Toulouse: the boom in second-hand books and CDs for the holidays
In recent years, second-hand cultural products have been picked up by customers. Especially for the holidays.
“Giving a second-hand book for Christmas is no longer a bad thing,” says Sébastien Pressac, director of Gibert Jeune Toulouse. Before the customers did not dare, for fear of offending the beneficiary. Now it’s over ”.
In recent years, cultural products, including books and vinyls can no longer be bought in new condition: “Comics and manga in particular,” notes this manager. For the price of a new manga, you can buy three used. A great deal ”. Even chosen for the vinyl which dethrones the CD. A situation linked to the purchasing power at half mast but also to the ecological question: “A crucial subject for many, not only young people besides, remarks Sébastien Pressac. Cultural products are no exception. At Gibert, we have no less than 100,000 used references in stock. With extreme rigor when it comes to hygiene when purchasing ”.
“Better to reuse than to mass produce”
Similar phenomenon noted by Richard, manager of the Croc Vinyl brand. “A real awareness was made between the two confinements,” he says. The public wanted to recycle and revive books, vinyls and cassettes. Greta Thunberg’s influence is gaining ground ”. In this shop, rue des Lois, many customers go to the basement, buy second-hand legendary vinyls of the Stones, the Beatles and other sizes of jazz and classics: “It’s the same chosen for the material. Hi-Fi, including the turntables ”. Faithful to the place, Mathilde, 20, buys everything on occasion, including clothes, furniture and cultural products: “I love giving objects a second life”. Beside her, philosopher, Amandine, quadra, adds: “Better to reuse than to mass produce”.