As hoards leave the UK for sunnier climes on holiday, one woman’s relaxation is another woman’s toil.
Fenella Holt, British-born owner of the Antibes Books aka The English Bookshop in the South of France’s seaside town is rubbing her hands with glee over the booming card sales.
“Brexit and the subsequent drop in the value of sterling have made importing goods from the UK very attractive. This has meant that I have been able to lower my prices, while increasing my profit margins, with the result that I am selling more cards than ever before,” Fenella told PG Buzz.
With her stocks replenished after a buying trip to PG Live last month her customer base, made up of both locals, ex pats and holidaymakers are lapping up her selection of predominantly British cards.
“I cannot speak for the whole of the French card market, but I have been increasing my sales steadily this year as we become better known in the area for being the best stockist of great cards around!”
She says her customers travel for miles to the shop and buy handfuls at a time. “Encouragingly, French people are also catching on to this so we are selling a lot more cards to them, in particular wedding and new baby cards,” reveals Fenella.
While Fenella is now in ‘full on’ holiday time, with virtually all the shop’s customers being tourists, she explains this is not always the case. “In Winter, it’s mainly locals and expats (of all nationalities) while in Spring and Autumn there are lots of retired second-home owners – again of all nationalities, and also the crews of the many superyachts that spend time here. They tend to be South Africans, Australians and New Zealanders, who love cards!”
What cards sell well?: “Humour sells especially well, especially from Cath Tate, the Camilla & Rose and Spring Chickens ranges. Plus we do well with fine art from Museums & Galleries. At PG Live I discovered the beautiful Chau Art and, on the strength of being given a ‘Sounds of PG Live’ card createds by Really Wild Cards I have commissioned our own design, which will include a recording of Edith Piaf’s song La Vie en Rose played on the accordion! So French!”
How did you end up in Antibes? “My husband is a superyacht photographer and his work brought up here eight years ago. For something to do, I started working in the bookshop and then the opportunity arose for me to buy the business!”
Where do you go on holiday to switch off?: “South Africa. We have a little house on the beach there and we love it. Great weather, great people, great food and wines – and everyone speaks english!”
