Librairie Molière — 2 million references online

Librairie Molière is the largest independent bookshop in Wallonia. Established in Charleroi for decades, it brings together across more than 1,500 m² an immense catalogue, a team of passionate booksellers and a loyal customer base. When the time came to take this experience online, the challenge was clear: offer 2 million references without losing the soul of the bookshop.

The technical challenge

Putting 2 million references online is first an architecture problem, then a design problem. It requires a solid foundation, performance optimised for indexing and search, and above all permanent synchronisation with the in-store management system: Librisoft.

Every day, hundreds of new titles arrive, prices change and stock levels evolve. The website must reflect the reality of the store in real time, not with a one-day delay.

ERP integration — Librisoft

WiMakeIT developed a custom bidirectional connector between Magento and Librisoft, the business software used by the bookshop to manage its catalogue, stock and in-store sales.

• Full catalogue synchronisation: 2 million product pages imported and updated automatically
• Real-time stock: store and warehouse availability visible on every product page
• Prices and promotions synchronised from Librisoft
• Web orders automatically fed back into the management system
• Integrated click & collect with availability notifications

Catalogue architecture

2 million references organised into literary categories, genres, publishers and collections. The navigation is structured so that a reader can find both the latest Prix Goncourt winner and a specialist technical manual. Full-text search allows books to be found by title, author, ISBN or keyword.

The customer experience

What sets an independent bookshop apart from an Amazon is the personal recommendation. Molière's booksellers select their favourites every week. These recommendations are featured on the website exactly as they would be on a table in the store. Every product page is enriched: synopsis, bookseller review, reading suggestions, real-time availability.

My Molière

The "My Molière" customer space offers a personalised experience. Order history, wish lists, reading preferences and recommendations tailored to the profile. The customer finds online the relationship they have with their bookseller in store: someone who knows their tastes and suggests relevant discoveries.

What this changes

1. 2 million references accessible 24/7, without sacrificing navigation quality.
2. Bookseller picks create a unique editorial connection that e-commerce giants cannot replicate.
3. Librisoft synchronisation eliminates double data entry and ensures permanently reliable data.
4. Click & collect drives footfall to the store and strengthens the customer relationship.
5. The "My Molière" space builds loyalty through personalisation, not promotions.