Passionate about motorcycles and skiing and self-taught at heart, Pierre Tessier created his company almost thirty years ago, now with twelve employees. This trained mechanic is constantly looking for improvements or new products to create for the world of disabled sports.
How did you find yourself, thirty years ago, linking mechanics to disability?
I trained in general mechanics and I arrived in Saint-Sorlin-d’Arves in 1987 to join my wife. I quickly found work in a holiday center, which took care of people with disabilities. It was in this center which has a private chairlift that I realized that there was no possibility of attaching disabled equipment to the ski lifts. The following year, I created my first prototypes. In the meantime, I met people from the Association of Paralyzed People of France (APF) who had developed a ski chair. I joined the project, bringing them my experience in mechanics. We have thus created an articulated ski-chair, which allows you to slide safely thanks to brakes.
Why did you decide to become self-employed?
The chair we created with the APF still doesn’t take the chairlift. I decided to strike out on my own and resign from my position at the station to have time to develop the product. On the other hand, I always needed to learn and update my skills. I embarked on technician training at Afpa in Grenoble for a year. During the weekends, I upgraded the ski chair so that it could be used in the ski lifts. The patent for this new product was filed in 1994. Pleased with the development of the product, the APF also suggested that I create training to teach companions how to drive this chair. It was also at that time that I realized the relevance of developing my business because there was constant demand in this sector.
Who were you mentored by in your early years of entrepreneurship?
For a long time, I made all my products from A to Z alone, because my wife only joined me in 2000, in the workshop and for administrative tasks. During the first five years, I alternated between design, production, sales, but also my activity as training manager with the APF. I produced 17 armchairs, renamed Tandemski, the first year. Alongside, I completed various internships on business creation, led by the CMA and Maurienne Expansion. Two years after the launch of my company, an advisor from Maurienne Expansion believed in my project and helped me a lot to structure the company, give it the correct SARL status, etc. I even received a grant in the “Innovative Entrepreneurial Business” category. I was also able to count on the support of the Banque populaire Aura which granted me my first loan, when it was necessary to expand the premises in Saint-Rémy-de-Maurienne. It was a real relief after ten years of difficulty finding a bank that would support me.
How do you stay optimistic in the face of criticism of your business?
The different structures that I met were not the most optimistic about my concept (laughter) ! I don’t think there’s a way to stay confident, but I’ve always been able to count on my wife to believe it with me. The enthusiasm of the people I met also pushed me to persevere.
What is your best memory or your best encounter?
Everything is necessarily linked to my activity which occupied me full time. I remember a meeting with the Lieutenant Governor of Canada in 2000. She came to ski in Combloux and was surprised by the equipment that people with disabilities used to ski. We quickly got to know each other and she told me of her wish to invest in this type of equipment to import it to Quebec. She asked me to go there so that I could train the attendants to use this equipment. Even if freeing up time seemed like an impossible mission to me at that time, I don’t regret going there, because it was an unforgettable moment of exchange and sharing. This allowed me to get my head out of the handlebars!
You are the brainchild of each new product: where do you draw your inspiration?
It is in daily meetings and exchanges with users that I draw my inspiration. On the other hand, I don’t create a product every year: they are often improvements to existing products. We are also lucky to have feedback from testers to advance the activity and accessibility to disabled sports. At almost 62 years old, I know that I will soon hand over the reins to my son. This is why I decided to surround myself with a team in charge of innovation who can support my son later in the search for new products and new improvements.
What structures support you today in the development of the company?
The company is a member of the CPME and the Cluster Montagnes network. The various meetings organized allow us to interact with other companies to remain efficient. I consider that a business manager must remain one, particularly through training: with the development of our electrical equipment, I was keen to understand how the electronic mechanism works. Creating a profitable business requires a lot of work, versatility and perseverance!
