In the smallest of small townsin France, certainly in this area of the Tarn and the Tarn & Garonne, businesses still exist where it possible to get, for example, a watch repaired. It is not sent away to some unknown destination, the watch repairman who has been working all his life in the same location does his work on site – in the shop.
I suspect that like a lot of these skills once this watch expert retires there will be no one to take his place and the husband and wife team will be no more. The shop is still decorated in a 60’s style of wallpaper with a design of rounded squares and rectangles, with painted hardboard covered with small holes for hanging clocks for sale all around the shop.
Perhaps I am getting nostalgic in my older years but it does make a change to see that this individualism in business is still able to continue despite large shopping centers/malls.
7 comments:
Yes, I do think this is a dying skill. A similar shop over here is closing down their biz. soon :(
The maestro at work!!!It is a shame many jobs like this one get lost, its the same in the shoe industry...Less and less young people wanting to continue...were in a world were it's all about the bucks...''show me the money''!
a bit of a shame...
I am from South Africa and was introduced to the blog by my friend Marieta who posts a daily Photo from Bloemfontein.I really like your photo's as they bring real life in the small French towns to us,thank you!!Here in Bloemfontein were also a few watchmakers, but as they died the trade also died and everything is now being sent by the big chain jewellers to Johannesburg for repair.Some of these chain jewellers sell you the watches but cannot even replace a watch strap or battery!!!
I can tell you one thing the French gov are not helping the situation here, small businesses are being taxed and strangled by social charges.Just ask around!!
Oops, I got all excited there for a minute.
Brings back memories. Now you drop it off to the jeweller and pick it up a few days later. You never get to see the person who repairs it.
Thanks all for your comments. I think it is nice to know that for the moment these skilled craftmen still exist. Long may they continue.
And Mark, don't get me started. I think we have the same opinion, and for now we will keep to the positive and the little gems that can be found in this wonderful country.
It's great that there are still shops like that. But it's getting harder and harder to find them nowadays.
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