Aline was the first to move to the Anden countryside before her sisters followed suit. “For the moment, there are two of us managing the bookstore, explains Aline. Sandrine will join us as soon as she can.”
It all started with selling books at flea markets about a year ago. “It allowed us to make ourselves known and survey the public, continues the eldest. The reactions being positive, we looked for a fixed place to welcome customers and make them feel like they were in a little bubble.”
They searched quite a bit before finding their ideal place at number 14 rue Léon Simon. “It was a place that had been abandoned for a long time. It doesn’t look much from the outside but we did some work and we feel good there!”
The three sisters have always been passionate about literature. “We grew up surrounded by books with a very literary dad, relate Aline. Personally, I have always found answers in books, a bit like a lifeline. And then, we found that this type of store was lacking in Andenne. There are booksellers who sell magazines and tobacco but few books.”
Livres feel good
Their business opened its doors on July 6. “It’s slightly out of the way but that’s not bad because it’s quiet, adds Aline. Despite everything , there is some traffic because we are still in the city center of Andenne. We also rely on word of mouth to make ourselves known.”
Among literary sweets, you can find several hundred second-hand books in very good condition with a common thread: feel good reading. “It can be contemporary novels like those by Virginie Grimaldi, Marie Vareille or Laure Manel for example, but not only that! There are also books on personal or spiritual development as well as children’s books, describes Aline. We call them literary candy because they are books that are good even if they can deal with serious subjects. They allow readers to enter a cocoon and spend a moment outside of time.”
The sisters having made it a point of honor to exclusively favor second hand, the bookstore depends on what customers come to leave there.
“At the start, we had a lot of personal stock and then people who heard about our project dropped off books. This is how we started to build up a small stock, says Aline. We also accept old, more classic books, because they find their audience. Sometimes clients ask us for Henri Troyat, Jules Verne, etc. Our books are still in good or even very good condition because they have been read just once or have not even been read at all!”
Sometimes readers receive a book as a gift but want to get rid of it. “I think we’ll get plenty after Christmas.”Sylviane smiles.
Mix second-hand and new
Given the difficulties inherent in the book sector, the sisters also plead for the purchase of new books. “We know that authors already have to sell a lot of books to earn a decent income, underlines Aline. However, when you like to read, you quickly finish a book. And at today’s book prices, we can’t afford to buy a new book every three days either. So we think it’s positive to do a mix. It allows literary nuggets not to sleep in cupboards and reading enthusiasts to have fun while promoting the circular economy.”
Given the positive feedback received over nearly three months, the sisters are even more convinced of the value of their project. “People are supportive. They are receptive and caring. We realize that it really responds to a request, Sylviane notes. It’s very encouraging!”
The bookstore is open three afternoons a week and all day on Saturday. For the managers, it is a complementary activity alongside their job but if their bookstore works well, they do not rule out extending the hours. “It’s not just a place where you come to get a book and then leave. We are closer to people and their well-being rather than pure and simple sales, Sylviane notes. On creates a connection.”
To stay within this philosophy, the three sisters are not short of ideas. “We could imagine workshops, a book club or meetings with local authors. We’ll see based on customer requests!”
Open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Info: Les Bonbons Littéraires Facebook page and the website lesbonbonslitteraires.com.
The depositor sets his price
It is the depositor who sets the price he wishes for his book(s). “Some know, others don’t. In this case, we suggest a price to them and they tell us their preference, explains Aline Alonsious. When it’s good for them, we label the books and put them on sale. We close the sales at the end of each month and at the beginning of the following month, we send them a summary email with the list of their books that have been sold. We take a 30% commission on each book and the rest goes to them.” They then pick up the money at the bookstore or receive it via bank transfer.
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