Who has not had at least the throat tied in front of the passage of Frédéric Douin on M6 on Wednesday evening has a heart of stone. The service of this bookseller-publisher in Who wants to be my partner? was undoubtedly the most moving moment of the beginning of season 2. The jury was touched by the story, almost miraculous, of this inhabitant of La Celle-Saint-Cloud (Yvelines). Founder of a company for the purchase / sale of old books in the 2000s, Frédéric Douin had to give up his activity in 2011 when he learned that he was suffering from a brain tumor. But, against all odds, he manages to overcome the disease. “I restarted my activities as a bookseller and publisher of old books,” he says. But starting from zero to over 50 is not easy. “
This is why he asked the help of M6 investors and it is (disclosure alert) Eric Larchevêque who embarked on the history of this iconoclastic publisher. “With his passion, his innocence, his naivety, he succeeded in making the books speak and he touched us all, testified the investor last December. I was embroiled in his story and decided to follow him. It was such an emotional torrent that it touched us all, we all shed a little tear. »Frédéric Douin is back for 20 minutes on this incredible journey and on “his passion which is also his livelihood”.
More than eight months after filming the show, where is your project?
It’s progressing, but it’s a complicated project. My bookseller friend who has to give me his stock is 80 years old and it’s not easy for him to stop, it’s his whole life. So it’s a bit complicated to finalize. In addition, I had an unforeseen health problem. Two months ago, I learned that I had to resume chemotherapy for twelve months. Nothing catastrophic, there is no danger in the remainder, it is rather preventive. It’s going to slow me down, but I’m not going to stop it all, not a second time. And because of my sick leave, it is impossible for me to take over the lease of my friend’s bookstore.
But do you still edit old books?
For me, reissue is a passion! Rediscovering forgotten but original books to determine which ones are worth republishing is great. Highlighting rare pearls is my business model. I have a loyal and niche clientele, but which is expanding relatively quickly because I republish all types of books. For example, I just reposted Electric Life by Albert Robida, an illustrator and writer with a passion for heritage. In 1890, he decided to write an illustrated book on a romance between a man and a woman living in the 1950s. And his imagination is overflowing! From the telephone, which has just been developed, he invents the telephonoscope, the ancestor of video calls, distance selling or even tele-training! But these are rare and hard to find copies. In auction rooms, a copy of Electric Life can leave for 1,500-2,000 euros. That’s why I made a nice color reissue at 39 euros and sold 250 copies.
How was the relationship with Eric Larchevêque who decided to invest in your company?
Eric Larchevêque is charming and really attentive. We are in the process of finalizing the legal documents to validate his investment but with the return of the chemo, it has slowed down the process a bit. Since October-November, I have new premises of 500 m² where I transferred all my stocks and I receive help from my sister-in-law to enhance them. I also renovated my online store. With a little financial means, things go faster. Who wants to be my partner? is a real great opportunity.
How did you end up on this show?
I discovered this show during the first confinement. I received a call from my brother who said to me: “Look, this will interest you! »What I do immediately and I say to myself« this show is made for me »! That same evening, on LinkedIn, I found the producer of the show that I contacted and who answered me. I present my project to him and he tells me that season 2 has not yet taken place but that he keeps my contact details. And when M6 gave his agreement for a new season, he warned me and told me how to apply, where to send my project and my presentation video. At 57, I had nothing to lose so I applied even though I didn’t really believe it, especially since I’m not at all in the tech field, which the jury is used to seeing . And against all odds, I was received. I was very well surrounded by the production team and by the investors. It was a great experience for me.
What is the impact of Covid-19 on your business?
We are in a very complicated period, but I am lucky to have a 100% Web activity so I did not have too many constraints related to the coronavirus. My activity was roughly equivalent with a minimal decrease in my turnover. Overall I did well.