Aymeric DE RORTHAYS
Aymeric de Rorthays literally started out at "Au Vieux Campeur". With his brother Ludovic, who runs the business with him (they are both officially the General Managers), from the moment they took their first steps, the boys spent countless hours tagging along with their father in Vieux Campeur locations, whether in shops in the Parisian Quartier Latin or travelling to trade shows both in France and across Europe, anywhere from Grenoble to Munich. So quite naturally, later on, it was an interesting and "fun" experience to work with suppliers who'd known them as boys. Jumping into work at the age of 16, Aymeric started out as a buyer in 2002 for a few years, while he was still in college. Then, shortly after graduating, he became General Manager.
"As General Manager of an atypical company, with even more atypical practices, my working methods tend to deviate from the norm and have often thrown off people we work with, whether internally or externally. I'm very much like our business: independent. My passion and dedication to the Outdoors stems directly from that love for freedom" he says.
About Au Vieux Campeur
Created in 1941 (though the name was only registered as a trademark in 2000 when the website was created), Au Vieux Campeur is the leading independent Outdoor brand/ label in Europe (and perhaps globally). It is also still a 100% family owned business. Au Vieux Campeur has locations in 11 French cities (Gap being the most recently inaugurated location after their corner at Printemps Haussman, both opened in 2020). The website, which remained informative for a long time, shifted to a commercial function quite late, but now represents 12% of the company's total turnover (98% of sales recorded in France). One element that makes their online logistical system unique is that there is no dedicated warehouse. All products ordered online are prepared and shipped by the teams in the shops. Just like the website, the company joined social media only quite recently.
Albeit their late arrival to the party, they can quite comfortably state that their Instagram and Facebook pages are among the most followed in the field of Outdoor sports and both provide a genuine (and efficient) platform to communicate directly with their community.
Aymeric de Rorthays was literally born at Au Vieux Campeur since, like his brother Ludovic who runs the company with him (they are both officially "general managers"), from their earliest days they were often with their father in the stores in the Quartier Latin, but also at French (Grenoble) and European (Munich) trade fairs. It's always been "fun" to work with suppliers who knew him from an early age. He began working at the age of 16, becoming a buyer in 2002 (still a student at the time) for a few years, and officially General Manager shortly after graduating.
"Being the CEO of an atypical company with an even more atypical way of operating makes my working methods quite different, and has often confused the people who work with us, both internally and externally. Like my company, I'm a very independent person. My passion for the outdoors also stems from this love of freedom," he asserts.
About Le Vieux Campeur
Born in 1941 (but the name wasn't registered until 2000, when its website was created), Au Vieux Campeur is the first independent outdoor brand in Europe (maybe the world?). It is 100% family-owned. Au Vieux Campeur is present in 11 cities in France (Gap being the latest arrival after their corner at Printemps Haussmann, both in 2020). Its website was a latecomer to the market, having long been informative. It now accounts for around 12% of its total sales (98% of which are in France). One of the particularities of their internet logistics is that they don't have a dedicated warehouse; all products ordered are shipped (and therefore served and prepared) by in-store teams.
Like their website, their arrival on the MeSo was late, but they think it's fair to say that they are now the most followed Instagram and Facebook accounts for outdoor brands, and a real (and effective) place for exchange with their community.
