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Paris department store BHV: ‘Unions hope court-ordered receivership will finally end disastrous management’
The company operating Paris department store BHV Marais and a smaller store at Westfield Parly 2 has been placed in court-ordered administration. Unions hope the process will bring in a new buyer and end a period of poor management, as about 660 jobs are at risk.
BHV was already struggling when Frédéric Merlin took it over in 2023, but the article argues that its 2025 partnership with Chinese fast-fashion retailer Shein worsened its position, alienating brands and lenders. The company reported a €1.85 million loss on €170.3 million in revenue in 2025, down from about €300 million in revenue when Merlin acquired it. The court cited falling revenue, high liabilities and a dispute with landlord Brookfield; Merlin sold the chain in June 2026 but retained the BHV brand.
In short
- BHV’s operator has entered court-ordered administration.
- About 660 jobs are at stake.
- 2025 revenue fell to €170.3 million from about €300 million.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Administration could give BHV a chance to find a buyer with the resources and expertise to stabilise the stores and protect jobs. Unions’ criticism has a financial basis: revenue fell sharply, and the Shein partnership reportedly alienated brands and lenders, adding to existing difficulties.
The case against
BHV was already struggling before Merlin took over, so attributing its decline chiefly to his management or the Shein partnership risks oversimplifying a deeper business problem. Court administration may also threaten jobs and the stores’ future, while a change of ownership is no guarantee of recovery.
Explained simply
BHV is a long-established Paris department store, with its main shop in the Marais district and a smaller branch at Parly 2. Frédéric Merlin acquired the business in 2023, when it was already facing financial difficulties, and later sold the shops while keeping the BHV brand.
The retailer’s sales fell after the takeover, and it recorded a loss in 2025. Its partnership with Chinese fast-fashion company Shein prompted some brands to leave and added to concerns among lenders, while a dispute with landlord Brookfield added pressure.
The business’s financial troubles matter to its roughly 660 employees, whose jobs are at risk. Unions hope a buyer will take over the shops and that new ownership can address the problems behind their decline.
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