Faced with growing economic difficulties, the Prézans Kréyol bookstore, a cultural pillar in Martinique, made a radical decision: abandon its commercial status to adopt the associative model. A transition that will allow it to reduce its costs while remaining in the Foyal landscape.
The independent bookstore Prézans Kréyol, a pillar of cultural commerce in Fort-de-France, is struggling to survive in the face of market developments.
Ben Anani, president of Prézans Kréyol, explained this transition: “Today, a bookstore can no longer survive solely on Books. Take our case: we would have to sell 5,000 books per month to cover costs, which is impossible”. An observation that pushes bookstores to review their economic model.
You just have to look at the bigger ones: they no longer just sell books, they offer video games or other products. So we understand that we have to change this model and move towards something else. Rather towards the associative, where the bookstore can have support from the public, from patrons, from businesses who wish to support this type of place.
Ben Anani, president of Prezans Kréyolinterviewed by Delphine Bez and Cécile Chalono
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©Céline Chalono
The choice of Prézans Kréyol comes in a difficult context for bookstores. “Volume sales are down 2.9% on average and even 4% for large format books”revealed the French Bookstore Union at the start of 2024.
In 2022, the Blends Caribbean association had already sounded the alarm with a solidarity operation to save the bookstore. But this initiative, although hopeful, was not enough.
This change illustrates the challenges facing independent bookstores: reinvent themselves or disappear.
Books
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