Launched in the spring, the local alternative to Amazon is trying to find a place

It had been launched in mid April in response to the first containment. And has become, since last Saturday, a valuable ally for local traders again hit by the restrictions. The Mavillemonshopping.fr Internet platform is gradually gaining ground in Loire-Atlantique. This marketplace, which allows professionals to display a selection of products and offer them for sale 24 hours a day via online payment, now includes nearly 1,100 brands, or 12% of the 9,000 stores in the department. Some 11,000 articles are listed there, particularly in the food, wine, clothing and decoration sectors.

“It is starting to become significant,” welcomes Yann Trichard, president of the Nantes-Saint-Nazaire CCI, at the origin of the initiative. About a hundred additional businesses have joined the platform since the weekend, in particular those forced to close. It brings them visibility. It promotes our convenience stores which, more than ever, need to be defended. “” Digital is the only option we have today to get by. Otherwise we agree to leave the field open to Internet giants like Amazon, ”adds Olivier Dardé, president of Plein center, the association of traders in downtown Nantes.

Quite a few transactions

Orders are delivered either by on-site collection (click & collect), or by home delivery by couriers employed by the La Poste group, manager of the platform. It remains to convince consumers. Because, eight months after its launch in Loire-Atlantique, Mavillemonshopping.fr still generates little turnover.

“It’s simple, I haven’t had any orders. However, I can tell you that I have talked about it around me, ”laments Emeline, manager of the Le Comptoir de Mathilde delicatessen in Nantes. Even zero points at Dom Zebulon, wine merchant in Saint-Nazaire, registered since April. Laurent, manager of Flapstore, a telephone accessories store, has only recorded one sale. “I believed in it, because the idea was good,” he confides, “disappointed”.

“It is the consumers who have the key”

The interface of the site, not very attractive and which requires entering its address before being able to consult the offers, is singled out. “It’s quite difficult to find your way around. We do not find the usual features of other merchant sites, ”regrets Philippe, manager of the ThéÔphil store in Nantes. “We work every day with the La Poste group to improve the site,” replies Yann Trichard, head of the CCI. Yes, it takes a little getting used to by consumers. But it is the guarantee to find a store as close as possible to home and, therefore, to promote short circuits. “

The other pitfall regularly mentioned is the lack of notoriety. A poster campaign was launched at the start of the school year. Another will be visible in the coming days, supported by communities. “Buying local through this platform makes sense. But making it known necessarily takes time. As many people as possible must seize it to create a virtuous effect ”, hopes the president of Plein center. “The revival of our economy will come from consumers. They are the ones who have the key, ”is convinced Yann Trichard.

For now, the exhibition on Mavillemonshopping.fr does not cost Loire-Atlantique traders anything. Commission fees (5.5% per transaction) are covered by La Poste.