Max Théret
Encyclopedia
Max Théret was the co-founder of Fnac
, originally Fédération nationale d’achats des cadres, or National Purchasing Federation of Managers, alongside André Essel
. He was also an antifacist activist and a believer in Trotskyism
.
Between 1936 and 1939, Max Théret joined the battle against Franco
in the Spanish Civil War
. After which he returned to France, where he met with Trotsky who was in exile, and became his informal bodyguard.
During the Second World War he fought for the French army, and joined the resistance during the Occupation
, helping to distribute leftist newspapers.
which originally began in 1932. When hunted by the Gestapo
, Théret left the Occupied Zone in 1942, moving to Grenoble, where he took up photography as a career. After the war, he trained as a photo laboratory technician, founded his own laboratory, and later constructed the first colour-processing machine in France. In 1951, while working for the PTT
telephone company, he founded Economie Nouvelle, a buying group that arranged discounts for members on products sold through participating merchants.
In 1953, he met André Essel
, the other co-founder of Fnac
, and the two conceived the idea of forming a new buyers club through a magazine called Contact. Founded a year later in 1954, Fnac
was exclusive to its members only, offering sharp discounts on its products, based on the founders' socialist principles. Their aim was to improve the lives of the workers, not through higher salaries but through lower prices. In 1974, Fnac began selling books at 80% off the RRP, sparking protests and a law in 1982 that limited the level of discounts that could be offered on books. He left the company in 1981.
Fnac
Fnac is an international entertainment retail chain offering cultural and electronic products, founded by André Essel and Max Théret in 1954. It is the largest retailer of its kind in France...
, originally Fédération nationale d’achats des cadres, or National Purchasing Federation of Managers, alongside André Essel
André Essel
André Essel was the co-founder of Fnac, originally Fédération nationale d’achats des cadres, or National Purchasing Federation of Managers, alongside Max Théret...
. He was also an antifacist activist and a believer in Trotskyism
Trotskyism
Trotskyism is the theory of Marxism as advocated by Leon Trotsky. Trotsky considered himself an orthodox Marxist and Bolshevik-Leninist, arguing for the establishment of a vanguard party of the working-class...
.
Political career
Before the rise of the extreme right, Max Théret often engaged with street battles against French Stalinists during the years following the death of Lenin and the intense power struggle between Stalin and Trotsky.Between 1936 and 1939, Max Théret joined the battle against Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
in the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
. After which he returned to France, where he met with Trotsky who was in exile, and became his informal bodyguard.
During the Second World War he fought for the French army, and joined the resistance during the Occupation
Military occupation
Military occupation occurs when the control and authority over a territory passes to a hostile army. The territory then becomes occupied territory.-Military occupation and the laws of war:...
, helping to distribute leftist newspapers.
Forming of Fnac
Théret had a passion for photographyPhotography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
which originally began in 1932. When hunted by the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
, Théret left the Occupied Zone in 1942, moving to Grenoble, where he took up photography as a career. After the war, he trained as a photo laboratory technician, founded his own laboratory, and later constructed the first colour-processing machine in France. In 1951, while working for the PTT
PTT
PTT may refer to:Chemistry and medicine:* Partial thromboplastin time, a performance indicator in medicine for coagulation status* Photothermal Therapy, A method of using light and photosensitizers for medical treatments...
telephone company, he founded Economie Nouvelle, a buying group that arranged discounts for members on products sold through participating merchants.
In 1953, he met André Essel
André Essel
André Essel was the co-founder of Fnac, originally Fédération nationale d’achats des cadres, or National Purchasing Federation of Managers, alongside Max Théret...
, the other co-founder of Fnac
Fnac
Fnac is an international entertainment retail chain offering cultural and electronic products, founded by André Essel and Max Théret in 1954. It is the largest retailer of its kind in France...
, and the two conceived the idea of forming a new buyers club through a magazine called Contact. Founded a year later in 1954, Fnac
Fnac
Fnac is an international entertainment retail chain offering cultural and electronic products, founded by André Essel and Max Théret in 1954. It is the largest retailer of its kind in France...
was exclusive to its members only, offering sharp discounts on its products, based on the founders' socialist principles. Their aim was to improve the lives of the workers, not through higher salaries but through lower prices. In 1974, Fnac began selling books at 80% off the RRP, sparking protests and a law in 1982 that limited the level of discounts that could be offered on books. He left the company in 1981.