It smells woody and new in "'s Fachl" on Berliner Strasse in Frankfurt.

A small coffee bar behind the front door lures visitors into the shop, which is furnished with around 300 wooden boxes stacked on top of one another.

Filled with stationery, soaps, baby clothes and jewellery, they combine in an attractively sorted mess.

The Frankfurt "'s Fachl" branch has been open since mid-October.

It is the 25th franchise branch of the Austrian company of the same name, whose founders have also established the not entirely new but special concept of the rental shelving system as a franchise in Germany over the past six years.

In Frankfurt, Lorraine and Elena Hastry, mother and daughter, run the business together and are happy about the good response.

Space for young entrepreneurs

Starting at eleven euros – the fee depends on the rental period – small entrepreneurs from the creative or culinary sectors can rent a compartment and exhibit their products in it.

For every item sold, the Hastrys, as so-called master craftsmen, receive a ten percent commission.

The special feature for the tenants: they can view their product inventories in real time via a digital merchandise management system.

The concept aims to give young local traders who cannot afford advertising or their own shop the opportunity to become better known and to win customers without great economic risk.

Not everything is perfect in the store yet.

The last ceiling lights will be installed these days.

"It's starting so slowly, the compartments are filling up," says 28-year-old Elena Hastry.

Around 130 tenants are already using the sales compartments as advertising space.

It is important to the Hastrys that the products are manufactured in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner.

The ingenuity of her tenants occasionally amazes her.

It's amazing what sustainable ideas people come up with, says daughter Hastry: "You never get bored here."

Grand opening in December

Lorraine Hastry has previously exhibited art as a gallery owner in Constance, her daughter studied interior design in Munich and London.

In the corona lockdown, both were looking for a change and a way in which small producers could be better supported.

This is how they came up with the rental shelf concept.

The Hastrys are still running the business in pairs, but want to look for employees as soon as their business picks up speed.

In view of the rising prices this winter, however, that does not seem to be so certain.

Consumers keep their money together.

Can a rummage shop be successful at all during savings times?

Lorraine and Elena Hastry hope that, especially in times of tight budgets, the joy of small things will be rediscovered.

"People still want to reward themselves with something nice," says Lorraine Hastry.

In December, mother and daughter want to celebrate another grand opening.

Then the seating area in the window should also be ready for visitors who not only stop by for the little things, but maybe also for a coffee.

's Fachl, Berliner Strasse 32, Frankfurt;

Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.;

www.fachl.at