The test centre would check for technical quality, ease of use, price and the "price/quality ratio," and all results were published in the company's free members' magazine Contact, which today can also be found advertised in store. Furthermore, all products were tested in the company's independent test centre before sale. The brand positioning of the company continued with the training of sales assistants in their product categories, with purchases being guaranteed for one year. The first shop was opened in a sublet, a second-floor apartment on the rue de Sebastopol in Paris on July 31, 1954. Their aim was to improve the lives of the workers, not through higher salaries but through lower prices. Founded 1954, Fnac was a members-only discount buyers' club, offering sharp discounts on commercial and consumer products, based on the founders' socialist principles. In 1953, Théret and André Essel conceived a new magazine -based buyers club. In 1951, while working for the telephone company, he founded Economie Nouvelle, a membership discount buying group for products sold through participating merchants. After the war, he trained as a photo laboratory technician, founded his own laboratory, and later constructed the first colour-processing machine in France. Hunted by the Gestapo, Théret left the Occupied Zone in 1942, moving to Grenoble, where he took up photography as a career. Max Théret had a passion for photography which began in 1932. Fnac publishes "Indétendances," a compilation of ten artists bimonthly published by independent labels, which it set aside part of its listening kiosks in stores to promote their work. In February 2002 Fnac published with UPFI (Union des Producteurs Phonographiques Français Indépendants) "Manifeste pour la diversité musicale", as a prelude to a policy of favorable treatment for independent labels and their artists. The company claims to be committed to defending the diversity of music. These events are shown on the company website (in French). Dominique Mainard, Pierre Charras, Pierre Charras and Pierre Péju are among those who have won. Since 2001 the company has also annually presented an award, Le prix du roman Fnac, whose winners are chosen by a panel of booksellers and members. Topics related to literature, culture, society and the sciences are discussed.
Musicians playing in these concerts have included Yann Tiersen, Ben Harper, Keane and David Bowie.Įach year a "book fair" is held with discussions among writers, politicians and the public. Fnac was founded in 1954.įnac holds "forums" throughout the year, which are opportunities for customers to have dialogue with people such as Pedro Almodóvar, George Lucas, and David Cronenberg, discussions with authors including Paul Auster, Pierre Bourdieu, and Françoise Giroud in addition to concerts. The company's founders were André Essel and Max Théret.