the essential
They bought the Maison de la Presse almost thirteen years ago. They sell and organize a festive day on January 5 to thank their customers.
On June 11, 2012, Daniel and Sandrine Ribes bought the Maison de la Presse which they would later transform into Agora Presse, to signify that beyond commerce the store was also a place for meetings and exchanges.
On January 5, 2025, they will pass the baton and want to make this Sunday a highlight, to thank the people of Gaillac for these almost thirteen years of common path and trust. There will be entertainment, a close-up magician, a raffle, small gifts, Jean-Philippe Delmas on the microphone and tapas boards. A sharing break.
“In almost thirteen years, we have seen customers grow or age. We grew old with them, it’s always a moment of emotion, a page of life” slips Daniel Ribes. But actually why sell when their business is doing so well? “We wanted to have a little time for ourselves, for the children who are still with us. The opportunity presented itself. At 50, we still have time to bounce back. But first, we’ll take a little rest.” Sandrine and Daniel developed the press, bookstore and card department.
“We wanted to do it, we didn’t want to buy tobacco.” Even though this decade corresponded to the development of online shopping, they managed to keep customers in the store with a neighborhood spirit, a smile and a kind word that corresponded to their character traits. If the sale of tobacco has fallen a little, it is mainly for the benefit of alternatives, including electronic cigarettes.
Daniel, a cigar lover, managed to introduce the great wines of Honduras and Nicaragua, the terroirs of Costa Rica and Mexico which are showing their cape. “Thirty-year-olds get together with three or four friends to have evenings to discover them. It is a form of discreet Epicureanism. We smoke less often but we smoke good stuff.”
Games remain a stable value for Agora Presse, particularly on Sundays. The press, after a few years of decline, will start to rise again in 2024. Daniel and Sandrine Ribes have expanded the offering and contained the erosion of national and regional titles.
“Between 2012 and 2020, the decline in the press in France was 8%. Here, we were +2%. We have always worked hard to have as many titles as possible on the shelves.” Agora Presse, with them, has also become a gift and souvenir shop for passing tourists, a “Swiss army knife” of local commerce. Dorine, Romain and Franck, the employees, will ensure continuity with the new owner, Cédric Luga, who comes from Lavaur. Daniel and Sandrine will remain Gaillac residents.
