We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Benjamin ADDA. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Benjamin below.

Benjamin, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

The French Store showcases Tableware, Linen, Ceramics, Art, Food, Perfumes, Bodycare… from France.
there are three main points of difference from the American market :
The French Store proposes a mix of new brands as well as Vintage and second hand products that I bring back from my travels in France every two months.
The stock rotation is fast, I never order the same collections or products which makes the guests discovering all of it again each time they come in. Most of the items are either limited edition or unique pieces.
The selection is carefully curated to keep the Wow factor. For most of the brands, The French Store is the only one either in the Mid-West and some in the US. the identity of each collection needs to be told like a story that we tell with each purchase since we know the owners of all these small companies in France. Some are recent but others have more than 500 years of existence!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Benjamin was born and raised in Paris, France. Inspired by French arts trades he grew up surrounded by all varieties of French culture and customs. and Between is mother’s house in Normandy and his Father’s property in Provence, he learned the art of the French home.
Benjamin met his husband in Paris, an American from Columbus, Ohio. For years, he and Matthew traveled France in search of the best food, flea markets, and architecture. In 2022 they moved back to Matthew’s hometown. Ever since Benjamin dreamed of opening a store where he could share his passion for French savoir-faire. He set out to gather a creative selection of French brands and concepts.
In March 2024, Benjamin opened The French Store and partnered with Jennifer, an American pastry chef fascinated by Macarons and sweets from artisanal French companies. Together, they share a unique space in the heart of historic Dublin, Ohio.
The French Store carries new and vintage articles, centuries-old brands exclusively displayed at this location in Ohio.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

The most valuable thing I have is my customer’s base.
The more you know your guests, the more you can count on their loyalty.
I know their names, stories and families as well as their taste. They also know my story, why I moved from Paris and my opinion on things.
In my system I created many different groups that reflect certain kinds of behaviour or taste. Each time I talk to someone, I will place them in one of the groups to have targeted messages.
Regarding the brands, because most of my stock is custom made by small artisanal companies, they need me as much as I need them. We work in tandem.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

In the Mid-West, Europeans can feel lost and without any options regarding food, tableware or Linen.
Having them coming to the store and be happy to find familiar brands and customs warms my heart.
I participate in French or European groups like Alliance Française, or Book clubs as well as Francophile cuisine classes.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thefrenchstorecolumbus.com
• Instagram: thefrenchstore.columbus
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/The-French-Store-61557682725698/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-french-store-dublin
• Other: Google Reviews : https://g.co/kgs/4bvPjXR

Image Credits

The French Store, Caravane Paris, Dammann Freres, Fragonard, Lussan, La Rochere