The Canal Fleas

What The Canal Fleas does

Les Puces du Canal (The Canal Fleas) is a privately held French flea market venue operating since 1995 in the Saint-Jean district of Villeurbanne, on the outskirts of Lyon. Self-described as the second-largest flea market in France, the venue runs year-round on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays and combines 200 permanent boutiques with up to 500 traveling merchant spaces across roughly 400 unpacking spots, attracting nearly 10,000 visitors on peak weekends. The on-site ecosystem includes 5 bars/restaurants, a guinguette, a bakery, an organic grocer, and a flower shop, plus a guarded parking facility with more than 1,000 spaces, transforming the site into a destination rather than a transactional marketplace.

The business operates a transactional booth-rental model with day-specific pricing (\u20ac20-\u20ac85 depending on day, spot size, and online vs. on-site booking) supplemented by Pack Week-end accommodation bundles (\u20ac90-\u20ac170) combining Ibis Budget Villeurbanne rooms, parking, and booth space for out-of-region vendors. Ancillary revenue comes from on-site and digital advertising partnerships (A3 and A1 formats, website banners, newsletter slots, social media collaborations) and parking fees of \u20ac4/day. Bookings are processed through the third-party Yurplan reservation platform; no proprietary technology platform is disclosed.

The customer base is two-sided and highly diversified. On the supply side, it serves professional antique dealers and brocanteurs (especially on professional-only Thursdays and Sundays), individual vendors, interior designers, and themed communities such as vintage scooter collectors. On the demand side, it serves chineurs (bargain hunters), families, tourists (amplified by the Only Lyon partnership and three-hotel partner network), and cultural event audiences attracted through themed Saturdays, Puces Hors les Murs pop-ups, D\u00e9ballage International professional trading days, and collaborations with events such as Jazz \u00e0 Vienne and Battle BD. The company is operated by Soci\u00e9t\u00e9 SEPC (SIRET 792 848 608 000 16), is independently owned, has no disclosed funding, and runs with a headcount of 11-50 employees.

Name

The Canal Fleas

Legal name

Société SEPC

Website

https://pucesducanal.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Les Puces du Canal operates France's second-largest flea market in Villeurbanne, with 200 permanent shops and capacity for 500 traveling merchants. Revenue comes from booth fees, weekend accommodation packages, parking, advertising partnerships, and a year-round cultural and events programming calendar.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Flea Market Venue Operations

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192), Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Community & Multi-Category Fairs (MPAGAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Neighborhood & Community Markets/Pop-Ups (Community-Led Bazaars) (MPAGAEAJ), Lifestyle, Home & Garden Shows (MPAGAFAB), Collectibles & Hobby Shows (MPAGAFAN)

Keywords

• Flea market venue
• Antique and brocante market
• Vintage retail marketplace
• Vendor booth rentals
• Event-driven market operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Villeurbanne

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Vendor booth fees: The primary revenue stream comes from charging vendors (both professionals and individuals) for booth/unpacking spots. Fees vary by day of week and space size: Thursday (professionals only) is a flat €30 regardless of size; Saturday (all vendors) is €20 for 20m²; Sunday (professionals only) ranges from €40-80 depending on space (20m² to 40m²).
2. Weekend packages: Packages combining hotel accommodation, secure parking, and booth space for out-of-town vendors. Pack 1 night (Saturday) ranges from €90-130 depending on booth size; Pack 2 nights (Friday-Saturday) ranges from €130-170. This creates additional revenue from professional vendors traveling from outside Lyon.
3. Partnership and advertising: The market generates revenue from partnership deals including on-site advertising (A3 and A1 formats), digital banners on the website, social media posts in collaboration with partners, newsletter editorial spots, and event sponsorship opportunities. Target partners include businesses seeking visibility among the market's 10,000+ weekend visitors and 200+ merchants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

The Canal Fleas (Les Puces du Canal) operates a year-round physical flea market venue in Villeurbanne, near Lyon, combining 200 permanent antique/vintage/brocante boutiques with up to 500 outdoor spots for traveling merchants, plus on-site dining (5 bars/restaurants, a guinguette, bakery, greengrocer, flower shop). The venue hosts weekly trading days, professional unpacking events, themed Saturdays, cultural programming, and off-site pop-up markets. Vendors rent booth space (per-day or weekend-package pricing), and the market generates additional revenue from on-site advertising and partnerships.

Product overview

Les Puces du Canal operates as a unified marketplace combining a permanent physical venue with event-based programming. The core offering is the main flea market (200 permanent shops, up to 500 traveling merchants) supplemented by specialized events including Déballage International for professional traders, Pack Week-end packages for traveling sellers, and Puces Hors les Murs mobile events. Partner hotels provide visitor accommodation. The ecosystem is managed through the Yurplan booking platform for spot reservations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Les Puces du Canal (main flea market venue) Year-round physical flea market venue in Villeurbanne, near Lyon, combining 200 permanent antique/vintage/brocante boutiques with capacity for up to 500 traveling merchants across outdoor unpacking spots. Open Thursday and Saturday 7h-13h, Sunday 7h-15h. Features on-site dining (5 bars/restaurants, 1 guinguette, bakery, greengrocer, flower shop) and serves both professional dealers and individual consumers.
• Déballage International (International Unpacking Days) Professional unpacking events where antique and flea market dealers from across Europe gather to buy and sell, with early access for professional buyers and subsequent public opening.
• Pack Week-end (Weekend Package) Bundled weekend package for out-of-town professional vendors combining Ibis Budget Villeurbanne hotel accommodation, secure guarded parking, and unpacking booth space for Saturday+Sunday. Pack 1 night (Saturday): €90-130 by booth size; Pack 2 nights (Friday-Saturday): €130-170 by booth size.
• Puces Hors les Murs (Off-site Pop-up Markets) Mobile market format bringing selected Puces du Canal merchants to city center locations beyond the main Villeurbanne site. Organized in partnership with local city management organizations such as Destination Gratte-Ciel, with past editions in Villeurbanne center and Neuville-sur-Saône.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 10,000 visitors on peak weekends
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• Battle BDminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 July 2026Battle BD spectacle company co-organizing the 'La BD s'invite aux Puces' event September 12-13, 2026. Features live comic book creation competitions under a tent, author meet-and-greets, workshops, and caricature sessions. Battle BD has previously performed at Lyon BD Festival, Musée Lugdunum, and Fête du Livre de Villeurbanne.
• Mediatone BookingminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 July 2026Event booking agency partnering on the 'La BD s'invite aux Puces' cultural event. Contributes to the artistic programming and event logistics for the comic book weekend.
• Jazz à VienneminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 July 2026Partnership with Jazz à Vienne music festival for joint promotional activities. Market merchants contribute vintage furniture to festival artist lounges, and joint contests offer tickets to Samara Joy concert (July 10). Creates cross-promotion between the cultural and antique communities.
• Destination Gratte-CielcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 June 2026Partnership with Destination Gratte-Ciel, the city center management initiative for Villeurbanne. Supports the Puces Hors les Murs pop-up events bringing market merchants to Avenue Henri Barbusse in central Villeurbanne. Creates bridge between the market and local city communities.
• Scooter Club LyonnaisminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 June 2026Partnership with Scooter Club Lyonnais for the 10th annual Parts Exchange event (September 5, 2026). Market provides venue for vintage scooter and motorcycle enthusiasts to buy/sell parts and accessories. Marks the launch of the 1st thematic Saturday of the season.
• Only LyoncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 January 2022Partnership with Only Lyon territorial marketing program positions Les Puces du Canal as an official Lyon-area destination. The program highlights inspiring Lyon locations for tourism promotion, extending the market's visibility to national and international visitors. The market is featured alongside other iconic Lyon landmarks as a must-visit destination.
• Ibis Budget VilleurbannemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerHotel partnership with Ibis Budget Villeurbanne (3 rue du 8 mai 1945) offering promotional rates (€50 with code VPDC25) for market visitors. Also offers weekend packages combining hotel accommodation with secure parking and vendor booth space for out-of-town merchants.
• Crowne Plaza Lyon Cité InternationalemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Crowne Plaza Lyon Cité Internationale (4-star, 22 Quai Charles de Gaulle) offering preferential rates for market visitors seeking premium accommodation. Standard rooms from €120, Premium from €140.
• Ibis Lyon Carré de SoieminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHotel partnership with Ibis Lyon Carré de Soie (20 Avenue Des Canuts, Vaulx-en-Velin) offering economic accommodation in East Lyon near the Carré de Soie business and leisure district. Rates from €80-90 for single/double rooms.
• Puces EventcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDedicated events entity that co-organizes special programming at the market including open-air events, music festivals (Fête de la Musique), and cultural collaborations. Works with the market management to create unique visitor experiences and drive foot traffic.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Selency (formerly Brocante Lab): Online marketplace for secondhand and vintage furniture and décor, headquartered in France. Comparable as a participant in the French secondhand/vintage economy that competes for the same end-consumer spend on vintage home goods, and represents the digital channel Canal Fleas merchants may use alongside the physical venue.
• Vide-Greniers & Brocantes de France (Brocantes.fr): Aggregator and event directory for brocantes, vide-greniers and flea markets across France. Comparable as an emerging player shaping how consumers and merchants discover and participate in physical flea market events, including Canal Fleas.

Regional players

• Kensington Flea & Markets (London): A destination flea and vintage market offering in London. Comparable as a curated flea market venue combining antiques, vintage and food & beverage with strong weekend programming, though operating in a different geographic market.
• Braderie de Lille: Annual flea-market and brocante event in Lille, one of the largest in Europe. Comparable as a major French regional flea market gathering professional and amateur vendors, though it operates as a concentrated annual event rather than a year-round venue.
• Waterlooplein Market (Amsterdam): Long-running flea market in central Amsterdam serving both professional dealers and bargain hunters. Comparable as an iconic European flea market destination with a similar mix of permanent stalls and traveling merchants.

Direct peers

• Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen: The largest flea market in France, located in Saint-Ouen just outside Paris. Directly comparable as a multi-category antiques, vintage, and brocante venue serving both professional dealers and consumers, and the market against which Canal Fleas measures its #2 ranking.
• Camden Market: A large multi-vendor market complex in London combining retail, food and beverage, and cultural events. Comparable as a destination-style, event-driven marketplace that pairs permanent and itinerant merchants with curated F&B and cultural programming.
• Portobello Road Market: Iconic London antiques and vintage market. Directly comparable as a long-established antiques/brocante destination with strong tourism appeal, professional dealer participation, and a mix of permanent shops and weekend trading.
• Marché aux Puces de Vanves: A long-running weekend brocante and antiques market on the outskirts of Paris. Comparable as a regular professional and consumer-facing flea market with themed programming, drawing both merchants and individual chineurs.

Broad incumbents

• Marché Dauphinois / Puces de Saint-Ouen: Established Paris brocante venue under the broader Puces ecosystem. Comparable as a permanent indoor/outdoor antiques venue with professional dealer days and consumer weekend openings, and serves as a broader incumbent in the French flea market category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCiugDgiSSH6i1rhDwWusriw
• Facebookfacebook.com/pucesducanal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/24975094
• Instagraminstagram.com/pucesducanal
• Xx.com/pucesducanal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Canal Fleas