After Covid blues, French saxophone maker hits the right note

After the financial blues of the COVID-19 pandemic, the French saxophone maker favored by American jazz greats celebrates its 100th birthday looking to expand further in Asia and the United States.

Selmer experienced two difficult years after the pandemic began in 2020, the company's executive chairman Thierry Oriez tells AFP.

"The COVID crisis affected us together with our customers" because "the world of music stopped," whether that meant shows or conservatory classes.

But now Oriez looks to the future, with sales brimming once more.

"(I'm) convinced we could do more in the United States."

Around 90 percent of sales are international, with China accounting for one-fifth of them ahead of Japan, South Korea and the United States. The company did not provide any sales figures.

While order books are full, Selmer, like many other companies, faces recruitment difficulties while COVID-19 continues to pose absenteeism problems.

The company was founded by clarinet player Henri Selmer in 1885 but produced its first saxophone in 1922.

Selmer's instruments have been played by jazz legends including John Coltrane, Stan Getz and Sonny Rollins.

The family business was sold in 2018 by its heirs to European private equity group Argos Soditec. A delivery subsidiary for Asia was established in 2020.

Oriez took over the business in July from Jerome Selmer, a great-grandson of Henri Selmer.

The instruments are made at a factory in Mantes-La-Ville, just west of Paris. The company also owns a laboratory that works with musicians to develop new models.

Finishing touches and assembly of Selmer's Axos series, a new collection less expensive than the company's other instruments, are completed in China. An...