2008: A Crazy Bet in a Skeptical World
October 2008. The entire planet trembles at the collapse of Lehman Brothers. Financial markets are crumbling, companies are laying off, and banks are cutting funding. The world is going through the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.
Companies are closing, investments are freezing, and everyone is advocating caution.
And yet... it is at this precise moment that Lioninox was born.
Around us, we were told that it was insane to launch a new project in the midst of an economic storm. That selling stainless steel furniture online had no future. That companies would cut their expenses and no one would take the risk of buying other than through traditional channels.
But we had a vision. We knew that professionals needed more flexible, faster, and more economical alternatives. We decided to go against the tide and dare where others hesitated.
"It will never work."
"Customers want to see and touch before buying."
"It's too specialized to be sold on the internet."
The market demanded more flexibility, fairer prices, and faster delivery times. But traditional suppliers dominated with excessive margins and archaic processes.
The Beginnings: More Enemies than Supporters
Our first months were a trial. Our competitors saw us as a threat.
The first anonymous calls arrived.
Then direct threats.
Then the first lawsuits.
"You are breaking the market, we will shut you down."
One day, a competitor called us:
"You need to raise your prices. What you are doing is dangerous, you are going to break the market."
But we held firm. We knew we were on the right path.
🚀 Then an unforgettable moment...
I will always remember the thrill of the first customer. Just as the online store was launched, without advertising, without promotion... the first orders arrived spontaneously.
The restaurant Chez Jacques, an institution in Metz with excellent reviews, placed an order to equip its kitchen. Among their choices: our fast-food trash can 080660, stainless steel sinks, shelves, and dishwashing stations. Almost at the same time, the Laboratoires Dermatologiques d'Uriage trusted us for their stainless steel storage.
It was a revelation: the need was indeed real. We had not broken the market, we had opened it.
Obstacles at Every Stage
The biggest challenge? Logistics.
- There were no warehouses adapted for e-commerce.
- Deliveries were slow and costly.
- E-commerce platforms were rudimentary.
- Everything was manual.
We optimized every step, overcame every obstacle, and proved it was possible.
A Reinvented Customer Service: The Absence of a Physical Store, a Strength
Some told us:
"How will you convince customers without a showroom?"
But we have turned this constraint into a strength:
- A dedicated customer service, without distractions, 100% focused on support.
- Multilingual support in French, English, Portuguese, and German.
- Quick and precise responses without the customer needing to travel.
What seemed to be a weakness has turned into a major advantage.
Today: a leading brand, a proven model
- More than 50,000 customers worldwide.
- Exports to over 50 countries on all continents.
- Over 100,000 orders shipped.
- 5 strategic warehouses in Europe to ensure fast deliveries.
We have turned a risky bet into a success story.
And tomorrow? Always further.
We have shaken up the codes, challenged obsolete models, and proven that innovation always leads the way.
We have never accepted imposed limits, we have exceeded them.
And this is just the beginning. 🚀