Julien Rethymnis rubs his red beard, thoughtful. “Am I at this festival to rebuild myself financially?he asks again, as if to better understand the question. I want to say that if I manage to cover my costs, or do a little more, that will already be good.”
No, the reasons for the presence of this Marseille bookseller are entirely different: “I am here for the rich exchanges with my colleagues, to attend the conferences, and to enjoy the good atmosphere.”
A nostalgic success
The 1,500 books sold over the three days of the Mouans-Sartoux festival – which can still be enjoyed this Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. – seem to be only a distant memory for Charles Loupiac.
“Making this figure was still possible 20 years agotestifies this bookseller from Nice, who has struggled in recent years to sell more than 700 books. Today, we mainly sell pocket editions at low prices. Old books, often very aesthetic, are less popular.”
But also more expensive… The prerogative above all of collectors and brokers “attracted by speculation”which have also become rarer on the festival stands, according to Charles. Who adds: “The market has been completely restructured because of the Internet, in particular.”
To avoid staying on the sidelines, “you have to go through highways like eBay”. Or how to survive new consumption patterns.
“The sector is not in good shapeappuie-t-on. Newcomers to the market are held back by the lack of money to invest in their first books, the structure to sell them, the equipment, etc. And you shouldn’t count your hours: bookseller is a difficult profession which must face many hazards.”
Comics at the top of the basket?
With their eyes fixed on the comics, several customers check off the books missing from their collection, title by title. From there to do well? Maybe, according to Gaëlle: “Comics are doing well, we sell a lot of them during the festival, which is not essential in our industry”she says, solicited from all sides.
A style of expression possibly favored by the “collection effect” it provides. “There are many enthusiasts with their list of books to find. Often, the stories follow one another or embody a universe, like Asterix. This makes you want to complete your series.”
A feeling confirmed by the media The Echoeswhich delivered in January 2023: “The market [de la BD] thus records its second best year in terms of value.” Or 921 million euros, largely thanks to the successful manga market in France! A success from which the festival is no exception.
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