Xiaomi stores have all closed in France, with the exception of the one on the Champs-Élysées. A decision which occurs following the judicial liquidation of the company which took care of their management.
Since Tuesday August 23, 2022, at exactly 5 p.m., most Xiaomi stores in France have been closed. On the Instagram accounts of the various stores, the following message is pinned: “Our stores had to close their doors, but Xiaomi customer service can be reached on 08 05 37 09 16 for any ongoing subject. Thank you for following us and good luck to all.” The cause of this bad news is not due to the Chinese brand but to the French company which manages its stores, Tell Me, which finds itself in receivership. Therefore, only the Xiaomi store on the Champs-Élysées remains open, as it is managed by another partner according to Xiaomi.
Xiaomi: the shops in the fire of a receivership
Following a judgment rendered on July 6, 2022, the Commercial Court of Créteil opened receivership proceedings for the company Tell Me, which managed the majority of Xiaomi stores. The stores located in Lille, Lyon, Toulouse and in Paris – Sébastopol, Forum des Halles and Vélizy 2 are concerned. However, the stores in Paris Saint-Lazare and La Défense are also indicated as closed.
This is not the first time that Xiaomi – which wanted to do like the Apple Stores – has had difficulty with its French stores. Already in June 2020, his store in Opéra had to close due to the confinement linked to Covid-19. Because regardless of the sales, there is always rent – very expensive in Paris – and employees to pay. In a statement, the Chinese company said it had “Aware of the decision of the Court of Justice of Créteil, placing the company Tell Me, manager of the Xiaomi Store in France, in compulsory liquidation, Xiaomi is working to quickly resume normal activities”. So far, no buyer has come forward. In the meantime, the products can still be purchased from the official website, from partner retailers online, in stores and from operators.