Hespéride is a garden furniture brand belonging to the JJA Group, whose headquarters is located in France. The design of the collections is carried out from France, but the production follows an industrial circuit very different from what the label “French brand” might suggest. Understanding the manufacturing of Hespéride products involves distinguishing three stages: the specifications, factory production, and quality control before shipping.
Specifications and Design: What Remains in France
The JJA Group operates as a contractor, not as a traditional manufacturer. Teams based in France define the materials, dimensions, colors, and finishes of each range. This design work also includes the choice of surface treatments (epoxy paint on aluminum, polyester coating for parasol fabrics).
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Once the specifications are finalized, the plans are sent to the selected suppliers. The JJA Group chooses its partners based on criteria of production capacity, compliance with European standards, and delivery times.
This separation between design and manufacturing is a dominant model in the public garden furniture sector. Most brands sold in garden centers or large retail stores operate in the same way. A complete file on the manufacturing of Hespéride products provides a better understanding of each step of this circuit.
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Factories in China: The Industrial Hubs Used by Hespéride
Manufacturing is outsourced to factories located mainly in China, in industrial hubs specialized in outdoor furniture. These areas concentrate the technical skills (aluminum extrusion, resin weaving, textile manufacturing) and the volumes necessary to supply a brand that sells a very large number of pieces each year in the French market.
The use of these Chinese hubs is explained by the cost structure. Aluminum, woven resin, and polyester are processed there at significantly lower prices than those practiced in Europe, allowing Hespéride to maintain an accessible pricing position.
Why Not European Production
Producing garden furniture in France or Europe would involve labor and raw material sourcing costs that would make selling prices incompatible with the mass market segment targeted by the brand. The few European manufacturers of outdoor furniture position themselves in the high-end market, with prices two to three times higher.
Quality Control and Certifications Before Delivery
The fact that production is outsourced does not mean a lack of oversight. B2B sourcing around Hespéride shows a rise in factory audits and third-party certifications, linked to regulatory compliance requirements and corporate social responsibility (CSR).
Inspections focus on several dimensions:
- Compliance of materials with European standards (mechanical resistance, absence of toxic substances according to REACH regulations)
- The strength of assemblies and the durability of anti-corrosion treatments, tested by third-party organizations before shipping
- Compliance with the specifications (dimensions, colors, textile weight)
This third-party audit logic is a recent trend in the garden furniture industry. It responds to the growing pressure from distributors and consumers regarding the traceability of imported products.
Materials by Range: Aluminum, Steel, Resin, and Polyester
The manufacturing process varies significantly from one product category to another. Each Hespéride range employs distinct industrial know-how, which explains why several different factories may be involved in the same collection.
Metal Structures
Aluminum tables and chairs go through stages of extrusion, cutting, welding, and then powder coating. Aluminum is favored for its lightness and corrosion resistance. The more affordable steel ranges receive an epoxy treatment to limit rust.
Textiles and Fabrics
Cushions, parasol fabrics, and fabric seats primarily use polyester, sometimes treated for UV resistance and water repellency. The weight of the textile largely determines the product’s durability. The densest fabrics withstand successive seasons better, while entry-level options lose their shape more quickly.
Woven Resin
Woven resin armchairs and sofas are made on steel or aluminum frames covered with synthetic resin fibers woven by hand or machine. This process, very common in outdoor furniture imported from China, requires abundant labor, which reinforces the economic interest of Asian production.
Traceability and Environmental Criteria: Where Hespéride Stands
Product sheets for comparable outdoor furniture increasingly mention environmental certifications such as the PEFC label for wood, ensuring sustainable forest management. On the Hespéride side, the brand communicates on sustainable commitments, but precise details on the environmental impact indices of each product remain limited in public content.
Transport from China constitutes a significant carbon footprint. Products generally arrive by shipping containers, a freight mode that is less emissive than air freight but extends delivery times and requires advance logistical management, with orders placed several months before the sales season.
- Maritime freight between China and European ports represents the majority of the carbon transport footprint of these products
- Bulky packaging (tables, parasols) increases the volume/weight ratio of containers and thus the logistical footprint
- The strong seasonality of garden furniture necessitates storage in a French warehouse for several months before being displayed
The European regulatory pressure for transparency regarding the environmental impact of imported products should push Hespéride, like its direct competitors, to provide more detailed information on the origin and impact of each component. For now, the model remains that of a French brand that oversees design and quality from France while relying on the Chinese industrial apparatus for actual production.