In great financial difficulty, one of the oldest youth bookstores could close its doors

One of the oldest youth bookstores in France could soon close its doors. Furthermore, For 50 years, the Comptin bookstore in Bordeaux has specialized in children’s books. Therefore, But the economic situation. Meanwhile, the disinterest of young people for books pushed its manager to request his placement in receivership.

Its red storefront is part of the landscape of great financial difficulty, one oldest rue Duffour Dubergier. Similarly, located a stone’s throw from the Saint-André cathedral in Bordeaux. Moreover, The oldest bookstore specializing in French youth works. Meanwhile, La Librairie Courses offers children thousands of books and comics for over 50 years.

However, in recent months, the Bordeaux institution has faced great financial difficulties. Moreover, She was forced to place herself in receivership.

On the shelves, Nathalie Ventax has a trick great financial difficulty, one oldest to camouflage the holes that have formed on both sides. Moreover, “” “We put a lot of books in front. we have them so as to hide the holes, explains the manager of the bookstore. We also come out of things that are less popular than we had not seen for a long time. while waiting for the boxes to arrive. ”

From 10,000 references on average, the bookstore now offers only 4,000. It is one of the consequences of a financial situation that has great financial difficulty, one oldest worsens. for almost four years: it has not been able to renew its stocks, due to the lack of cash. “” “All our debts are not yet listed, but we are around 180,000 euros “, says Nathalie Ventax.

These debts first concern rents. at the rate of 10,000 euros per quarter that the manager can no longer pay without putting the key under the door. “There are also the invoices of suppliers. publishers and carriers that we have not been able to pay since January”continues the manager of the bookstore.

The cause: a lack of interest in young people for literature, which earns the field every year. Today, they spend ten times more time on a screen than to read a book. “It is clear that there is a drop in attendance. in parallel, people ask us for more advice for comics than for novels. We see a tendency to read quick great financial difficulty, one oldest things,” analyzes Nathalie Ventax.

We had sinister days at 300 or 400 euros. Before, it could rise to 800 euros.

Nathalie Ventax

Manager of the CONSUNES bookstore

A disinterest combined with a gloomy economic situation. “Many public contracts have also stopped”, explains the manager. So many parameters which divided by two its turnover, estimated at 400,000 euros before 2022.

Faced with great financial difficulty, one oldest a perpetual fall in sales since 2022, the bookstore was forced to request a placement in receivership. The current procedure allowed him to freeze these debts, for a few months. “We have until Christmas. If we can’t sell at this period, it will be the end”, omen Nathalie Ventax.

I still have 5,000 euros in cash, which can allow new orders and continue to run the store.

Nathalie Ventax

Manager of the CONSUNES bookstore

A regret for regulars of the establishment. “I have been coming here for 40 years. What I like is their specialty. I know that I will always find something, be it old tales that I read small or discoveries”says a grandmother.

This fight to survive, the bookseller started it in 2022. “We had an audit to understand what was wrong. We were helped by the Region. the National Libre Center, an association of publishers to straighten the bar, but that did not work”, sighs Nathalie Ventax. An online kitty also enabled them to collect 7,550 euros.

If it spends the holiday season. a decisive moment for sales of the sector, Nathalie plans to continue to exist: fewer references, less staff, reduce the surface and offer more books for adults or even develop stationery and games.