France and the United Kingdom have been alternating each other as the second economy of Europe. France is a highly centralized country where mostly in Paris the decisions are made. Other major cities include Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, and Nice.
As of 2024, France’s population is projected to be around 64.88 million. The country experiences a modest population growth, with a growth rate of approximately 0.15%.
France has one of the world’s largest economies, known for its diverse industrial sectors, including aerospace, automotive, and luxury goods. It is also a leading agricultural producer within Europe.
France’s intelligent economical framework sees diversification across all sectors with the government either partly or entirely privatising larger conglomerates. These include companies such as Renault, Air France, France Telecom and Thales among others. The government’s strong hold however is predominantly found in the power, defence and public transport industries.
Paris as the capital of France is also the center for commerce. Most major organisations have their headquarters in or around Paris. For services and industrial products this can be a good place to start with quite some coverage. From there you can approach second tier and smaller cities.
Finding clients in France requires good knowledge of the French language and a good understanding of the culture. If you are not French yourself (and preferably living in Paris with the right educational background) it will be difficult to get access to the market.
Courtesy is an important aspect of French business culture. Formalities affect the way French people do business, their greetings, manners, as well as the language they use. Calling by first name is only acceptable when you are told to do so. However, it should be noted that business in France takes place on two levels. On the surface, it is polite, professional and can be considered as cold and stuffy at times. On the second level, it involves a lot of strong ties and personal relationships. It is also necessary to be well-dressed as this is a reflection of status and success.
Alfred Griffioen, founder of Exporteers
In the past 15 years me and my colleagues have approached hundreds of agents, distributors, importers and retailers worldwide for brand owners aiming to sell their products abroad. In 2012 a call was enough to get a meeting. Today, you first have to send your pitch — and then hope that someone will answer.
The distributors needed to reach your clients already work with your competitors. They have invested in marketing, stock and sales, and they are making money. Asking them to switch to you means asking them to start all over again.
My experience is that if you only send a website or product catalogue, answers are rare. Numbers make the difference. Show expected volumes, margins, sales effort and investment. Show that there is a business case for them, not just for you.
Even if your business is really international, it may be wise to set up local website translations and check whether your text aligns with the culture.
With regards to content, my personal experience is that if you have a successful blog topic in one language, it is likely to do well also in other languages. Don’t reinvent the wheel, just make a proper translation.
First of all you may have to pay import duties or settle VAT. This can be complex if you don’t have your own legal entity in the country.
There may also be non-financial bariers, like certifications or approvals to be obtained. Especially for food, cosmetics or medicine this may be the case. Check this in advance, even before you invest in your marketing.
Almost every country or trade block in the world has its own detailing on the international HS-code list. With our report you strongly reduce the risk on misclassifications, delays and higher custom duties than expected.
Tell us what you want to ship and where to and we ask you all relevant questions to get to the most likely code.
First determine who can be the end-users for your product or service. From who do they purchase now? Interview a number of key players in the value chain how they perceive your offering and ask them who is your competition. Only then you can position your product or service and effectively approach potential buyers.
Yes, we can certainly do that, because we have experienced business developers in the country. Of course it is important that your product is good, well documented and you have discovered the best sales processes already in your home country.