Petit Bulletin SAINT-ETIENNE - Urban guide Saint-Etienne: Shop - Up Arty: an old school concept store - article published by Cerise Rochet

Before, they both worked in communications. But that was before. Too many computers, too much time spent alone in their offices, too many videos… For Charlotte and Jérôme, the successive confinements triggered a form of professional weariness, a need for air, for change.

One evening at the end of summer, spurred on by a desire to work together, to embark on a new challenge and a bit jaded at having to find their screens, the two lovers draw up a list of everything they love, to find, together, what could become their new professional path. Art, fashion, photography, music, decoration… “We immediately realized that everything revolved around creation, but that in a way, we didn't want to choose between all these things. The idea of ​​opening a vintage-inspired store therefore came about quite naturally, because it allowed us to touch a bit of everything,” explains Charlotte.

After that, everything is linked: creation of a presentation file, a logo, visit of commercial premises... At the same time, the couple questions their relatives: good or bad idea? “Everyone around us pushed us. Vintage is in the era of time, all that suited us well, we were made to understand that it was made for us. All we had to do was get going."

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In search of the crush

After a few weeks of milling around to put everything in order, Charlotte and Jérôme thus opened, during the month of November, Up Arty. Inside, vinyls, cassettes, decorative objects, ghettoblasters and hi-fi equipment of all kinds, clothes, furniture... A real shop where you enjoy pushing the door and looking at everything in details, in search of the crush that we will bring home. "A huge part of what we sell is vintage-inspired: either old renovated, old transformed, or new in the retro spirit, continues Charlotte. Added to this are some of my creations, with t-shirts, sweatshirts, kits and skateboards. On the other hand, we are not at all a flea market. We only sell pieces that we like, that we could wear or have at home”.

Good supply networks

In just a month and a half of opening, Up Arty has already built up a small clientele, along with several supply networks. House sales, garage sales, auctions, resellers, and even private individuals, who from time to time pass through the door to sell the objects they no longer want. Now dividing their time between their old job and the new, the lovers give themselves a year to run the shop, develop their business, and seduce those nostalgic for a time. A concept store with an old school touch, for easy shopping.

Up Arty, La Boutique Atypique, 6 rue Léon Nautin in Saint-Etienne. Open Tuesday to Saturday, online on FB and Insta.