Exploring Life & Business with Clotilde Delestre of Clotilde French Bookstore

Today we’d like to introduce you to Clotilde Delestre.

Hi Clotilde, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I opened my first mobile French bookstore in 2006 in the OC region because I couldn’t find any French books for my son. Then we moved abroad to other countries, and when we returned in 2021—since no one else had taken up this idea or concept—I decided to give it another try.
The schools and organizations I already knew in Southern California immediately jumped on board, and very quickly other schools started reaching out. I was able to travel all along the West Coast, and recently I’ve expanded my reach across the country with in-person book fairs in NYC, Austin, Denver.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There aren’t really any obstacles. The hardest part is finding the right contacts at schools that might be interested. But the bigger I get, the more word of mouth works.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My business involves selling new French books at in-person book fairs and online.
My bookstore is mobile, and the idea is really to reach out to people, show them my selection, and offer reading recommendations.
What people appreciate about my business is discovering books they might not necessarily find on traditional platforms, being able to discuss them, and leaving with THE book—or books—that are just right for them.
If I had a physical store located somewhere, people wouldn’t make the trip; the fact that I go to them meets a need.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
The best form of advertising for me is when people talk about my work.
My goal is to continually find new schools and organizations that want to work with me, and through that, offer their communities a window into French literature.

Pricing:

• The books I sell may seem expensive. You have to factor in import taxes, the euro-dollar exchange rate, and shipping costs. In France, a book is considered a work of art. It’s expensive.

Contact Info:

• Website: clotildefrenchbookstore.com
• Email: Contact@clotildefrenchbookstore.com
• Instagram: Clotilde French Bookstore

Image Credits
Dan Miller Visuals