FELCO SA: Locally based, but internationally oriented

The company was founded in 1945 by Félix Flisch. Still in family hands, it employs 200 people and annually produces more than 1 million hand tools and 200,000 industrial tools, 95% of which are exported to more than 120 countries. FELCO is committed to environmental sustainability by reducing its environmental footprint through the production of durable and repairable pruning shears. FELCO favors the use of recycled materials, with 95% of the steel and 70% of the aluminum coming from recycled materials. All manufacturing residues are fully recycled, thus contributing to waste reduction. Each pair of FELCO pruning shears emits less than 3 kg of CO2, which is equivalent to a journey of less than 20 km in a thermal car. By extending the lifespan of its products, FELCO fights against planned obsolescence and promotes responsible consumption.

Questions to Nabil Francis, CEO of FELCO SA:

What innovations and values make your company unique?

FELCO has been offering inspiring performance tools that are manufactured responsibly for almost 80 years. FELCO pruning shears are made to last and all components are interchangeable, which extends their service life. We regularly receive testimonials from users who have tools that are more than 50–60 years old and that are passed down from one generation to the next – there is an emotional attachment to the tool. We offer the widest range of pruning shears.

When you look at what you’ve accomplished, what are you particularly proud of?

We are particularly proud to have achieved the status of a world leader in the professional pruners and cable cutters market. We are a family business, very locally based, but we are internationally oriented with a 95% export rate. Our distribution network is very strong, with a presence in more than 120 countries. We are also proud to see the strong commitment of users to our products. We regularly receive photos of customers tattooing our shears.

Where are your main markets and in which countries are the best sales prospects?

Our company has invested heavily in digitalization to respond to the changes in consumption patterns brought about by the pandemic. This transformation has enabled us to seize new opportunities in key markets where online demand is growing rapidly.  Among these markets, the United States and Germany stand out in terms of their potential for development. These countries offer particularly good sales prospects for our products, which encourages us to focus our efforts on these markets to continue to drive our growth.

Is sustainable development an important topic in your company?

Sustainable development is part of FELCO’s DNA. When Félix Flisch (FELCO’s founder) commercialized his first pruning shears, it was a revolution in the market. He was the first to use forged aluminum for its strength and lightness. The design of the shear with interchangeable parts was also a revolution, in fact durability has always flowed in FELCO’s veins. We also make a lot of effort in choosing our materials. The steel we use is 95% recycled and the aluminum 70% recycled. It is important for us to minimize our carbon footprint.

Are there any developments that give you cause for concern?

Indeed, there are certain developments that cause us some concern. As a company that produces our tools in Switzerland, we are faced with a major challenge due to the high price of the Swiss franc in recent years. This appreciation of the local currency can have a significant impact on our production costs and on our competitiveness on the international market. In the pruning market, we are the only company to produce in Switzerland and this has an impact on our sales costs. In addition, we are closely following the current geopolitical situation. Tensions and changes in international relations can affect our trade operations.

S-GE is pleased to have had you as a loyal member for 35 years. What do you particularly appreciate about this long collaboration?

Thanks to the various export assistance services offered by S GE, we have been able to develop new markets. For example, when we opened our subsidiary in Poland, S GE helped us with its implementation support service. S GE was able to guide us to the right partners to facilitate the development of our local subsidiary. In other markets such as Kenya or Morocco, to name but a few, S GE helped us to get key information and connect with the distributors who were best able to represent our brand in those markets.