“I currently have an annual turnover of around 300,000 euros, growing sharply each year. I think I can quickly reach half a million turnover but if this happens, it will be on my conditions”immediately explains Benjamin Clerget, the boss of Ben & Flo, a company specializing in the online sale of vintage sporting goods. In other words, there is no question of letting yourself get caught in a spiral forcing you to chase turnover. “I love my freedom too much. Currently, I work with different freelancers to whom I entrust missions such as accounting or webmastering and it works perfectly. I’m a solopreneur and I love it. I want to be able to continue to go fishing (for trout), to play sports, to take care of my family, my vegetable garden, my chickens and my rabbits”confides the manager based in Audun-le-Roman (Meurthe-et-Moselle).
Purchase-sale and reproductions
Respect for nature, simplicity, authenticity… These are values which also nourish its activity. Ben & Flo sells vintage sporting goods such as baseball bats, punching bags and even rackets which he personally takes care of renovating if necessary. He sources his supplies in particular from Camden Market, in London, where it all began. In 2014, during a trip with his partner Florence, he bought an old rugby ball which he decided to put on Leboncoin to see if any buyers would be interested. “It was gone in minutes for double the price”says Benjamin Clerget, who then invested in other products (cricket bats, golf clubs, boxing gloves, etc.), with the success that we know.
Alongside the purchase-resale, in 2020, he is working with different craftsmen to make original sports products, including vintage rugby balls. “To do this, we only work with thick leathers and apply vegetable tanning. This gives the balloons a patina and a rough yet chic appearance, a wow effect. We are also the only ones to accompany them with a solid French oak base”confides the business manager. Today, these balloons, which can be personalized with old-style engraving, represent 60% of its sales, knowing that around 400 items are sold monthly.
Its customers are mainly women looking for a gift “for their man”. Added to this are sports enthusiasts. 30% of turnover is generated internationally. “I also launched a small activity which offers rental of vintage objects for events such as photo shoots, films, themed weddings. I also create tailor-made, white label products »specifies Benjamin Clerget.
Expert en communication digitale
Certainly well in his shoes, the 37-year-old manager did not launch into entrepreneurship armed only with his flair for good business. He is perfectly familiar with the world of commerce linked to sport having worked at Decathlon for 13 years. He was responsible for communications, which means that he also benefits from solid expertise in the field of digital communications. He participated in the development of “community management” within the brand. He also shares his know-how and his experience as a business leader with SME managers and startupers via coaching, blogs, podcasts (Uncle Ben’s Podcast). With certainly a little less assiduity over the coming weeks because Ben & Flo’s activity will gradually increase in strength. “As the end-of-year holidays approach, orders are soaring”concludes the leader.
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