From Helsinki to Le Marais: Our Pinch-Me Moment at Merci Paris!

Of course, we had to see it with our own eyes, so we booked our Finnair flights tout de suite. Following the address (111 Boulevard Beaumarchais - write this down!), we found ourselves in a charming courtyard where the iconic red Fiat 500 sits like a welcoming committee. And there they were - our ROMA shoes, displayed front and center, with people actually taking photos of them! It was super hard to not go and sell them to the people looking at them, but we managed to behave.

The store was buzzing both days we visited - a beautiful chaos of Parisians and tourists alike, all drawn to this temple of thoughtful design and sustainable living. Seeing our chrome-free leather ROMA slippers, handcrafted in Portugal and designed in Finland and California, sitting pretty among Merci's carefully curated collection... well, let's just say it was a moment to remember.

As entrepreneurs we're always chasing the next goal, eyes fixed on that future to-achieve list. Sometimes we forget to pause and celebrate the wins along the way. This trip was our way of doing exactly that - taking a moment to stand still and just be proud. And speaking of pride...

Three Things The French Taught Us Finns

Speaking of cultural contrasts - oh boy, did we learn some lessons! Here's what happens when Finnish humility meets Parisian confidence:

1.    Stride with confidence and ease: While we Finns are busy wondering "what would the neighbors say?", Parisians are strutting down the street like it's their personal runway. Dogs off-leash, kids walking with main character energy, and nobody batting an eye at your outfit choices. Dress in the dark? Make it fashion, darling!

2.    "Fuck your diet": Yes, we actually saw this on a neon sign, and honestly? Words to live by. The French approach to life seems to be: have the croissant, eat the cheese, drink 17 cups of coffee and save the guilt for more important things - like buying tons of stuff at Merci.

3.    The Art of Zero People-Pleasing: This might be the biggest culture shock for us service-oriented Finns – in Paris, constant smiling isn’t a requirement! Embracing a straightforward attitude and the power to simply say NO without justification is culturally accepted. Just do your job, then get back to what really matters: your wine, your friends, your life.

Between the flea markets lining the streets, the vintage-loving locals, and the general air of "je ne sais quoi" that permeates every corner, Paris reminded us why we created VIBAe in the first place. It's about making shoes that carry you confidently through life, whether you're browsing Le Marais or grabbing coffee in Helsinki.

So here's to unexpected emails, pinch-me moments, and learning to strut a little more confidently in our shoes - literally and figuratively.

Say no when needed and enjoy the cheese! And if you find yourself in Paris, you know where to find us... just say Merci!