Our history

In 1926, Fernand Paulus and his wife Georgette launched a wholesale wool business. With his bicycle as his only means of transport, Fernand traveled throughout the Walloon countryside to supply small local shops before the war. At the same time, a team of seamstresses assembled dust coats for schoolchildren.

War brings with it its share of difficulties and shortages. Fernand therefore decided to sell all his merchandise and, with the cash he obtained, bought an old roller skating rink located near Huy Town Hall on the charming Place Verte. After extensive renovation work, the PAULUS store as we know it today was born.

Following the untimely death of its founder, the company passed into the hands of his two sons, Jacques and Richard Paulus. They opened a second “Paulus” store in Liège, a smaller replica of the parent company in Huy. Under economic pressure, clothing manufacturing was gradually abandoned. In the 1980s, the disappearance of small local shops led to the discontinuation of wholesale trade in favor of retail sales, while continuing to serve schools, businesses, industries, hospitals, and local authorities.

In 1997, Philippe Paulus, Richard's eldest son, took over the management of the company. He expanded the product range by opening a branch dedicated to household linen and nightwear. The first “Plume & Coton” store opened in Ciney in 2002, followed by another in Marche in 2012.

In 2014, to meet growing and diverse demand, the Ciney store moved to a 500 m² space, offering a larger and more comprehensive retail area. Today, the company comprises:

• The Paulus House in Huy and Liège,

• Plume & Coton in Ciney and Marche.

In October 2025, at the age of 23, Philippine, Philippe Paulus' eldest daughter, joined the company. She brought a breath of fresh air by developing the professional client base and putting her energy into communication and marketing. Her role is in keeping with the family tradition: preserving the authenticity and high standards that have built the reputation of Maison Paulus, while strengthening its visibility and proximity to today's customers.

Alongside her father and the existing team, she is helping to write a new chapter in the family's history, looking toward the future. Today, the company employs 14 people across its four sites and continues to embody the same philosophy it has held for nearly a century: serving each customer with high standards, attentiveness, and passion.