A few key figures about France

Apparel and accessories market: 38,6 Billion Euros in 2007 => France is the 4th most important market in Europe after Italy, Germany and UK.
Population: 64.5 Million inhabitants

The distribution in France

In 2007 in France, distribution chains had the most important share with 38% of the market, regrouping city center and malls' specialized chains (Etam, Camaïeu, Pimkie, Armand Thierry, Celio or Okaïdi) and clothing stores such as La Halle, Kiabi or Gemo which are joining the French cities' peripheral activity areas thanks to the working classe customers' family. France is also a strategic implementation area for the foreign shops from North Europe (C&A, H&M) or from the South (Zara, Mango...).

The independent retailers still represent 17% of the total apparel and accessories distribution, and the Department Stores with world famous Parisian flagships and its leaders : Galeries Lafayettes, Le Printemps, Le Bon Marché who do 65% of their sales with apparel and fashion accessories.

These 2 channels - independent retailers and department stores - remain though the main distribution channel for medium-high range brands. Among the independent retailers, we can note the development of Junior speciality stores -11-18- with hip brands, and also the success of concept stores with a large range of products (clothing, decoration, cultural activities...) around a lifestyle : Colette, Maria Luisa, L'Eclaireur, for example.

The payment habits in France

At FDI Logbox France, 27 % of payments are done by drafts, 44% by checks, 18% by E.N.A and 7% by transfers.
There's less unpaid with checks than with the other payment tools.

The check is the most effective tools because it's a beginning of proof and there is no need to go in court to validate the debt; for the other tools, the debt should be validated by the court through an injunction of payment said « injonction de payer ».

Traite, Billet à ordre, Effet non Accepté: How does it work?

Draft said "Traite": With the invoice we issue a draft, this draft has to be returned signed at least 15 days before the due date.
Billet à ordre: When they receive the invoice, the customer sends a signed « Billet à ordre » to his supplier.

Effet non accepté / Wired: When we send the invoice we inform that the amount will be withdrawn at the due date. A reminder is sent 20 days before the due date; and at the due date, we debit the amount due directly to the bank account unless otherwise. This payment tool is the one which has the better collection rate at FDI France.

In France, the contractual term of payment is usually after 60 days but it can be 90 days with sometimes an ask to put the 10th of the month as the term issue.
Terms are payment are supposed to be reduced little by little to reach 45 day on January 2012, in application of the new french law 'LME : Loi de Modernisation de l'Economie'.
More information on :

http://www.e-affacturage.fr/avis/delais-de-paiement-loi-lme-export-2.html#internationale

Contacts to find an agent, a distributor, or new lines in France

This is possible through FDI Logbox network!
All information on Fashion Networking

FDI France was created in 1984. Nowadays, this subsidiary is working daily with 7,000 fashion stores and Department Stores in the whole territory.

For more information on the French market, do not hesitate to contact Nicole Strebler:

FDI Logbox France
450 rue Félix Esclangon - BP 22
FR - 73291 La Motte Servolex cedex
Tel. : +33 (0) 4 79 96 89 50
Fax : +33 (0) 4 79 96 27 60
E-mail : info@fdi-logbox.com

More information about fashion market in France