A Paris jeweller protected by a security door manufactured by Birmingham-based Warrior Doors was able to reopen for business on Monday morning, following widespread violence and looting across the French capital over the weekend. The premier retailer was among businesses targeted during the unrest on Saturday 17 October, which saw luxury boutiques, jewellers and other commercial premises attacked across Paris. While neighbouring retailers faced extensive damage, the Warrior Doors installation withstood the attempted forced entry, protecting the premises and its valuable contents.
According to figures reported by Vogue Business, approximately 1,500 shops and retailers across France were affected by the violence, with major luxury brands including Burberry, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Celine and Lacoste among those targeted. For Warrior Doors Managing Director Brett Barratt, confirmation that the company’s security technology had successfully protected its customer provided some welcome news amid the destruction.
“The scenes coming out of Paris have been absolutely horrendous, and we condemn the violence completely,” said Barratt. “These are businesses that people have spent years building, employing staff and investing considerable sums in their premises. Our thoughts are with everyone affected. “Over the weekend, I received a call from one of our customers in Paris. Their jewellery store had been targeted during the riots, but the Warrior Door had stood firm. The premises were protected, and they were able to reopen on Monday morning.
“That is an extraordinary result given the circumstances, and I am immensely proud of our team in Birmingham who designed and manufactured the door.”
The scale of the violence has prompted concern throughout the French retail industry, with executives warning of the consequences for employment, investment and the international reputation of Paris as a luxury shopping destination. Thierry Guibert, CEO of Lacoste parent company Maus Frères, highlighted the threat to jobs and years of investment, while Galeries Lafayette executive chairman Nicolas Houzé raised concerns over the economic losses facing retailers.
For businesses operating in high-value retail, the financial consequences of an attack can extend considerably beyond the merchandise itself.
“People naturally think about the jewellery and watches when they see these attacks, but the investment in the actual stores can be enormous,” explained Barratt. “Some of these premises have exceptionally expensive shopfitting, bespoke display cabinets, specialist glazing and beautifully finished interiors. When a store is ransacked, the cost of putting everything back together can be staggering.
“Then you have the interruption to trading, the impact on employees and the time involved in rebuilding. I genuinely worry about some of the businesses affected and how quickly they will be able to recover.”
Warrior Doors manufactures its specialist security doors and protective systems at its Birmingham facility, where the company has developed proprietary technology designed to resist determined physical attacks. Its installations protect jewellers, luxury retailers and other high-value premises, combining tested security performance with the architectural and operational requirements of individual customers. The Paris incident has provided a particularly demanding demonstration of the company’s engineering capabilities, with its technology protecting a retailer during one of the most serious episodes of civil unrest experienced by the French capital in recent years.
“We invest heavily in developing our own security technology, and our engineers understand the forces these products may have to withstand,” said Barratt. “Jewellers face some particularly aggressive methods of attack, and the speed at which criminals operate means the security protecting the premises has to perform immediately. “Every door we manufacture represents a considerable amount of engineering knowledge, testing and practical experience. To see one of our installations withstand an attack during the Paris riots is a tremendous endorsement of that work.”
For the Paris customer, the effectiveness of the installation meant that business could resume as the city began assessing the damage.
“Our customer was back open on Monday morning, serving their customers and continuing to trade,” Barratt added. “That is what matters to us. Their staff could return to work, their investment was protected and the business could carry on. When you consider the disruption facing so many other retailers across Paris, the importance of that outcome becomes very clear.”
As French retailers continue to assess the destruction, Warrior Doors has expressed its solidarity with the businesses, employees and communities affected.
“We stand with the owners and employees and deplore the violence and destruction witnessed over the weekend,” concluded Barratt. “Our thoughts are with every business owner and employee now dealing with the consequences. We are particularly pleased that our customer came through the attacks with their premises protected.
“To know that a security door designed and manufactured by our team in Birmingham has helped a Paris jeweller emerge from such a difficult weekend and reopen for business is something we can all take great pride in.”
