Montessori Spirit

As these elements were part of the business plan needed to set up this project, there's no reason why you shouldn't take advantage of them and let us get to know each other (well, especially you!). We rarely wake up in the morning with the idea of the century; it's often the result of reflection, a combination of desires and personal skills.

For me, after 10 years in the lingerie import-export business and representing brands in Europe and at international trade shows, it was time to do something else. 10 years also spent abroad on various Caribbean islands, which brought existential questions and an open-mindedness that you rarely get from staying in one place all your life: meeting different people, cultures and ways of life. In short, questions like: what do we really need? What's important and what's superfluous in life? Etc etc...

As I don't have a PhD in psychology, I first tried to answer the question on my own... then it was quite easy after 7 years of medical battle to succeed in giving life to a little monster: the important thing was him!

Being there for him, and trying to do everything I could to help him blossom, was what drove me (and still drives me...). Together with his mother, we tried to be there for him as much as possible, but the time had already come when we had to think about his schooling. The traditional "system" didn't seem to follow our values and what we had fought for up to that point. Already an "alternative" teacher, my wife and I came across the Montessori pedagogy, among others, on the internet, through encounters and experiences. And it was the one that immediately seemed closest to us, the most natural... and splash, that was it, we'd fallen for it...

Back in France after this ten-year expatriation, and the monster enrolled in his first Montessori school. For her part, my wife, keen to get back into teaching, decided to take advantage of this period of renewal to take her first Montessori Educator course at the ISMM. For my part, I'm now in daily contact with the world of Maria Montessori, without actually being there myself, and that's where the plot closes in on me.

From my experience in distribution, import and trade, I've noticed that the French market suffers from a real lack of presence when it comes to Montessori products: you have to order them abroad, which takes time and costs more, and product information isn't always readily available. I've noticed that this lack is flagrant (and distressing) both for private individuals who are trying to take an interest in this pedagogy, and for the small associations that set up Montessori workshops out of conviction, right up to the schools and professionals who teach this pedagogy.

So I decided to combine my personal interest and my experience as a distributor to share this pedagogy with as many people as possible, to support schools and professionals who already have an important educational role to play, and not to have to start importing and exporting as well. I found out that there were only 3 approved manufacturers, including a Japanese one that was too far away, so there were only 2 left: Nienhuis and Gonzagarredi, the historic manufacturers who had worked with Maria Montessori from the start!

Of course, there are plenty of other suppliers who try to reproduce the material. However, they only copy as best they can, and are there purely for commercial reasons, without any ideology or active research into approved establishments, educators or associations. They "surf" on a fashionable pseudo-pedagogy (even though it's a hundred years old!) and bring nothing to the Montessori pedagogy or to those who practice it. It's a fact that prices are much lower, but that's only to be expected given the difference in quality: splintery wood, light glue and paint, for unattractive equipment with a short lifespan...

They are also simple copies, in no way respecting Maria Montessori's research work, which she carefully protected by founding AMI: to protect her work, her research, and all those little details that make the material achieve its pedagogical purpose...or not!

The price of Nienhuis materials includes royalties, paid to AMI, in order to support AMI, Maria Montessori's association, and thus promote and develop her pedagogy worldwide. Simple copies are therefore a bit of a contradiction for Montessori pedagogy and the values we want to pass on to children....

For me, there's no alternative: this heritage has been the best material for 100 years and keeps her pedagogy alive. So it will be Nienhuis and Gonzagarredi. Of course they're interested in finally finding support in France. And poof again

Why Montessori Spirit ? Quite simply because we hope to be in the spirit of this pedagogy, because we want to share with you the pioneering spirit of Maria Montessori through the materials presented, and because it's not just a mercantile spirit that drives us, but rather an absorbing and absorbed spirit ;-)

The aim of Montessori Spirit is to support the development of Montessori pedagogy, notably through the distribution of AMI-approved materials, as well as additional equipment and supplies necessary for the life of your school, your association or simply your life as a parent. Aside from this essential material support, and far from a simple commercial approach, our main aim is to:
. support existing schools in their operations and share their information with all of you, simplify their needs, reduce their costs for equipment recognized as being without equivalent,
. support new openings and help them bring their projects to fruition,
. support smaller associative movements,
. help schools set up in more disadvantaged countries, through original actions (sponsorship, recovery of materials...)
. promote and share our products and teaching methods with the general public.
. develop, translate and adapt products to the French language, representing a collective force with suppliers
. relay school announcements, such as the development of a school map and other services
. advising project leaders and sharing our experience with them
We won't become millionaires by choosing this path and acting as a cooperative, but that's not what we're aiming for - we'd still be distributing lingerie otherwise ;-) We try to be competitive and constructive, with a long-term vision. Our prices are lower than suppliers' prices, with free shipping (subject to conditions). We haven't invested in oversized premises or chosen a company Porsche. It's just an ideal to be able to work in what we believe in and to share it with others.

Montessori Spirit is also a Montessori school created in 2014!

So, just like our customers, we also have the experience of teaching practice, and that's a much greater luxury than a store, for example: we know what we're talking about, and we're aware of what we can bring to the table, so it's not just a commercial relationship ;-)

Our school in Bergerac has 3 environments for 75 children, aged from around 2 to 12, supervised by 4 AMI educators.

Their blossoming is the greatest reward for this wonderful teaching method and our personal investment....

The creation of this school, combined with the experience of our educators, helps us to develop and adapt new products, as well as answering your questions from time to time.

We're also keen to hear your comments, and will pass them on to Nienhuis & GAM so that we can continue to develop and bring our equipment into the 21st century.

So don't hesitate to share your feedback!

Montessori Spirit was founded in 2012 and now boasts several years' experience.

Today, the company is Europe's leading distributor of Nienhuis and approved Montessori materials, and continues to develop and support the tremendous growth of this teaching method around the world.

We bring you discounts on Nienhuis and GAM prices, and are a true cooperative with ever more services at your service.

Our website is translated into several languages, we integrate new payment methods, and we deliver all over the world, with nearly 4,000 products and 6,000 customers.

So much for a presentation that I wanted to be sincere, with a real desire to be close to you all.

For your part, don't hesitate to let us know what you think about the site or any other element, and don't hesitate to share your news or your needs.

NITTELLudovic, creator and manager of Montessori Spirit