By the early 1980s, the Guillemot brothers were graduating from school and beginning to look forward to establishing their own professional careers.
By then, Michel Guillemot, who had completed his university studies in Lille, had already led his brothers into an interest in a still-emerging new industry, computers. Michel had already been behind the founding of the Microtel computer clubs that for a time helped introduce much of France to the new technology. Back at Carentoir, Michel, joined by brother Claude and then the remaining three Guillemot brothers, was given the go-ahead from father Marcel to launch the family into the computer industry.
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Guillemots started out in retail, opening their first Guillemot Informatique store near their home in 1984, but quickly focused on mail-order and wholesale distribution wing as well. The company's early arrival gave Guillemot a head start and by their second year of business, the company had won contracts to supply computers and equipment throughout much of the French national school system. Although the growing company remained interested in the general computer market, the young Guillemot brothers were quickly captivated by the new and growing market for video computer games.
Yet many of the new games proved impossible to find in France. The Guillemots recognized the opportunity and began importing the elusive titles, including such early hits as 'SOS Ghosts' and others. The company now featured strong software and hardware distribution, which, by 1986, was producing FFr 40 million in sales. An important breakthrough for the Guillemots came with contracts from French retail leaders Auchan, Carrefour, and others to supply these nationally operating chains of hypermarkets with computer hardware and software products. At the point, the company changed its name to Guillemot International.
The 'international' part of its name was quickly developed as the company extended its distribution activities into other parts of Europe. The company expanded rapidly and in 1986 separated its two lines of activities, hardware and software, into two companies with the creation of Ubi Soft Entertainment SA. While that company was headquartered in Paris, Guillemot International itself remained in the family's native Carentoir.
