In cities, there are unmissable places. In Bayonne, in the Saint-Esprit district, the bookstore “Chez Simone” is undeniably one. Created four years ago, the store is in danger of closing. In recent months, customers have become rarer and the average basket is decreasing. Before it is too late, Sophie Rinck, its founder, launched a crowdfunding campaign. He would need 10,000 euros. “Since January, I have had a big drop in turnover. I can see that people are buying fewer books and, above all, they pay attention to prices. Unfortunately, if it lasts like this, I won’t be able to last very long.”
Seek help before it’s too late. This is what prompted Sophie Rinck to open the kitty: “yes, it’s better. We have to accept the fact that it’s a complicated period. And besides, around me, it’s the same for the independents, the small tradersI see it everywhere. There are many bookstores that are calling for donations. The book is undeniably the purchase that is made last. Obviously, we will think about eating, heating and paying for gas. That can be understood. I myself have these charges.”
A situation that challenges and worries bookstore customers. Cathy is a great reader. She always reads two or three books at the same time and when she only has around ten books left, she goes to replenish her stock in the bookstores. “Every time I want to buy books, this is where I come. Why? Because I love this place. I think it’s perfect for me. I would stop by hours I look at all the categories of books and then I get caught up in a title. I always favor small local businesses. I never order from Amazon or things like that anyway. I find it good to support the people who create activity around us, because otherwise then we no longer have a choice in fact. So we have to make the most of it while we have.”
A pot to replenish accounts and launch a new project
Sophie Rinck a launched the prize pool on October 9, 2024. “There was a very good start. Then, it slowed down a lot, but my turnover at the bookstore increased which was great. People also came to give me donations of money, checks. bookstore, I hope it will work, firstly because I have no choice, and also because there is a great project behind it which will employ local people.. On the donation platform, the stated objective is in fact 20,000 euros. “People are buying fewer books but at the same time, the demand for stationery is quite enormous. So, I created with Joan-Carles Codèrc, an artist from Biarritz who works on the Occitan language.at Simoneterie paper shops. The idea being to create notebooks and postcards. We will only work with artisans and artists from the Basque Country.”
Thursday October 31, 2024 will be a day of support for the bookstore. It will end with an evening at the La Fontaine café, Place de la République in Bayonne.
Crowdfunding ends on November 8th.
