Rue Marcellin is the very definition of a start-up. A one-man enterprise founded and led by EMLYON MBA graduate Paul Budny, the French-based company is a truly small operation.

Paul began developing his business plan while on the International MBA Program and launched just this month. Operating in the eCommerce sector, the SME specializes in authentic prints and posters, and other forms of antique printed art.

Paul is using his passion for print to fuel his venture, and he began collecting works long before founding Rue Marcellin. The MBA was essential for him to switch from engineering to entrepreneurship, and EMLYON has helped him get the business off the ground.

Paul may have created one SME, but he’s not stopping there. Like many MBA entrepreneurs, he has numerous projects in the works. This is just the start of what he hopes will become an umbrella company of start-ups.

What is the company’s size?

Right now I’m the sole owner and it’s a single-man enterprise.

I’m hoping to increase in size eventually, but Rue Marcellin is just one of the ventures I plan to pursue. I have another start-up in the works.

There are a couple of entrepreneurial opportunities at the moment and I would like to set up a business or two here in Europe, and try to grow them.

I’ve just registered another company in Poland. Basically, this is the start of an umbrella company.

Which sector does it operate in?

We are primarily in eCommerce.

What does the business do and what are your core/flagship products?

It’s an eCommerce website that specialises in the sale of original, vintage posters and prints. We specialize in authentic prints and posters, and other forms of antique original printed art. This includes propaganda posters and magazine adverts.

I’m concentrating on an era when posters just got started; the early 1990s when lithograph printing was just invented. There was a craze of poster making on both sides of the world and the streets, almost overnight, were filled with them.

So the concept is: I want to bring poster-collecting to the mainstream. Right now it’s been focused on collectors and it’s a niche market. But my idea is to, through eCommerce, share my passion for collecting posters.

And France is the home of the poster, that’s where the history started. After EMLYON, I thought it would be a good fit.

Which regions are covered?

The company is based in France. It’s geared towards an English speaking audience in North America and Northern Australia. Despite the fact the pieces are up to 100 years old, it’s a more accessible form of art and I sell to the whole world.

How was the company founded?

I started the company while on my MBA. I had been developing the idea for a while and bits came together after graduation.

It started with my personal collection and I then made connections in the antique industry and met dealers with whom I formed relationships. I work with galleries in Europe now, but all works are sold online.

How has an MBA benefited your start-up?

I chose to attend EMLYON because I thought it would give me a better sense of business in Europe and open me up to some business opportunities as well. The entrepreneurial spirit was also a factor.

Just having a good understanding of sales distribution and the importance of promotion and marketing was helpful.

Granted, it was starting point; I’ve had to do lots of my own learning. But it was a great foundation and anabled me to understand all the pieces that are necessary to form a successful business.

I think without an MBA I would’ve made a lot of mistakes. An MBA allowed me to take the steps to hopefully make Rue Marcellin a success.

To check out Paul's start-up, visit Rue Marcellin's website here.