Stéphane Place, edited by Loane Nader // photo credit: Angeline Desdevises / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP
This Friday evening, the Blues dominated the All Blacks (27-13) during the opening match of the Rugby World Cup. The competition is still long and the joy of seeing it through to the end is already perceptible among Bordeaux traders.
Between clothing in honor of the XV of France and recruitment of additional staff in pubs, in Bordeaux, traders are preparing to live to the rhythm of the World Cup. In the window of his vintage sports boutique and on his website, Fabien Benaïm sells his original and local creation, an organic cotton t-shirt specially designed for the event. “We had the idea with an artist with whom I already collaborate to make a t-shirt on which there is a rugby ball which merges and which gradually transforms into a bunch of grapes”, he describes, in not imagining stopping there. “And then we’ll see, the World Cup is long, we can make more as it goes along. It’s 35 euros and then we’re making tote bags for 8 euros.”
Temporary workers for the entire duration of the World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an event for which Franck Jackson has been preparing for months alongside his teams. This trader is at the head of Connemara, a famous pub in the city of Bordeaux. “You have to have people who come in as temporary workers for the duration of the World Cup, and the classic staff, who work hours that don’t count,” anticipates the owner. “We serve a lot of drafts, so we have to store this beer in cold rooms. So, we have a stock of at least two days, and we will be delivered every day. We have ordered tens of thousands of cups, It’s a good deal for everyone,” rejoices the merchant.
In addition to their own preparations, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry distributed a kit, including pennants and poster, to the city’s merchants so that they could decorate their stores in the World Cup colors.