Once upon a time, the Belgian city Dilsen-Stokkem was characterised by its mining industry. Work migrants from all corners of Europe travelled to this Flemish city. Although remnants of this era still exist, another sector has taken the lead. Today, the focus is on furniture.
One of the main players is the Mecam Group. The furniture manufacturer has been active in Dilsen-Stokkem for 46 years, supporting employment in Limburg with hundreds of regional workers since 1978. Locally produced craftsmanship sounds appealing, but it also has its drawbacks.
Luc Meers, CEO of the Mecam Group.
"Unfair" competition
Producing in Belgium also means paying Belgian salaries. 'The salary increases we face in our country are immense,' begins Luc Meers. The CEO of Mecam cherishes his employees, but explains that it puts competitive pressure on the company. 'Especially in production companies, salaries are skyrocketing. We have to compete with companies that produce in low-wage countries. This puts the company's results under pressure and ultimately determines our future.'
These developments have led Mecam to think out of the box, or rather, out of the country. ' 'We have very close collaborations with two partners in Poland. This has been the case for years. However, we will be forced to intensify this collaboration.' A significant portion of the production is already done via these partners, but in the coming years, the share will shift to as much as 80 to 85 percent.
Brand arsenal
Despite the challenging market, Luc remains calm. 'I have complete confidence in our company structure, even if the market remains this way for a while. Firstly, we have a lot of capital in the group and secondly, we can distinguish ourselves through our extensive range.' The Mecam Group's brand portfolio consists of the labels: Neo-Style, Ligna (in collaboration with DFM), Moome, Indera, Authentix, and Otium Care.
From trend follower to trend setter
Not only is the market constantly changing, but Mecam itself is also evolving. 'I dare say that we have become a trendsetter. In the past, we were more of a trend follower,' says Luc. This new approach also carries risks. 'It's always a waiting game to see if the models actually catch on. It's reassuring that in most cases, the furniture is well received.'
Maintaining core values
Things may change, but the core within the family business remains the same. 'Hospitality and warmth are part of the organisation. That was already the case when my father was still here, a fair and just man,' Luc describes his father. He wants to cherish this core value at all costs, both towards employees and customers. 'The customer friendliness, throughout the entire company, may well be our strongest asset,' concludes Luc.
More information:
Mecam Group
Vilvertstraat 11
3650 Dilsen-Stokkem
+32 (0)89 79 82 99
[email protected]
www.mecamgroup.be
Belgian Mecam Group demonstrates flexibility in challenging market: