/ 
Hello Vincent, can you tell us why you decided to develop a fishing section in your store, and what it means for you and your customers?
In May 2024, I was lucky enough to take over a tobacconist's shop, La Gitane, in the rural area of Méounes-lès-Montrieux in the Var department, where my beloved river, the Gapeau, flows. Having been a fisherman myself since childhood, and having been involved in the fishing association for several years, I know how much the fishing network has lost by concentrating its activity on the Internet and large retailers. I'm talking about a time when every village (in a fishing zone) had its own fishing card reseller, or even a hardware store where you could buy everything you needed for local fishing. The local bar was the place to be for privileged exchanges, and had nothing to envy to social networks in terms of fish magnification.
By losing our small local retailers, we've lost a few fishermen in each commune. Not hordes, but perhaps 3 or 4 per commune. Cumulatively over a department, a region or nationally, it counts.
The freshwater fisherman
I chose to develop a fishing department, which I named "The freshwater fisherman". My aim is to establish a direct link with fishermen. As a man of contact, I like to get to know their needs and desires, but also to share my advice with them. I know that this contact will be useful to me in helping fishing associations. Exchanges are the basis of my commercial and associative commitment.
I'm a shopkeeper, so I sell for more than I buy, but I'm freed from the need to balance the books by selling tobacco and newspapers, so I can look at this additional activity with the necessary hindsight. The fishing section adapts to the season. It concentrates on trout in spring, and on predators during their fishing season. In winter, my department narrows down and focuses on seasonal activities such as fly-tying.
It's a store that aims to be local, with equipment adapted to the fishing possibilities, but also to the traditional techniques of the Var. I wanted to sell live fish. I'm respectful of all forms of fishing, and through this sale, I'm participating in a commitment to our customs and way of life.
We have an excellent range of fly-fishing equipment, and I like to say that we have the largest selection of flies and nymphs in the department. We regularly organize get-togethers for anglers at the store, with discussions over a coffee: "le café des pêcheurs". Little by little, we're becoming a must for anglers in the Var. Another strong point of our department is that we are open every day from 07:00 to 19:30.
I find international competition via discount sales sites interesting, because in these difficult economic times, it enables some fishermen with limited means to continue their practice. Our offer has to be local, of high quality, and accompanied by exchanges if we are to find our place in the commercial jungle.
My main aim is for the angler to catch fish, master techniques and make progress, only then will he be satisfied and loyal to my fishing department: "The freshwater angler".
