of this sum, founded in the 1950s, SMEs are known around the world by a clientele of wealthy individuals or hotels top of range. This is the resumption in 1995 Mark Jean-Claude Delépine, the initiator in the 1970s design in this sector, which allowed him to establish his international notoriety, with its models in the form of Swan or dolphin. With 230 employees, always family company carries out 80 of its sales abroad. But with the crisis, number of projects including construction of yachts and hotels have been stopped net. After an increase of 25 of net sales in 2008, after in 2007, for operating income equivalent to 25 of sales, branch view 20 decline in activity in 2009, EUR 25.5 million. His first market, the United States, is 40.

Ten trades

"At the same time, the Middle East has remained stable, and orders in China, where we have implemented since 2007 major projects related to the Olympics, jumped 35 ", says Michel Gosse, the Director General who, with his wife, CEO, owns 100 of the capital since 2003. To push his pawns on the spot, the company will open a subsidiary in Shanghai. Customers there are taps with some gilding. And the leader is awaiting confirmation of a major contract with a chain of hotels and Chinese luxury residences, which should provide a part of its turnover for 2010.

In the meantime, to pass the crisis, the SMEs has tight cost, arrested its 55 interim contracts, and lowered its prices to win contracts. But, no question of cutting the commands to small local subcontractors. "We are working with 25 artisans polishers and a dozen in the screw in the Vimeu." "We have continued to provide them with a minimum of controls, otherwise, we will have more person when the recovery will be there", repeats the pattern. The strength of the company Integration of the design in the manufacture of its tooling, machining... "We have a dozen of different trades." "This flexibility allows us to make the series, while responding to the vagaries of a decorator or requests for our Office, and it while remaining in the market price", said Olivier Rolland, responsible for major accounts. The rates of its models range from 300 to 6,000 euros exhibit. THG has initiated since 2000 partnerships with large houses as Lalique and Bernardaud porcelainier. And since seven years, she conducts projects with decorators, as Pierre-Yves Rochon, who him opened wide the door of the hotel of luxury. In Paris, the SME has equipped almost all palaces, the Ritz at the Crillon. In course, the project of the Shangri-La, a five-star 100 rooms with view on the Eiffel Tower.

Among the demands of individuals, society equipped with 18 cabins of Octopus, the yacht of Paul Allen, the partner of Bill Gates, and mussels single with prohibition to be reused. THG also has client Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, who, after his boat, he commissioned taps for private aircraft and its villas.