Strong Parasols for Professionals
Biography Pierre Christiaens
Pierre Christiaens is the owner and CEO of Symo Parasols. Previously he worked as a Sales Promoter at Nestlé, then as Sales Manager and General Manager at Mommaerts. Pierre helped to negotiate the sale of Mommaerts to Heywood Williams, listed on the London Stock Exchange.
He wrote the book 'Pick the right Parasol (and your terrace will be packed)'. Pierre also regularly blogs about his passions: parasols, catering, marketing, positive psychology.
The City of Rome awarded Pierre Christiaens the honorary title 'Maestro dell'Artigianato' because at Symo Parasols he keeps alive the centuries-old craft of umbrella and parasol makers. In 2007 Unizo nominated him as Creative Entrepreneur.
Pierre studied Latin & Science at the Sint-Lodewijks college in Bruges (Belgium). He holds a Master's degree in Political Science and graduated with great distinction from the University of Ghent (now Vlerick Business School) with a special degree in Marketing.
He is happily married and father of 3 children.
In his spare time Pierre reads several books every month, mainly about positive psychology and marketing. He travels passionately and supports the local football team Club Brugge.
In the heart of Salon-de-Provence, on the lively Place Jules Morgan, brothers Alain and Christian Teskrat have transformed their restaurant terrace into an elegant, practical and perfectly wind-resistant outdoor space. Their venue, O₂ Frères, brings together a restaurant, brasserie and crêperie in one welcoming location where the terrace is the true centrepiece. A curved terrace with a technical challenge The brothers wanted to cover as much space as possible with as few parasol masts as possible. The rounded corner of…
As the heat sweeps through the Northern hemisphere and customers seek the shade, outdoor spaces are a prime asset for cafés, restaurants, hotels, and beach clubs. But with rising global temperatures and an increasing demand for both comfort and aesthetic value, providing shade isn’t just a matter of practicality – it’s a design decision that directly influences customer satisfaction and brand perception. At Symo Parasols, we believe that shade should never be an afterthought. It should be an experience –…
"Pick the right parasol (and your terrace will be packed)"
25 years of experience of Pierre Christiaens bundled in 50 valuable parasol tips for the hospitality industry.
Download now temporarily your free digital copy.
