For 30 years, the “Juliette” collection from Lito editions has accompanied children in their first life experiences. With her golden hair, this little heroine lives adventures in which every child can recognize themselves. But how were these stories born? We tell you.
How were Juliette’s stories born, and what explains their great success? Oscar Rosdahl, marketing manager for Lito editions, tells us on the microphone of Geraldine Mayr : “Juliette was born from Doris Lauer’s (the author and illustrator) passion for simple and sincere stories. She imagined this character by observing her own daughters, and Juliette became the children’s best friend.” The first album, “Juliette does stupid things”marked the beginning of this adventure. But initially, the collection almost disappeared: “Sales were not there” confide Oscar Rosdahl. “However, a salesperson insisted on continuing. Finally, in a reissued album format, the magic happened, and since then, Juliette has continued to enjoy success with more than 10 million books sold worldwide.”
The independence of Lito editions: a rare case in France
Oscar Rosdahl emphasizes that Lito is one of the rare independent publishing houses in France. “Today, most houses belong to large groups, but we are 100% independent. This means that in addition to the creation of the works, we also manage the distribution and distribution” he explains. At Lito, the marketing team, the sales force, and even the distribution factory, everything is integrated internally, in Champigny-sur-Marne, in the Paris region. “We publish around 200 new works per year, the equivalent of two books every three days.”
A family and caring atmosphere
This independence also contributes to the family atmosphere of the company. “We have employees who have been there for more than 20 years, who have seen the house evolve and have devoted a large part of their lives to it” adds Oscar. This loyalty also extends to illustrators, some of whom have collaborated with Lito for several decades. “We work with illustrators from all over the world, some are new talents, others have been with us for a long time. André Boos, for example, has worked with us exclusively for almost 30 years. His illustrations are exceptionally precise, often made with very fine brushes. Today he has changed his practices with digital technology. Oscar says.
The show “C’est la vie” on Géraldine Mayr’s microphone
Geraldine Mayr takes us to meet unique life journeys, every weekend in “That’s life” on France Blue. A 10-minute dive into someone else’s life? An inspiring interlude during which everyone has a story to share.
