🌿 Perpetuating an Engaged Brand is the commitment made by Tatienne and Sébastien. By taking over Les Pépinières de Boitsfort, they chose to preserve the spirit of the founders, supported by the existing team, while modernising the activity with a clear and sustainable vision. A transition made possible with the support of finance&invest.brussels.
You chose to take over an iconic Brussels-based company. Why this choice?
Tatienne : We had been looking for a business to take over for five years. We wanted a project we could build together, but it had to resonate with both of us. We have always shared a passion for gardening—we both grew up in that world, in families of self-employed people. When Sébastien told me about Les Pépinières de Boitsfort, I immediately connected with it.
Sébastien : The journey was long… With my background in finance (former CFO in various multinational companies), I reviewed dozens of cases, made several offers that were rejected or that I withdrew from, sometimes at the last minute. Nothing really fit—until this project. And then everything made sense. Les Pépinières de Boitsfort is not just a business. It is a local institution. A strong brand, deeply rooted in its territory, with an incredible team of horticulture enthusiasts, a wide variety of plants, and high-quality advice.
Tatienne : And we did it together. That is precious, because the days are intense and decisions constant. Doing it as a team gives strength and real mutual understanding during more difficult moments.
“Perpetuating an Engaged Brand” — what does it mean to you?
Sébastien : The challenge was to take over the company while respecting the spirit of the founders and the existing team—around thirty people—who were afraid that the original spirit might disappear. Here, we sell plants, but also a relationship with nature, a lifestyle that is both creative and healthy. And there is a relationship of trust with customers that has been built over the years.
Tatienne : We benefit from a brand known for its strengths: the quality of plants and advice, the selection, the expertise. We feel that we are passing on more than a product. We help people create a small corner of happiness at home, a space to breathe. And we really want to preserve that.
Sébastien : Especially since we do not operate like mass retail. Here, we select plants directly from our growers, with a strong quality requirement. Our customers know they will find specific varieties, new products, and above all: plants adapted to the local climate.
Tatienne : The commitment is also environmental. The sector is highly regulated, and our suppliers are attentive to ecological impact: natural soil amendments, substrates without harmful residues… And this extends to our landscaping services, with around ten gardeners working in Brussels and Walloon Brabant.
What challenges have you faced since the takeover?
Tatienne : The first challenge was being accepted by the existing team. We are not from the sector, and we had to integrate into a group of specialists trained in horticulture. Les Pépinières de Boitsfort was their company before it became ours! And we were very lucky because they trusted us.
Sébastien : Digitalisation! The company still operates largely with paper and Excel files. Everything needs to evolve: ordering, invoicing, communication… We want to move towards “Pépinières 2.0” to improve both customer experience and internal efficiency. Then there is also the energy issue. We heat greenhouses, we consume a lot of water… We are considering integrating solar energy quickly and moving towards greater energy independence. We want to evolve the company while remaining faithful to its identity and value proposition.
How did finance&invest.brussels support your project?
Sébastien : When you build a project like this, the first reflex is to meet banks. And very quickly, we were told we would need to contribute 20% in equity.
That made sense… but after analysing our personal finances, we realised we would need external funding, which we then sought. And that is when we were told about finance&invest.brussels, since the company is located in the Brussels Region.
In discussions with them, I quickly understood they could help by doubling my equity through “quasi-equity” funding, namely a subordinated loan. I did not know this type of financing existed, and I saw it as a great opportunity to leverage the rest of the funding.
Tatienne : And on a human level, we were very well supported. They were attentive, available, and structured. They are professionals, but with real proximity.
Any advice for those dreaming of starting out?
Sébastien : Take your time. Carefully weigh the risks. And above all, understand that a takeover is a life project. It is a full commitment, with stress, paperwork, debt… but also a lot of satisfaction. It requires momentum and discipline.
Tatienne : But above all, a real desire to continue a story. Because here, we did not create something new. We simply took over the torch—and we are very happy to have found a financial partner who understands that for us, entrepreneurship means above all “perpetuating an engaged brand.”
