Fnac
Fnac (French pronunciation: [fnak]) is a French multinational retail chain specializing in the sale of entertainment media and consumer electronics.
Company type
1954
184 (2015)[2]
Own shops: France, Tunisia, Portugal, Spain, Andorra, Switzerland and Luxembourg; franchising: Morocco, Qatar, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Belgium and Congo[3]
- Photography[5]
- Ticket sales
€7,3 billion (2019)
€188 million (2010)[4]
14,364[4]
- Contact Magazine
- Fnac.com
- Fnac Éveil & Jeux
- Surcouf
- Fnac Voyages
- Le Pôle Spectacles[6]
Fnac was founded by André Essel and Max Théret in 1954.[1] Its headquarters is located in Le Flavia in Ivry-sur-Seine near Paris. Its name is an abbreviation of Fédération Nationale d’Achats des Cadres ("National Purchasing Federation for Cadres"). It merged with Darty in 2016 to become Groupe Fnac Darty.
Loyalty programme[edit]
Fnac operates a loyalty programme offering points that are awarded each time the card is presented at the till-point, for each euro spent. A membership fee applies. For every 4,000 points earned, a gift card worth €10 is issued to the card holder. As of 2008, the programme has 1.8 million members, with the loyalty card also serving as a credit card. As of 2008, there are two versions of the card, a one-year membership card or alternatively a three-year membership card. The membership card offers a 5% discount on hardware, books and various monthly offers.[31]
Product range[edit]
Fnac stores stock a range of products from audio, books, CDs, computer software and hardware, DVDs, televisions and video games.[5] Some stores also operate services of photography and ticket sales. The company also offers a selection of more expensive consumer products positioning themselves above discount retailers.
Culture[edit]
Fnac 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. Musicians playing in these concerts have included Yann Tiersen, Ben Harper, Keane and David Bowie.
Each year a "book fair" is held with discussions among writers, politicians and the public. Topics related to literature, culture, society and the sciences are discussed. 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. Dominique Mainard, Pierre Charras and Pierre Péju are among those who have won. These events are shown on the company website fnaclive.com (in French).
The company claims to be committed to defending the diversity of music. 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. 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.[38]
In popular culture[edit]
In the 1995 Spanish horror-comedy "El Día de la Bestia" (Eng. The Day of the Beast), the main character Ángel is caught trying to steal a book from the Fnac store in Callao Square in Madrid.
The story of the 2005 Spanish thriller Mar rojo, starring Maribel Verdú, begins with an armed robbery at a Fnac store in Barcelona.