Pour Vous Leusden becomes ICI Paris XL as franchising ends

The Pour Vous Conny Robbemond perfumery in Leusden, the Netherlands, is to become ICI Paris XL. Refurbishment will begin on 2 November, with the shop scheduled to reopen under its new name on 6 November 2026. For Robbemond, the takeover means moving from independent business owner to salaried branch manager. She and her team will continue working in the shop.

End of franchising leads to takeover

The change follows Pour Vous’s decision to end its franchise operations in the Netherlands. In an advertorial in the local newspaper Leusderkrant on 30 October, Robbemond says the decision was made in December last year. For her branch, this meant the shop could no longer operate under the Pour Vous name from 1 January 2027.

ICI Paris XL subsequently offered to buy the shop. According to Robbemond, the offer was conditional on her staying on as branch manager. She accepted because she is not yet ready to stop working. The takeover therefore changes not only the shop’s name, but also the role of the person who has been its familiar face for many years.

The change in Leusden is not, then, a new opening by a franchisee. It involves an existing franchised shop being acquired and continuing under the ICI Paris XL name. For those following the Dutch franchise market, this distinction matters: the shop will remain open, but its current owner will no longer run it as an independent business.

A familiar face stays on

Robbemond is 64 and has worked in the shop for 46 years. She regards the perfumery as her life’s work. Speaking to Leusderkrant, she says she spent 20 of those years running it as an independent business owner. Selling the shop therefore does not mean saying goodbye to the shop floor or her customers.

The shop has changed brands before. According to Robbemond, Douglas ended its franchise operations in the Netherlands three years ago, after which her branch became Pour Vous. She describes Pour Vous as an ICI Paris XL franchise. That earlier switch allowed her to remain an independent business owner.

This time, things are different. Robbemond explicitly states that, after the takeover, she will work in the shop as an employee rather than as its owner. Alongside that change, she wants to offer continuity for customers. She and the existing team will remain, even as the organisation behind the shop changes.

Refurbishment and reopening in November

The announced refurbishment begins on 2 November. The shop is due to open as ICI Paris XL four days later. The rebranding will therefore take place before the date on which, according to Robbemond, the branch would no longer be able to continue as Pour Vous.

For customers, the most visible changes will be the new name and updated interior. Robbemond says a few brands will also be added. Otherwise, she indicates that little will change beyond the interior and the name. The announcement does not specify which brands will join the range.

The message to local customers is therefore primarily one of continuity: a different look, but the same familiar people. Robbemond stresses that she wants to keep working for the time being. For her, the takeover combines stepping away from business ownership with the opportunity to remain active in the shop where she has spent much of her career.

Different ways to keep a shop trading

The news from Leusden illustrates one possible outcome when a brand ends its franchise operations. In this case, the shop is not closing; instead, it is being sold, with the former owner remaining involved as an employee. Keeping a branch open and preserving independent business ownership are therefore two separate matters.

This is not a universal blueprint for other franchisees: the offer to Robbemond depended on her staying on as branch manager. Her decision does, however, highlight the personal considerations that can come into play. She is not yet ready to retire, and the takeover allows her to continue in her familiar workplace.

Practical takeaway: when discussing a change of brand or franchise format, look beyond the new name and fit-out. Address ownership, the business owner’s future role and continuity for the team as well.