Félicien RISS

Comics to strengthen social ties in the heart of Saint Etienne

With his ‘Les Intrus’ bookshop specialising in comics, Félicien Riss is strengthening social ties in the centre of Saint-Etienne. He was able to launch his project with the help of Claire Cadiou from France Active Loire. Now well established, he is continuing to develop his business and build customer loyalty, while playing an active role in the cultural life of Saint-Etienne.

Félicien Riss, can you tell us about your project with Les Intrus bookshop ?

‘Les Intrus’ is a bookshop specialising in comics, graphic novels and independent publishers, with a small children’s and manga section. It stands out for its selection of books on current themes such as feminism, mental health and gender issues. It’s a committed bookshop, both artistically and in terms of social issues. The project was born out of a lifelong passion for comics and a desire to offer a unique venue in Saint-Étienne, a town I found very welcoming and dynamic in terms of culture and associations.

Why did you turn to France Active? And what do you remember about this support?

It was my advisor at the ‘Fabrique à Entreprendre’ who told me about France Active and its financing and support solutions. The bank guarantee and the Accès + programme were essential to the launch of the bookshop. Claire Cadiou from France Active Loire provided me with extremely rigorous support, enabling me to fine-tune my project down to the last detail. Going through the France Active impact committee gave me a lot of strength and legitimacy, because I was able to see experts around the table who believed in my project.

What are your plans for the coming years?

I’d like to develop the bookshop’s events and meetings section even further. I’m already organising small concerts and exhibitions of original comic strips during book signings. These events are a great way of getting people out and about in the neighbourhood. I’m also going to be taking part in the ‘Fête du Livre’, which will give the bookshop a lot of exposure. At the same time, I want to continue to build customer loyalty and offer new titles. My ambition is to make “Les Intrus” bookshop a place where people can meet and share in the cultural life of Saint-Etienne.