Landmarks for lovers of eco-responsible decoration, these shops have also saved many people looking for a last-minute gift that makes sense. A wind of uncertainty is blowing over this temple of curiosity: the group that owns it has just announced that it is up for sale.
It all starts with a crush on the other side of the world. In 1990, Françoise and François Lemarchand, a passionate couple, decided to import a concept then unpublished in Europe, after discovering the boutique “The Nature Company”, which has since disappeared, during a trip to the United States. Their ambition? Create an urban refuge dedicated to curiosity, ethics and respect for the environment. At a time when mass consumption reigned supreme, they made the bold bet of offering sustainable objects, favoring natural materials and responsible trade.
For more than thirty years, these boutiques have established themselves as havens of peace in the hustle and bustle of city centers and shopping centers. We go there to travel, between astronomy, gardening and well-being. It is a hybrid place where you can find a telescope as well as an indoor fountain or essential oils. The success was such that the network ended up extending beyond our borders, counting no less than 103 points of sale in the summer of 2025. The brand was able to build a strong emotional bond with the French.
In 2019, after almost three decades of family independence, the brand joined the ranks of the Fnac Darty group, a giant of household appliances and culture. This alliance aimed to accelerate its development while retaining its unique identity. Today, the model is faltering. Competition from web giants and declining attendance are forcing the brand to reinvent itself. She is looking for a new lease of life and, potentially, a different partner to write her next chapter.
This brand is of course Nature & Découvertes. The brand is experiencing growing difficulties: a part of its customer base, more volatile and connected, now believes that it references products sold much cheaper on major global e-commerce platforms.
The stakes are therefore high: Nature & Découvertes must successfully transform itself to prove that its sensory experience and its historic ecological commitment are still worth the detour. Customers hope that this urban biodiversity refuge will not close its doors permanently but will find a buyer capable of re-enchanting it.
