Since August 19th, at 7 Rue Fodรฉrรฉ, the second-hand shop has opened its doors. A story of fashion, low prices, environment, and above all, passion.
Samia, the manager, has created her ideal thrift shop, the one she always wanted to shop in. As far back as she can remember, the Franco-Algerian lawyer has always been very stylish. She has always nurtured this passion for fashion for personal reasons without making it her profession until she embarked on the thrift adventure this year, accompanied by her daughter Leรฏla.
Behind the store’s social media, she is in control. The young woman took vacation time to help her mother get started. Being from the Internet generation, she is an asset for online communication. She doesn’t hesitate to advise her mother on selecting clothes that might appeal to younger people, who are increasingly leaning towards this mode of consumption.
After months of planning and implementing this project, the women opened “Au grenier de mamie” on Saturday, August 19th in the Port of Nice neighborhood. The store is located at 7 Rue Fodรฉrรฉ, replacing a former osteopath’s office.
From Lawyer in Algeria to Thrift Store Manager in Nice
The Covid-19 health crisis played a major role in the career shift Samia took. At the time, the store manager was living in Algeria, and her daughter Leรฏla was studying in Nice before working in the legal field. Separated from each other and unable to reunite due to health restrictions, the mother admits it was a “hammer blow” and she lived through “a real nightmare”.
Once the constraints were lifted, she decided to join her by crossing the Mediterranean to settle in Nice. The “City of Angels” was not entirely unknown to them, as the family had already vacationed there. “I had fallen in love with the city, I told myself that this is where I wanted to be, “ confides Leรฏla.
After 26 years as a lawyer, Samia signed up with Pรดle Emploi in France. She found jobs as a legal expert but, in the meantime, the desire to start her own business took precedence. Familiar with thrift shops and disappointed with Nice’s offerings, the idea naturally took root. “We, as thrift store consumers ourselves, couldn’t find one that suited us in Nice,” adds Leรฏla, her daughter.
Ecology and Low Prices
Particularly sensitive to human rights due to her professional background, for Samia, creating a thrift shop is also a matter of eco-responsibility. “Textile factories are the most polluting. Second-hand won’t stop them from manufacturing, but it helps reduce the problem“, she explains.
The primary goal here is to offer the best quality-price ratio, “for peace of mind.” Deploring an abusive second-hand market on pricing, her prices range from four to about ten euros. “For example, Levi’s jeans are 18 euros; even on Vinted, you won’t find them at that price,” adds Leรฏla.
Browsing in “a Clean and Friendly Place”
Clothing, accessories, lingerie, swimwear, and shoes carefully sourced “with love,” are washed, ironed, and arranged in this freshly decorated retro-style store. Here, the attic isn’t synonymous with dust but with “a clean and friendly place” where great deals are within reach. “Some come in with apprehension and leave with a smile, and that’s our pleasure,” summarizes the manager’s daughter.
The selection is varied; there are very original pieces, rather vintage, as well as more basic items, and also a selection of brands for men and women. “Au grenier de mamie” also prides itself on offering a wide range of sizes.
The thrift shop is open from Tuesday to Saturday, from 10 am to 8:30 pm.
