It is a small automobile garage which employs six employees and two apprentices. Olivier Bocaert has been a business leader for over twenty years. In the village of Croisilles, in the Pas-de-Calais, he has always had competition from another Renault garage. And yet, at 55, he is experiencing one of the most difficult periods for his garage. Blame it on the energy crisis, but not only. 20 minutes the encounter.
What has changed in your working day since the rise in energy prices?
Now we have to save money at all levels. We make more mistakes. All the places where we don’t work, we turn off the light. Before, our reception hall remained lit until 10 p.m., now it is turned off at 7 p.m., at the same time as the closing of the workshops. It’s more constraints, but we adapt.
How much has your energy bill increased?
For 2022, the increase is estimated between 25% and 30% for gas and electricity. But this increase is on top of everything else. Spare parts, tools, oil… All prices are skyrocketing.
How was this increase passed on to customers?
For the moment, we have not passed anything on to customers because we know that it is complicated for everyone. This year, we hope to be able to do the same. We will see the evolution. But there’s no mystery, I don’t know how long we can hold out in this situation. The luck is not to have any more loan on the garage and not to have used the loan at zero rate at the time of the closing because of Covid-19. Fortunately for us, because it was a poisoned gift, this loan.
What state or community aid do you receive?
None. We’re probably too small to get any help. We only have our eyes left to cry.
If this increase continues, what will your situation be in January 2024?
What I would have liked is to please my employees, but I believe that they will be the first affected by the situation. If this continues, at some point, the cash will no longer be there and it will be very complicated. Especially since the supply leaves something to be desired. For repairs, spare parts are increasingly difficult to obtain. Especially since October. And no delivery time can be guaranteed. For example, I’ve been waiting for a Clio hood for weeks. And I can’t promise anything to the client. We are in total limbo. What saves us is that it’s the same for the competition.