Segré. “We found our audience”: pop culture still attracts as much

Nadège Gomez, 32 years old, manager of the O-Fuda store in Segré, for 1 and a half years.

Crédit : Angle Nivol

 

If there is one who has no doubts about the success of the Fusion Event, it is Nadège Gomez, manager of O-Fuda: “there will be people coming, the organizer told me that he had chosen the town of Segré because it is located in the center of Angers, Nantes, Rennes and Laval and that there was nothing there. If we were able to find our audience, they will find theirs too”, she assures. In Segré-en-Anjou-Bleu, the bookstore O-Fuda has a monopoly for fans of pop culture. Opened on October 17, 2024, the store specializes in manga, figurines and related products. “We have access to all supplier catalogs. If you want a book or comic, we can also order it.”explains the manager.

 

On the shelves, sequels to popular series dominate, including titles like One PieceSpy x Family and The Apothecary’s Notebooks. “We mainly sell series suites, then depending on arrivals, people buy derivative products.â€she specifies. Fantasy, in particular, is very successful: “It’s what leaves the most”. A loyal customer base was quickly established, made up of both young children under 10 ans and adults of 30 à 40 ans. « On a trouvé notre public à Segré »esme Nadège Gomez.

 

” On penknows how to see more teenagers”

 

However, one observation is surprising: adolescents are not as present as expected. “We thought we would see more teenagers”she recognizes. Several factors can explain this relative absence, according to her. First, mobility constraints, not all young people are transported. Then, the purchasing poweroften limited in younger people. Finally, the recent drop in the Culture Pass, from 300 to 150 euros, could have a direct impact on their habits. Â Â Â

 

This imbalance raises questions, especially since Japanese pop culture continues to be massively attractive. According to My face42% of French people will consume manga or anime in 2025. Part of the answer may lie on the screen side. According to a recent study of National Book Center7-19 year olds read on average 18 minutes per day per taste, compared to more than 3 hours spent in front of screens.

 

“The animated version can lead to reading”

 

However, these screens are not necessarily the enemies of reading. On the contrary, they can play a bridging role. “The animated version can lead to readingSouligne Nadège Gomez. Watching an anime often makes you want to discover the sequel in manga, to learn more about the story or the author’s work.”. A dynamic that contributes to breaking certain préjugés still stubborn, notably the idea that “mangas are for children”. “With my partner, we read series that we wouldn’t usually read, and we sometimes have real favoritesâ€she confides.