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This question was closed without grading. Reason: No acceptable answer
May 7, 2020 09:12
4 yrs ago
43 viewers *
French term

éditeur mobilier

French to English Marketing Furniture / Household Appliances
I'm really asking this question far too late, but just wondered whether anyone would use anything other than 'producer' here. Obviously, editor doesn't work and I don't think publisher does either. We're talking about high-end furniture here, where the 'éditeur' will select designs/designers and sell their creations, for example, Vitra, Artemide, Cassina. In some cases, 'manufacturer' might work, but I'm not sure whether all such companies actually do manufacturer as well as sell their designs.
Proposed translations (English)
4 +4 purveyor of fine furniture
1 home design supplier
References
See Reference for « éditeur de la décoration »

Discussion

Yvonne Gallagher May 8, 2020:
@ Anne I was looking for actual context from you before responding. ph-b's contribution convinces me we'd have to use a variety of words in English for different contexts as "editor" doesn't work. Yes, seen "fashion edit" which means a "curated collection" but not used for interior design as yet. "Company" and "brand" would seem to cover most cases, with judicious use of the word "collection". I had a look at the Ligne Roset site: https://www.ligne-roset.com/uk/p-history.html to see how they describe themselves as they epitomise this type of company but they phrase it as [a company/brand] "investing in dynamic designer collaborations. Matching its deeply-held belief in design with investment and technical innovation,..Creativity is a key value of the Ligne Roset brand: if a new product demands new materials or productions methods, the company will simply acquire them [...] the idea precedes and the technique follows".
Anne McDowall (asker) May 7, 2020:
Thanks for the confirmation, Phil. I think I did sometimes use 'brands', but thanks for the reminder; that would certainly work in a lot of contexts.
philgoddard May 7, 2020:
In the example you've given, I'd follow your approach and leave it out. In other contexts, you could say "brands".
Anne McDowall (asker) May 7, 2020:
@Carole Gullidge Unfortunately, as the long texts I translated previously were done using the translation agency's software, I don't have a record. Where I could, I avoided the issue altogether, I think. To give an example that's going to come up: I'll probably translate 'Retrouvez les grands classiques du design des éditeurs Flos, Artemide ou Foscarini' with 'Discover major design classics by Flos …' I appreciate that it's all a bit abstract; indeed, I'm rather regretting having asked the question, though I am grateful for you and others having taken the time to respond!
Carol Gullidge May 7, 2020:
Well, Anne How did you translate it previously, and how do manufacturer and/or producer fit in?
I’m afraid I remain as mystified as ever, especially as no proper context (I.e., the term within a paragraph or so of surrounding text) is forthcoming
Anne McDowall (asker) May 7, 2020:
@philgoddard I'd previously translated a huge volume of texts (over 30k words) for a high-end interior website that sells designs by a large of number of such 'éditeurs', so the 'editeur' and 'editer' came up countless times. I'm now translating more for the same website. Given that it's an ongoing issue, I can't really give you any more context than that.
philgoddard May 7, 2020:
I agree that "company" may work best, but you haven't given us the French text you're translating, so we're working in the dark.
Anne McDowall (asker) May 7, 2020:
Thanks for providing the link, ph-b, which should answer Carol and Yvonne's queries. Phil, I think I've given a lot of context, and provided examples! In fact, as a noun, 'company' has worked in most specific contexts. When it comes to the verb, éditer, I've gone with produce in most cases. I was (am) really just wondering whether anyone could suggest anything better…
philgoddard May 7, 2020:
I'm surprised we're having this discussion when Anne hasn't provided the French context. Ph-b's contribution is very useful, though.
Carol Gullidge May 7, 2020:
Wow, ph-b! I'm impressed with that definition, which covers a multitude of roles. Still not sure what this would be in English; suffice to say that "furniture editor" does NOT work, since it appears to be a software package :((
ph-b (X) May 7, 2020:
http://www.usineadesign.com/editeur-de-mobilier/ Éditeur de mobilier, une activité aux multiples facettes : investissement (maillon clé dans la production d’objets de designers), fabrication, distribution...
Yvonne Gallagher May 7, 2020:
@ Anne I'm also left a bit puzzled by your description. Do they (and is this an individual or a company?) work in close consultation with designers/creators to source furniture for clients? Are they actively involved in the design, or not? Is it one off or do they have a shop to display goods?
Carol Gullidge May 7, 2020:
Furniture sourcer, maybe? or ... sourcing manager...?
Carol Gullidge May 7, 2020:
Anne, I am puzzled! What you describe appears to have no connection with producing or manufacturing...
If anything, the role sounds more along the lines of a Buyer, but perhaps more limited?

...Snagajob.com: "Buyers are the people who determine what products get to store shelves, in catalogues, and online. They do the footwork, the research and create the deals to buy large quantities of products for their companies, and then sell them to customers, or use them to create new materials that they then sell to customers."
ph-b (X) May 7, 2020:
Juste en passant... Have you seen this: http://www.pouenat.fr/home? They use "creator" ("craftsmen and creators").
Tony M May 7, 2020:
@ Asker I think the trouble is, 'producer' also sounds like they actually manufacture it themselves too; I was going to say 'dealer' (literally correct, cf. 'négociant') — but that sounds too down-market (Steptoe & Son?). Again, 'broker' might have done it but doesn't sound nearly up-market enough for your context!
I think maybe you need to find something that gets right away from 'furniture', with something perhaps like 'furnishing specialist'? Or 'specialist supplier of designer furniture' etc.

Proposed translations

30 mins

home design supplier

suggestion
Reference:

https://www.ambiencehomedesign.com/about-us/attachment/boabab-ambience-home-design-supplier/

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+4
21 mins

purveyor of fine furniture

It sounds like by using 'éditeur', they are looking to add a bit of refinement to the job of selling and/or producing furniture. To me it implies a careful selection process.

If only selling, 'purveyor' could be a nicer-sounding way of saying 'dealer'. If they also make their own furniture, 'furniture creator' would also sound less utilitarian than 'producer'.

The term 'edit' does seem to be seeping into areas other than publishing: the fashion website Pretty Little Thing uses the term 'Your summer edit' to describe their summer collection for example.

I haven't seen 'editor' used much though. Here is an example of a French company that has chosen to use 'editor' in the English translation of its website: https://www.coedition.fr/en/company/
It wouldn't be my first choice though.


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 57 mins (2020-05-07 10:09:54 GMT)
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I suppose it depends a bit on the context. Is it for marketing material, or just describing a company's function? Purveyor does sound somewhat quaint but has enjoyed a bit of a revival as a promotional term for businesses that want to sound a little fancy. I agree with you on 'editor', like I say it wouldn't be my choice.

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Note added at 1 hr (2020-05-07 10:59:17 GMT)
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No worries, hope you find something that suits.
Note from asker:
Thanks for contributing to this, Lyle. I'm not convinced by purveyor, which always sounds very old-fashioned to me and is much less common than éditeur. The latter has a much wider use than does editor in English. I have seen 'editor' used in this context in French websites, but to my mind that's just sloppy translation (I'm not very impressed with the standard of the text overall on the example you mentioned.)
Lyle, I agree that purveyor still works in some contexts, but to my mind mostly as 'purveyor of fine foods', for example. I don't think it works here and don't think it conveys the same meaning either, sorry.
Peer comment(s):
agree Tony M : Great solution!
4 mins
Thanks very much, Tony.
agree EirTranslations
1 hr
Thank you!
agree Carol Gullidge : purveyor has far more meanings than simply trading or dealing, and not just fine foods. However, I think you might be onto something with the "spring edit" idea, but have no idea of the title of the person who is responsible for this. "Selector" perhaps?
1 hr
Thank you, Carol. To describe this selection role, I've seen the term 'curator' in a fashion context, may sound too artistic for some contexts though.
agree Chris Milne (X)
2 hrs
Thank you, Chris.
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Reference comments

5 days
Reference:

See Reference for « éditeur de la décoration »

C'est une réf. intéressante pour établir un parallèle.

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Note added at 5 days (2020-05-12 16:25:12 GMT)
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Bonjour Anne ! J'avais l'impression que 'design house' semblait être une option dans la référence citée.
Reference:

https://www.proz.com/kudoz/french-to-english/textiles-clothing-fashion/5550341-%C3%A9diteur-de-la-d%C3%A9coration.html

Note from asker:
Thanks for your contribution, Jocelyne. The word 'editor' is seemingly becoming used in non-publishing contexts in English, it's true, but I don't like it much; personally, I think it's only coming into use because of lazy translations from French! Actually, that's not entirely true … but I do think that in English it has a more precise meaning even in these (interior furnishings and fashion) contexts than the French word does. I've managed to get around it by just omitting in more cases: 'by' or 'from' works fine without 'édité'!
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