CAMIF

   Large mail-order firm, reputed for providing good value for money, which collapsed in late 2008. A cooperative formerly reserved for employees of the French state education system, the CAMIF opened to all in its later years, in an attempt to face up to competition from e-commerce outlets; but its high quality customer-care and after-sales service left it with huge running costs compared to other distance selling operations, and the firm went out of business at the end of 2008 .