Soundsuit launches in France
Cocorico for this startup founded by a Frenchman! The concept: an in-store music solution for shops and stores 100% legal and effortless.
Awarded at the Paris Retail Awards in 2017, Soundsuit allows in a few clicks to create a personalized music atmosphere without the need for special knowledge.
Many establishments and brands have already been conquered: Moët Hennesy, Izipizi, BoConcept, LVMH, Best Western, IQOS, Lexus… as well as thousands of independent merchants who use and enjoy Soundsuit on a daily basis.
Democratizing: using state-of-the-art technologies to provide a unique and affordable music atmosphere to the very many
Gone are the long hours to struggle to create and manage a playlist, the puzzle of searching for titles “trendy at the moment”, the problem of copyrights to be solved …
With Soundsuit, everything becomes simple, mobile and fun.
Through this premium app, stores and shops can easily professionalize the music atmosphere of their stores in “zero hassle” mode.
Its secret? A smart digital assistant that takes care of everything:
- It takes into account the type of establishment, the targeted clientele (i.e. target group), the preferred music genres and the desired mood;
- then it instantly creates the perfect playlist to engage customers and motivate employees. The icing on the cake: this playlist is automatically renewed every day.
Mikael Bourdon, the founder, points out:
” I created Soundsuit to allow all establishments, even the smallest ones, to position their brand in point of sale thanks to the right music atmosphere for them. Every store can now benefit, at a lower cost, from a professional solution as efficient as those used by Zara, H&M and other major chains. But much easier and funnier to use! “
Speaking the same music language as your customers becomes a breeze
To offer quality music, in line with customer expectations, Soundsuit works in partnership with the world’s most influential journalists, DJs and curators.
They are the ones who, every day, select the titles that make up the playlists. With one goal: to inspire and engage the target clientèle, so that each establishment stays in tune with the times and adopts a premium positioning.
Indeed, when they hear titles with which they identify, customers are much more receptive to brand proposals…
In addition, Soundsuit does not run any ads, as commercial ads (such as those on the radio) have the gift of annoying customers and destroying the atmosphere of the place in seconds.
A “Plug and Play” solution that works everywhere
There is no need for any special hardware, training or knowledge to use Soundsuit.
Simply use a stereo cable to connect an iPhone, iPad or laptop to any existing audio system.
Or simply connect Soundsuit App wirelessly to smart speakers using Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Sonos or Chromecast.
Finally, for those who prefer to use a streaming box, just contact the Soundsuit team to have the procedure to follow.
Mikael confirms:
” On average, it takes less than a minute to set up Soundsuit and start streaming our music. “
An easy, fun to use, and 100% legal app
Control the music mood of the store at any time, and from anywhere
Via the Mood menu, the music atmosphere can be adjusted at any time to launch an upbeat happy hour or a smooth morning start. With peaking specific songs or playlists. In one click!
And if your schedule is tight, no worry: the smartMood™ technology developed by Soundsuit will intelligently manage the music mood in your store: it will automatically adapt the mood to the times of the day (morning, lunch, afternoon, happy hour, evening), the type of establishment and your target clientele.
A license for commercial use
Did you know that consumer (i.e B2C) streaming offers (e.g. Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music or Deezer) are strictly reserved for individual and personal use?
Businesses that use these mainstream services to broadcast music, and therefore do not pay the appropriate royalties to artists, may be prosecuted by the SACEM and record companies. They could face a fine of up to 300,000 euros and 3 years in prison (source).
Using Soundsuit therefore protects your business legally. The app has a license as a music service for commercial use in public places (shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, office spaces, hotels, gyms, spas, medical practices, etc.).
It is therefore certified for legal use in more than 40 countries around the world, including France (SACEM), Belgium (SABAM), Switzerland (SUISA), the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany.
A solution in line with the market expectations
Background ambience music has become a must in many establishments:
- bars, pubs
- restaurants, bistros, cafés
- fashion boutiques, retail stores, decoration and design stores
- leisure and entertainment parks
- gyms, fitness and sports centers
- coworking spaces or corporate recreational areas
- medical and dental practices
- etc.
Whether it’s making customers wait or giving a strong and unique identity to each location, it becomes a loyalty factor in its own right.
Mikael, the Breton from a worker family, who set out to conquer Europe and the United States
Mikael Bourdon, born in Quimper (Finistère), founded Soundsuit with his own merits (degrees, market vision, passion and energy), but without golden network, fortune or investors. These are the strengths who allowed Mikael to emancipate himself from the working-class where he grew up and to conquer our beautiful Europe and now the United States.
Because at first, nothing predestined Mikael to this ascending course. His father was a shoemaker, his mother a maternal assistant. Her grandmother had worked in a cannery in Audierne (Brittany) from the age of 12 to feed her younger siblings.
Mikael has thus climbed the ladder one step at a time, on his own, thanks to the French school of the Republic. His engine? An insatiable desire to always surpass oneself and never be trapped in any socio-economic straitjacket.
From Leon Goraguer primary school in Quimper, Mikael was already noticed and encouraged by a school teacher, Bernard Kerloc’h, who proved decisive in his motivation, trust, and schooling.
After a Baccalauréat (equivalent to A-Level) in science at Le Likès High School, Mikael left Brittany and joined the Institute of Technology from the Sorbonne University, whose campus is in Compiègne, in the North of Paris. He graduates with a Master Degree in Engineering, while also following a major in “new product development”, a subject that already fascinates the young student.
It is then the departure for Sweden, and the Stockholm region, where two ears later he graduates with a Master Degree in Management. Then came his first steps in the telecom industry, which introduced him to the cities of Munich and Shanghai. He then married his wife Kalisa, who comes from Portland (USA), and finally returned to settle in Munich, Bavaria.
After stints in large companies such as Sony-Ericsson (mobile phones), or startups like eGym (connected and intelligent fitness machines), it was his experience as a DJ at store openings – when still a student and young professional – that prompted Mikael to found Soundsuit.
Indeed, even after turning the page to devote himself to his career as an engineer and manager, he was constantly revived by his network (managers of restaurants, cafes, design shops, fashion stores, etc.) in order to provide advice on creating custom music atmospheres.
He decided to use his expertise in the development of mobile applications and cloud and IoT platforms for startups, as well as his passion and knowledge of DJing and music to create a simple, personalized and accessible solution for businesses of all size and budget.
Soundsuit was born!
The concept quickly found its market and customers. Soundsuit was first a success on the German, Austrian, and Dutch market. Today, its solution is booming in the United States.
After the launch of Soundsuit in France, the start-up will continue its development in Spain, Canada and England, each time integrating the local cultural component, more or less strong depending on the country.
The Goodie
Soundsuit offers 1 month of free premium and personalised In-Store Music to all establishments. To enjoy it, just create your free account on Soundsuit website. Then all that remains is to download the iOS App or launch the Web Player directly in any browser.
To find out more
- Soundsuit website
- Soundsuit Facebook page
- Soundsuit LinkedIn page