Key in your market entry strategy is some market research. Of course there are reports on market size and market growth, but often these are general. Specific knowledge on how your product is perceived and what your competitions is, is harder to get but more valuable.
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 is globally recognized for its rich history, art, and gastronomy. It has a strong cultural influence worldwide and is a popular tourist destination. The country has a diverse population with a significant number of people from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
The standard distribution route in France involves goods being sent to wholesalers who in turn utilise various channels to reach retail outlets, where they are made available to the consumer. All wholesalers and their warehouses are situated in a convenient, centrally located area for prompt supply. Local shops and other retailers naturally purchase in bulk from the warehouses to make it more cost effective.
Knowledge of the customer base, major gateways, legal matters as well as the distribution structure will be beneficial to your expansion. Having a local partner will help you navigate around the French market and ensure optimal results for your strategies.
Expanding to the France can be challenging. It is advisable to research and plan thoroughly, understand the culture, legal system, and necessary procedures to optimize the outcomes of your strategy.
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.
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If you have a consumer product that you can’t sell directly from your home country to your end customer, you need at least one step in between. This can be a distributor (who also acts as wholesaler or importer), a big retailer directly, or it can be a large web shop. Let’s look at the pro’s and con’s of each option.
For a B2B product that is not a commodity or for customized solutions the story is different. Here sales needs to be done in alignment with the department that actually delivers the service or that determines the price case by case. Also then you have three different options.
As counts for any country: you first have to define the target group that you want to sell to. If these are businesses, then you can reach out directly through emails and targeted advertisements, e.g. on LinkedIn. If this arouses interest and gives a sufficient response rate, then you may have found an easy way to get the market’s attention.
If your target group is more diffuse, or is a consumer group, then you have to rely more on advertising such as on Facebook or Instagram.