They clearly don’t play in the same league. Compared to the sales giants Amazon, Temu or Shein, the Emmaüs online store does not weigh much. Launched in 2016 and specializing in the resale of clothing, books and furniture donated to the association, Label Emmaüs has even been suffering greatly since the start of the year with sales down 20% compared to 2023. “ Over the past year or two, it has started to be really complicated to survive,” underlines Maud Sarda, the co-founder of Label Emmaüs.
The inflation context is of course weighing on things. But the Emmaüs online store above all denounces “unfair competition” from digital behemoths, particularly in the book sector. Demanding more regulation, she attacks the “deleterious” practices of these platforms which offer “incessant” advertising, “ever faster deliveries” and lower prices.
The authorities want to tax and curb fast fashion
To raise awareness, the association is launching a campaign on social networks entitled “All our books are equal”, putting side by side the biography of Abbé Pierre, founder of Emmaüs, and that of Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon.
In March, MPs adopted a bill to make fast fashion less attractive, with financial penalties and a ban on advertising. The Senate has yet to vote on this text. “A good lead,” notes Maud Sarda, who nevertheless calls for laws to “prevent Shein from offering 8,000 new products per day” or “Amazon from offering free delivery.” This has been prohibited since October 2023 on purchases of new books which cost a total of less than 35 euros.