At last! One of the most famous enterprises in Rose-Hill has opened its doors again in a brand new building whose name is yet reminiscent of the good old days: the New Magic Lantern. One whole floor is taken up by the new Le Cygne bookshop. More space, more light? but still, the old feeling of ?being at home? when you enter the premises.

The opening of the new Le Cygne in mid-December has put an end to the hard time the staff has had these past four years. After the fire that shook both the staff and the whole town of Rose-Hill in September 2000, Mimi, the manager and her son, Ming, director of Le Cygne, have finally been able to make their come-back.

Yet, it was not so easy at the beginning. After the shop burned down, the management didn?t feel they had the courage to start all over again. ?The expansion of the business was done very gradually. It took us more than thirty years to achieve what we had in September 2000 and we had just started to feel that we had reached our goal. We had arrived where we wanted to be? But then there was the fire and everything was lost,? Ming confides.

But they were encouraged by the staff who didn?t believe the company could give up the fight? Le Cygne has been in Rose-Hill for more than 40 years? since the time of Ming?s grandfather! So they decided to move into a smaller place with the intention of building new premises which would live up to their reputation. But things have not been easy in the meantime. ?We left a store of more than 8.000 square feet to be confined in a space of 2.000 square feet.. It was small and dark. I can understand why some of our customers have cold-shouldered us for four years.? He adds with a smile, ?But we are so happy now to see those same customers coming back to the book-shop since we have been in the New Magic Lantern Building.?

The staff and the customers have not been the only ones to suffer during this period. It has had a very negative impact on the annual turnover of the company. But things are improving. ?We have been here since the 18th of December and we have already seen a rise in sales? And this is not because of the festive season. The comparison is with exactly the same period last week.?

<B>Pleasant environment</B>

Customers indeed have every reason to be happy with the new premises. The 6.000 square feet of the new store are well set out. Each shelf is dedicated to one particular genre. One corner is reserved for services such as photocopying, faxing and printing facilities. The children?s department is particularly well designed. Shelves are at their level and they can reach all the books. There is even one little place where they can sit comfortably next to the window and glance through their books or magazines. The new store also provides easy access for wheel-chairs.

Actually, if the new Le Cygne had to be summed up in one word, it would probably be ?comfort?. Everything has been done to make everyone feel at ease: staff and customers alike. Because, after four years of hard times, they deserve a pleasant environment and good working conditions.