This Saturday, December 10, the Leboncoin site brought together around fifty sellers and creators in a former car dealership in Paris.
It is not insulting either the products or the bargain hunters to say that at the flea market organized this weekend in Paris by Leboncoin, the products sold were on average older than the customers. The public present in large numbers on the four floors of this former car dealership on rue de la République, in the 11th arrondissement, transformed for the occasion into a giant shop, was on average quite young. “We heard about this event on Instagram“Explain Perrine and Sarah, 27, in front of a clothing stand flanked by DDP signs and banners.
Like most of the people present, they appreciate the originality of the place. A surprising choice butlike the company“, explains Anne Quemin, director of communication for Leboncoin. “It’s raw and authentic“, she adds. But above all, it’s big. It takes no less than these 6000 square meters to accommodate the fifty small shops, handpicked by the company.
“It’s give-and-take», underlines Arnold behind a large table covered with plates, bowls and other crockery. For merchants, all regulars of the Leboncoin site, it is the possibility of making themselves known and selling without paying a euro. “usually [dans les brocantes] we have to pay the stand or give a commission“, emphasizes Arnold, “and for the site it allows to give a younger image“, adds the young man.
A success and some disappointments
For this first event since the release of the confinements, Leboncoin did not skimp on the means. In addition to the many clothing, crockery, vinyl stores… there is also a bicycle salesman and… a DJ. The top floor has been reserved for food stalls and a place to rest. Rose and Alexandre, in their twenties, are thrilled: “it’s super nice, we feel that Leboncoin wants to rejuvenate itself, a bit like Vinted“, underlines the young man.
The general satisfaction does not prevent some disappointments. “We had come to find furniture, but there is not much“, points out Alexandre, who nevertheless exhibits a magazine rack found in one of the stands. A little further on, curled up behind his stand, Theo tries to warm up. “The place is great but clearly, the level of heating and insulation is not great“, he slips.
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The biggest downside is still access. It is absolutely necessary to be registered to be able to enter because “the building can only support a limited number of people», justifies Anne Quemin. A detail that escaped several people standing outside in the cold. “I knew sellers had to be registered, but I didn’t know for customersbreathes Madeleine, her head bent over her phone, looking for a form.