This summer we were very lucky to be able to go to the South West of France to see Ben’s family. Given that we hadn’t seen some family members for more than three years, it was an emotional reunion, yet we had plenty of time to relax and enjoy our beautiful surroundings.

Ben’s parents and sister live in the Lot department, just about an hour from Toulouse. We’ve visited several times now and on every trip I discover new hidded gems in the area. Let me share some of our latest journey with you today.

Livres, Books & Company (Montcuq)

Hidden away from the bustling main road and weekly market, the bookshop and café Livres, Books & Company is located in the little town of Montcuq. Their beautifully curated selection of English and French books make one want to sit down and read by the fireplace (conveniently located right by the entrance), and their idyllic green garden is the perfect spot to enjoy the homemade food on offer. I can highly recommend their sourdough bruschetta, and I really loved their lemonade too. If you visit, make sure you check out the patio at the end of the garden as it overlooks the houses and rooftops of Montcuq, providing a romantic view of typical French town life.

L’Atelier du Dragon (Montcuq)

Located right under the Livres, Books & Company in Montcuq is L’Atelier du Dragon, an independent shop by creative Rafaële Rohn. Alongside her own art prints, handmade printed quilts, tableware and cushions as well as beautiful dried flower arrangements, she offers the creations of local artisans: ceramics, jewellery, accessories and a small selection of teas & honey products make perfect gifts for yourself and loved ones.

Antiquités Roman (Anglars-Juillac)

Whether you’re on the hunt for an antique piece or not, this place is definitely worth visiting. Even though their quirky selection of (primarily 60s and 70s) pieces are housed in a traditional French stone building, it instantly transported me back to the amazing antique stores Ben and I had visited in Palm Springs, California two years ago.

Latour-Marlias (Le Temple-sur-Lot)

Did you know that Monet got his famous water liles in Lot de Garonne? Well, he actually got them right at this beautiful place. Latour-Marlias was founded in 1875 and is home to more than 300 varieties of water lilies. I loved walking along their historical cultivation pool and taking some time to rest in their gorgeous park. I also really enjoyed the local food that they offer in their lovely café (that is open from May to September each year).

Le Raspberry Beret (Puy-l’Évêque)

This little shop has turned out to be one of my favourite places in the Lot department. Located in Puy-l’Évêque, Le Rasperry Beret offers a wide range of carefully selected vintage pieces (that are sourced in France, Germany and the UK) as well as antiques. From floral blouses, bohemian tunics to 60s dresses, Le Raspberry Beret is a paradise for vintage lovers.

Petit Biscuit et Gourmandise (Puy-l’Évêque)

Only a short walk away from Le Raspberry Beret and located in the middle of Puy-l’Évêque’s medival old town is the lovely little tea room Petit Biscuit et Gourmandise. Aside from their variety of teas, homemade cakes and delicious biscuits, I was particularly impressed by their terrace that overlooks the town. Definitely worth a visit.

Le Comptoir Des Chouettes (Castelfranc)

Only a short drive from Puy-l’Évêque, Le Comptoir Des Chouettes is my new favourite brocante in the area. A brilliant mix of antique furniture, clothes, toys from different eras and more, there’s something for everyone to be found.

Words & images: Katharina Geissler-Evans, heiter magazine

1) Focus on your strengths:

You don’t have to do it all. I am a firm believer that you should focus on the platforms that are in line with your strengths. By that I mean, that are easy for you to use. If you are a visual person and you love photography and curating content, Instagram and Pinterest might be better choices for you. If you’re more of an introvert and the thought of having to engage on Instagram to attract more people is tiring, you might prefer Facebook. Did you know that the Facebook algorithm favours your personal page over your business page? Then why not focus on your profile and the people you’re already friends with on there? Share your content with them, rather than trying to show it to strangers. It’s very likely that the people you’re connected with fall under your ideal audience and/or recommend you to others.

Focusing on your strengths also plays a role when it comes to using individual features on a social media platform. I am particularly thinking about Instagram here. If you love talking, live chats might be just your thing. If you prefer showing snippets of how you work or what happens in your daily life, you might prefer stories. And if you enjoy creating video content, make reels and IGTV your priority. Again, you don’t have to do it all. Experiment and have fun.

2) Decide on three topics you’d like to talk about:

This is something I mention to all my clients. For the sake of simple planning, and to enable your ideal audience to follow along easily, focus on three topics that are in line with your brand (and values), and that are easy for you to talk about. It’s always good if they overlap with your audience’s interests too. If you run an ethical fashion brand for instance, you might create your posts around 1) how your products are made/behind the scenes content 2) how to look after the items/how to live a more conscious life in general 3) customer stories/how to wear stories. If you’re a lifestyle photographer you might want to share 1) examples of your photography/snippets of previous photo shoots & behind the scenes stuff 2) smartphone photography tips (assuming that your ideal audience would mainly use a smartphone to take pictures) 3) snippets of your own lifestyle as this can help your audience connect with you on a personal level.

3) See engagement as part of your customer service:

The last point I would like to address today is the following: don’t let the thought of having to engage on social media overwhelm you. I completely understand that commenting for the sake of it feels unethical and irrelevant. However, what happens if you shift your mindset? What if I told you that replying to DMs and comments is part of your customer service and that ignoring questions/remarks is just as strange as ignoring your ideal client in a shop or during an actual face to face encounter? Keeping that in mind has really helped me to enjoy getting back to my followers. It’s also helped me to be more authentic with my own comments. Hope you’ll find it useful too.

If you’d like more tips on how to use social media in a way that makes you feel heiter, book a “Joyful Instagram Audit” session with me:

Heiter places to visit along the Lot, France

How to fight being overwhelmed by social media: 3 tips for small business owners

1) Focus on your strengths:

2) Decide on three topics you’d like to talk about:

3) See engagement as part of your customer service: