France is a wonderful country filled with art, food, and passionate people. That passion comes through with the country’s purchasing habits too. French people love to shop, they find a lot of personal joy in shopping.

It’s a great market to jump into, especially if you have an artistic side. All you need is a little preparation and knowledge, which is what this guide is all about.

Overview of France

• Official name: French Republic
• Capital: Paris
• Also known as the “City of Light”
• Population: 65 million
• Government: Democracy
• Known for food, art, music, fashion, and literature
• French is the official language
• Brogues and dialects are more common in rural areas, and English is also pretty common
• Surrounded by Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, and Spain
• The Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Sea surround the country
• The landscape includes a lot of low-lying plains, plateaus, mountains, and rivers
• Has a wide range of weather conditions due to the diversity of terrain
• The highest mountain in France is Mont Blanc and is 4,810 meters or 15,780 feet high
• Landmarks: Eiffel Tower, Alps, The Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, Versailles Palace
• Has a wide variety of ethnicities
• 3/5 of the population is Roman Catholic
• A majority of the population is middle age or younger
• The country is a founding member of the European Union
• Is the most visited country in the world.
• National flower: Iris
• National bird/ animal: Gallic Rooster
• National sport: football (soccer)

Helpful Facts for E-Commerce in France

• Trading partners with the US, Germany, Spain, Belgium, UK
• 51.6% of France’s population is female, 48.4% is male
• 81.1% of the population lives in urban areas, 18.9% in rural areas
• 59.47 million internet users
• 49.60 million social media users (around 75% of the population)

Market Potential

France is the 6th largest market for e-commerce in the world and the second-largest market in Europe.

What You Should Do Before Jumping into the French Market

Research is key whenever you start something new. Research helps minimize mistakes, wasted time, and frustration. Some essential research to do is learning about your potential customers, how they like to shop, and what products they like to buy.

Learn about Your Customers

The average French person loves their country and is proud to be French. They want a native experience when they shop, meaning you need to have product descriptions in French and prices in Euro. They also prefer to buy from native sites, versus foreign sites. Though that doesn’t mean they aren’t open to other sites.

The French are unique in the fact that they trust and prefer big-name companies rather than small independent businesses. One thought is because they’re concerned about security and bigger businesses provide more security.

It’s best for you to try selling on familiar online marketplaces like the French version of Amazon and eBay.

Other important notes about the average French customer are that they like browsing and shopping from their phone, love discounts, and prefer to use debit cards.

Figure Out Top Selling Products in Country and Popular Niches

When first entering the French market it’ll be good to play it safe with popular products and niches while establishing yourself before diversifying.

Top Selling Products:

• Apparel
• Toys and hobbies
• Electronics
• Furniture
• Food/ personal care

Popular Niches:

• Food
• Environmentally friendly
• Fashion
• Alcohol
• Coffee

Important Things to Note When Setting Up a Store in France

As mentioned before, you may not get a lot of attention if you only have your store and nothing else. It’s important to have multiple channels for selling. Sell on social media, Amazon, and eBay, in addition to your store.

The French want a “native” experience when they shop, so you’ll need to have descriptions in both French and English and have prices in Euros.

Luckily, Amazon will automatically convert the prices for you. eBay will also automatically convert currency but your customer may experience a fee for the conversion.

GearLaunch now offers EU fulfillment. This means products will be printed and shipped from within the EU. This means shorter wait times for customers! Though not all products may be eligible for this. Products with a symbol in the corner are ones that are eligible.

It also means that your store will automatically convert currency based on your customer’s IP address, though the payment will be in USD.

Product Description

Product descriptions should include the basics of the product, but also have a little flare. Just make sure you don’t over embellish details.

Product description example:

Show off your shoulders in all kinds of weather with this wide-neck sweatshirt. Available in a variety of colors and made of plush sponge fleece, you’ll be cute and comfortable wearing this! It’s also 100% ethically sourced and eco-friendly!

Important Information for Running Ads in France

Focus on social media. While it’s always important to have a social media presence no matter what country your store is in, it’s especially important in France. Social media has a huge influence on purchasing decisions.

The top social media platforms are:

Here is a breakdown of social media usage by age and gender for targeted ads. Ads are a great way to get a lot of eyes on your store without a lot of effort, though it will cost money. It will be up to you to decide if you want to spend time or money when it comes to ads. Be aware that ads on social media are the fourth most common way people in France discover new stores.

CTAs for Major Holidays

Valentine’s Day

Give the most romantic gift a partner can ask for with our Valentine’s Day products.

Mother’s Day

Show mom you care with our latest Mother’s Day products!

Father’s Day

Father’s Day is coming up! Do you know what you’re getting Dad?

Bastille Day or 14th of July

Celebrate Bastille Day in style. Buy quick, sale is ending soon!

Christmas

Only # days until Christmas, don’t wait too long to get gifts!

Staying Current with France’s Market and Trends

To stay current with what’s going on in France, look to social media and top influencers within the country. This will be the best way to know what your customers are looking for.

Top French newspapers are Le Figaro, Le Monde, and 20 Minutes.

‍