Online sales and e-commerce in France

If you have a software product, a service that can be delivered from abroad or a physical product that people don’t mind waiting for, you can do business internationally directly from your own country. 

This is also valid for France if you keep in mind that you will have to adjust your marketing. You may have to make translations and accept different currencies, and for physical products you have to manage the whole shipping and customs process.
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Where it all starts: select a target group

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.

Translate your website and check your SEO

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. 

This also counts for France where people prefer reading in their own language and also search most of the time in their own language. Therefore you need to include the relevant keywords in your texts, and these may not be a direct translation.

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.

Enable local payment

Customers who see prices and can pay in their local currency are three times more likely to deal with you. So it makes sense to offer this option.

Also for France offering local payment methods is recommended. Of course there are different options, but the easiest first step is to use credit or debit card payments.

Credit card payments typically work best up to an amount equivalent to 500 USD or EUR. If the invoicing amount is higher, there often is a different internal procedure required.

The e-commerce market in France

The French e-commerce market is one of the largest in Europe, with significant growth driven by increasing internet penetration and a shift towards online shopping. Here are some key details about the French e-commerce landscape:

1. Amazon.fr

Market Share: Leading player in the French e-commerce market

Monthly Visits: Approximately 30 million

Amazon France dominates the e-commerce scene with a vast selection of products across various categories, including electronics, fashion, and groceries. Its Prime membership offers fast delivery and exclusive deals, making it a popular choice among consumers.

2. Cdiscount

Market Share: One of the largest e-commerce platforms in France

Monthly Visits: Around 14 million

Cdiscount is known for its competitive pricing and wide range of products, including electronics, home goods, and fashion. The platform frequently runs promotions and flash sales, appealing to budget-conscious shoppers.

3. Fnac.com

Market Share: Major player in electronics and cultural products

Monthly Visits: Approximately 10 million

Fnac specializes in electronics, books, music, and cultural products. It combines an online presence with physical stores, allowing customers to pick up online orders in-store. Fnac’s loyalty program enhances customer retention.

4. Veepee (formerly Vente-Privee)

Market Share: Leading flash sales platform

Monthly Visits: About 8 million

Veepee focuses on flash sales for fashion, home goods, and lifestyle products. It offers limited-time discounts on branded items, attracting consumers looking for exclusive deals.

5. La Redoute

Market Share: Popular for fashion and home decor

Monthly Visits: Approximately 6 million

La Redoute is known for its stylish clothing and home decor items. The platform emphasizes quality and design, catering to consumers seeking fashionable options for their homes and wardrobes.

Shipping your products

If you sell tangible products, you need to get them delivered into France but depending on the country you are in, this can be a challenge.

First of all you may have to pay import duties or settle VAT. There are certain thresholds for both of these charges, e.g. while importing in the EU you don’t have to pay import duties on any shipment worth less than € 150. 

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.

VAlidate the HS-codes you use for shipping

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.

Frequently asked questions

The best way to find an importer in France is to understand the sales channel for your product, and what parties are involved. Then find the right importers or wholesalers at the beginning of that chain. Before starting to push your product, approach a number of them to ask what they need. This way you can position your product better before you reach out to a broader group.
First check whether your product normally is sold through web shops in France or that other distribution structures are more common. Then determine the characteristics of your ideal web shop, and find a number of these, or outsource this search. When you approach the first few, you will learn what they find important and who your competitors are.
As in any country, convincing an importer or wholesaler to put your product in his assortment is difficult. Also in France importers look at the rotation of the product, how easy and often they can sell it, and multiply this with the margin they can make on it. The result should be higher than they earn now from any competing product. Only if you have proper sales data, for example from other countries, they will engage in a discussion with you.