{"id":373965,"date":"2023-12-08T18:33:09","date_gmt":"2023-12-08T18:33:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/blog\/ecommerce-france-definitive-guide"},"modified":"2026-06-19T13:28:54","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T13:28:54","slug":"ecommerce-france-definitive-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/en\/blog\/ecommerce-france-definitive-guide","title":{"rendered":"[FREE report] Ecommerce in France: the definitive guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pages.webinterpret.com\/global-ecommerce-country-report-france.html\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-17186 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/country-report-france-download.png\" alt=\"country-report-france-download\" width=\"178\" height=\"268\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"btn btn-primary\" href=\"https:\/\/pages.webinterpret.com\/global-ecommerce-country-report-france.html\">DOWNLOAD NOW<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>France: Europe\u2019s third ecommerce market<\/h2>\n<p>What comes to your mind when you think of France? Is it the French snacking on frog legs and snails and drinking loads of wine? Is it the Eiffel Tower and the city of love and romance? Or maybe you imagine well-dressed men and women who know what sophisticated fashion means?<\/p>\n<p>Talking about fashion\u2026 As you probably realize, it\u2019s a very popular product category in ecommerce. It\u2019s also the case in France &#8230; and we\u2019re not talking berets here! The French consumer likes to shop for both chic brands and great bargains.<\/p>\n<p>Of course French online buyers like ordering items from many other product categories, too. Sales potential is definitely there, especially considering that with a turnover of over 65 billion euros&#8230;<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>France is the third largest ecommerce market in the EU and 6th in the world.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>This is all great news for all international sellers interested in international growth opportunities.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s our comprehensive guide to the French marketplace: check our facts, figures and forecasts for the future.<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-17111\" src=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/ecommerce-country-report-france.jpg\" alt=\"ecommerce-country-report-france\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/ecommerce-country-report-france.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/ecommerce-country-report-france-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/ecommerce-country-report-france-768x384.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>If you&#8217;re interested in comprehensive, quality data about ecommerce topics of your interest, we have <a href=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/en\/blog\">more free guidebooks for you<\/a>!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<h2>The French marketplace: general characteristics<\/h2>\n<p>In general, the French marketplace can be characterized by high Internet penetration, growing mobile services and a modern delivery structure. The market is relatively mature, but still full of opportunities for online sellers.<\/p>\n<p>Among other things, it can boast a large and diverse consumer base, high purchasing power, reliable payment methods, great location and the widespread use of the French language.<\/p>\n<p>At the moment French ecommerce mostly consists of either large retailers or small merchants, which contrasts with with <a href=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/en\/blog\/ecommerce-uk-definitive-guide\">the UK<\/a> or Germany where mid-sized sellers are more common.<\/p>\n<p>Online sales are rising quickly in France, but physical stores still play an important role in retail. Thus, many online retailers have physical shops, which is helping them develop multi-channel strategies.<\/p>\n<p><strong>French ecommerce in numbers<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Population: 64.53 million<\/li>\n<li>Active Internet users: 55.43 million<\/li>\n<li>Active social media users: 32 million<\/li>\n<li>Active mobile social users: 25 million<\/li>\n<li>Population shopping online: 80%<\/li>\n<li>Proportion shopping online from abroad: 52%<\/li>\n<li>Digital commerce growth: 25%<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-17144 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/digital-commerce-growth-france.png\" alt=\"digital-commerce-growth-france\" width=\"624\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/digital-commerce-growth-france.png 624w, https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/digital-commerce-growth-france-300x144.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 624px) 100vw, 624px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Online buyer behaviour<\/h2>\n<p>Two-thirds of the French population shopped online in the last 12 months (as of 2016). Surprisingly, according to one study, most aren\u2019t millennials as one might suspect. The age of a typical ecommerce shopper in France is 35 to 49, followed by 25 to 34-year olds.<\/p>\n<p>Online spending typically rises at the end of the year, with around 20% of the country\u2019s total digital retail sales attributed to holiday shopping.<\/p>\n<p>French online buyers are usually tech savvy and confident in online shopping. As customers, they appreciate respect, politeness, clear information and a prompt delivery of service.<\/p>\n<p>However, social customer service still seems to be in its infancy.<\/p>\n<p>Price is a key factor for many French buyers, especially since the global economic downturn. According to Euromonitor, 80% of French consumers compare prices before buying non-grocery products. This has helped to fuel the growth of flash sales. In fact, France\u2019s vente-privee.com is the world\u2019s biggest flash sale site.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re an international online merchant who wants to sell in France, it\u2019s important that you <a href=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/en\/solutions\/localisation\">translate and localize your online store<\/a>. It\u2019s also important to interact with French-speaking consumers in their native language.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-17150 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/mark-ellis-expert-ecommerce-localization.png\" alt=\"mark-ellis-expert-ecommerce-localization\" width=\"596\" height=\"274\" srcset=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/mark-ellis-expert-ecommerce-localization.png 596w, https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/mark-ellis-expert-ecommerce-localization-300x138.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 596px) 100vw, 596px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Among other things, <a href=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/en\/blog\/international-sales-the-language-barrier-finally-overcome\">overcoming the language barrier<\/a> will definitely make the purchasing process more straightforward for French-speaking consumers.<\/p>\n<p>There are further benefits. The French language, the sixth most widely spoken language in the world, is used not only in France, but on five continents. This can provide international online sellers with extra opportunities, e.g. the possibility to reach millions of consumers in Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, and in Francophone Africa.<\/p>\n<h3>Popular product categories<\/h3>\n<p>Among the top products purchased by French online buyers are <em>clothing\/footwear, books, home electronics, cosmetics, haircare and skincare<\/em> and <em>children\u2019s items<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-17156 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/france-ecommerce-top-products-bought-online.png\" alt=\"france-ecommerce-top-products-bought-online\" width=\"628\" height=\"335\" srcset=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/france-ecommerce-top-products-bought-online.png 628w, https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/france-ecommerce-top-products-bought-online-300x160.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 628px) 100vw, 628px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Logistics, delivery &amp; shipping<\/h2>\n<p>New logistics approaches, e.g. free delivery and returns, unlimited delivery subscriptions or pick-up lockers, contribute to ecommerce growth in France. This is encouraging for cross-border retailers thinking of <a href=\"https:\/\/app.webinterpret.com\/sign-up?_ga=2.49498598.1741503883.1734951459-730805577.1724063285&amp;_gac=1.76729511.1732090101.CI3tjNrggrACFQgJRQodfSvtEQ%2525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525252525&amp;_gl=1*12woae7*_gcl_au*MTc0ODEwNTAzMi4xNzMyMTEzODkz*_ga*NzMwODA1NTc3LjE3MjQwNjMyODU.*_ga_DQCGR41H7Y*MTczNTAyNzcyMy45OC4xLjE3MzUwNDExNjcuMTMuMC4w\">entering the French market<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>However, the French are demanding when it comes to delivery and they expect it to be utmost convenient. Thus, retailers should prioritize consumer convenience when providing delivery options. Offering a choice is crucial here, along with reliability and speed.<\/p>\n<p>The preferred delivery method is <strong>home delivery (83%)<\/strong>, followed by shipping to a pick-up &amp; go location (66%) and delivery in store (26%). Pick-up points close to consumer homes are very popular among the French, e.g. at local stores, post offices or in lockers at train stations.<\/p>\n<p>The main postal service in France is called <strong>La Poste<\/strong> (historical postal operator), <strong>Collissimo<\/strong> is used for parcels and <strong>Chronopost<\/strong> for express deliveries. La Poste, Collissimo and Chronopost are recognized and trusted brands in France so it\u2019s recommended to provide French consumers with these delivery options on your website. This way, they\u2019re more likely to put trust in your business.<\/p>\n<p>According to UK\u2019s Royal Mail\u2019s research, reassurance about delivery, tracking goods and receiving all the relevant information are very important in France, even more so than in the UK. 85% of French would be happy to track every order, rather than rather than just high-value items, compared with only 60% in the UK.<\/p>\n<p>One of the biggest challenges for retailers may be differing customer expectations: some want one-hour delivery slots, others might want to have their product delivered to a secure locker and so on.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-17163 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/delivery-shopping-attitudes-ecommerce-france.png\" alt=\"delivery-shopping-attitudes-ecommerce-france\" width=\"630\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/delivery-shopping-attitudes-ecommerce-france.png 630w, https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/delivery-shopping-attitudes-ecommerce-france-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/delivery-shopping-attitudes-ecommerce-france-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/delivery-shopping-attitudes-ecommerce-france-50x50.png 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>Advice from our shipping expert<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-17168 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/ecommerce-france-shipping-expert-advice.png\" alt=\"ecommerce-france-shipping-expert-advice\" width=\"591\" height=\"272\" srcset=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/ecommerce-france-shipping-expert-advice.png 591w, https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/ecommerce-france-shipping-expert-advice-300x138.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 591px) 100vw, 591px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Adrien would recommend shipping goods directly from the country of origin or using marketplace fulfillment &amp; logistics solutions, e.g. FBA. The majority of standalone logistics companies are not able to offer competitive shipping rates.<\/p>\n<p>A good alternative is fulfillment done by cDiscount, which enables you to fulfil orders from any sales channel at an extremely low price. This marketplace also drives very high traffic.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s worth noting that there\u2019s a benefit to importing goods into France. That\u2019s because in some cases de minimis value (the threshold from which the imported goods are subject to duties) can be higher than in other countries. This facilitates importing higher value goods into France.<\/p>\n<h2>Payment methods preferred by French online buyers<\/h2>\n<p>In France, credit and debit cards (57%) are the most popular payment method for online purchases. They\u2019re followed by PayPal (25%) and bank transfer (9%).<\/p>\n<p>Over 50% of all online customers in France use <strong>Cartes Bancaires<\/strong> (payment cards). Thus, if you want to sell in France and maximize your conversion rates at the checkout, include Cartes Bancaires along with other popular payment cards, such as Visa, Mastercard or American Express.<\/p>\n<h2>Mobile commerce in France<\/h2>\n<p>French consumers are comfortable using mobile devices, yet compared to other market leaders, they seem to lag a bit behind. Currently, relatively few retailers offer multi-channel purchasing solutions.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/681490\/mcommerce-retail-share-country\/\">mobile share of retail ecommerce sales<\/a> in France amounts to 28%, which is relatively low compared to the leader, i.e. the UK (52%).<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-17174 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/mobile-share-ecommerce-france.png\" alt=\"mobile-share-ecommerce-france\" width=\"631\" height=\"456\" srcset=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/mobile-share-ecommerce-france.png 631w, https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/mobile-share-ecommerce-france-300x217.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 631px) 100vw, 631px\" \/>It may seem surprising that although France is the third ecommerce market in Europe, it ranks in sixth place when it comes to shopping on mobile. This doesn\u2019t mean, however, that online sellers can cut some slack when it comes to mobile optimization.<\/p>\n<p>Quite the contrary, the overall trend indicates a significant increase in the use of mobiles for shopping purposes. Thus, retailers must make shopping smart on mobile devices if they don\u2019t want to lose a big proportion of potential buyers.<\/p>\n<h2>Cross-border shopping<\/h2>\n<p>According to Postnord, 52% of French online shoppers order products from abroad. Favourite online shopping destinations of French online buyers include the <a href=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/en\/blog\/ecommerce-uk-definitive-guide\">UK<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/en\/blog\/e-commerce-in-china-the-future-power-of-cross-border-trading\">China<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/en\/blog\/ecommerce-germany-definitive-guide\">Germany<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-17179 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/global-ecommerce-top-countries-french-buy-from.png\" alt=\"global-ecommerce-top-countries-french-buy-from\" width=\"629\" height=\"284\" srcset=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/global-ecommerce-top-countries-french-buy-from.png 629w, https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/global-ecommerce-top-countries-french-buy-from-300x135.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 629px) 100vw, 629px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Benefits of selling your products online in France<\/h2>\n<p>First, <strong>the French <a href=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/language-barrier-international-ecommerce.png\">language<\/a><\/strong> belongs to those languages which are spoken all over the world. This gives you an opportunity to access a big number of online buyers that are located in many countries beyond France and continents beyond Europe.<\/p>\n<p>Second, France is Europe\u2019s third market in value, just behind the UK and Germany. With a turnover of more than 65 billion euros, France has a<strong> strong online retail position<\/strong>. The growing popularity of ecommerce is opening the country up to more competition, increasing opportunities for international retailers.<\/p>\n<p>Third, there are <strong>a large variety of marketplaces<\/strong> in France, e.g. Cdiscount, RueDuCommerce (Carrefour), fnac.fr, Spartoo (shoes), PriceMinister (Rakuten) and many more. These marketplaces are a good way to promote your products at a relatively low marketing cost. There\u2019s also a wide range of products that can be offered to French shoppers, e.g. in fashion, furniture, travel, electronics or high-tech categories.<\/p>\n<p>Fourth, <strong>France\u2019s location<\/strong> is beneficial with regard to (international) trade. It\u2019s located in the heart of Europe and is also a natural crossroads for European and global trade.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-17126 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/france-ecommerce-expansion.jpg\" alt=\"france-ecommerce-expansion\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/france-ecommerce-expansion.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/france-ecommerce-expansion-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/france-ecommerce-expansion-768x384.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Further, <strong>the well-developed transport and technology infrastructure<\/strong> should make your online sales experience a smooth process. France has one of the best designed and most efficient transport networks in the world. For instance, you must have heard about the high speed train networks, such as the French TGV, offering super-fast journeys between France\u2019s major cities and many European capitals.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to the advanced train infrastructure, there are also roads, motorways and waterways, which facilitate domestic and international trade.<\/p>\n<p>To add to this, French consumers are becoming increasingly connected. <strong>Mobile commerce sales<\/strong> have recently increased by 30%, so tap into this growing sales potential.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, <strong>future shopping<\/strong> may offer some potential for all online sellers who want to make creativity one of their unique selling points. There\u2019s a lot of research and experimentation. Some see the shop of the future as a combination of shopping spaces combined with cultural places or inspirational learning spots.<\/p>\n<h2>Challenges for French ecommerce<\/h2>\n<p>Some French consumers would like to see a personalized interface and enjoy a personalized user experience. This can be one of the main challenges for online retailers. The main issues around a lack of time and skills can be remedied by <a href=\"https:\/\/webinterpret.com\/en\/solutions\/distribution\">automated solutions<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Further, the three buying criteria (delivery, price and product) that French consumers see as the most important can make it challenging for retailers to provide the impeccable buying experience many French customers expect.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, it\u2019s crucial to meet the delivery expectations of those French online buyers who expect utmost convenience, speed, reliability and regular reassurance about the whereabouts of their parcels. Due to differing customer expectations, you\u2019ll be probably required to offer multiple delivery options.<\/p>\n<h2>In a nutshell<\/h2>\n<p>Doing business in France is worth considering for international online sellers. This is a country with a convenient geographical location and a marketplace where ecommerce continues to grow in strength.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Being one of the key ecommerce players in Europe, France is high on the list of prospects for sales success. Healthy competition, good infrastructure and a population that loves shopping all make it a promising destination for online merchants.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The online sales landscape in France has a lot of things in common with other European markets, so if you sell in Europe already, this should make things a whole lot easier.<\/p>\n<p>However, don\u2019t overlook the many unique characteristics of the French marketplace, especially in terms of consumer demands, price competition and multi-channel retailing.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Plan your business expansion in advance and start selling online in France!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DOWNLOAD NOW France: Europe\u2019s third ecommerce market What comes to your mind when you think of France? Is it the French snacking on frog legs and snails and drinking loads of wine? Is it the Eiffel Tower and the city of love and romance? Or maybe you imagine well-dressed men and women who know what sophisticated fashion means? Talking about fashion\u2026 As you probably realize, it\u2019s a very popular product category in ecommerce. It\u2019s also the case in France &#8230; and we\u2019re not talking berets here! The French consumer likes to shop for both chic brands and great bargains. Of course French online buyers like ordering items from many other product categories, too. Sales potential is definitely there, especially considering that with a turnover of over 65 billion euros&#8230; France is the third largest ecommerce market in the EU and 6th in the world. This is all great news for all international sellers interested in international growth opportunities. Here\u2019s our comprehensive guide to the French marketplace: check our facts, figures and forecasts for the future. If you&#8217;re interested in comprehensive, quality data about ecommerce topics of your interest, we have more free guidebooks for you! The French marketplace: general characteristics In general, the French marketplace can be characterized by high Internet penetration, growing mobile services and a modern delivery structure. The market is relatively mature, but still full of opportunities for online sellers. Among other things, it can boast a large and diverse consumer base, high purchasing power, reliable payment methods, great location and the widespread use of the French language. At the moment French ecommerce mostly consists of either large retailers or small merchants, which contrasts with with the UK or Germany where mid-sized sellers are more common. Online sales are rising quickly in France, but physical stores still play an important role in retail. Thus, many online retailers have physical shops, which is helping them develop multi-channel strategies. French ecommerce in numbers Population: 64.53 million Active Internet users: 55.43 million Active social media users: 32 million Active mobile social users: 25 million Population shopping online: 80% Proportion shopping online from abroad: 52% Digital commerce growth: 25% Online buyer behaviour Two-thirds of the French population shopped online in the last 12 months (as of 2016). Surprisingly, according to one study, most aren\u2019t millennials as one might suspect. The age of a typical ecommerce shopper in France is 35 to 49, followed by 25 to 34-year olds. Online spending typically rises at the end of the year, with around 20% of the country\u2019s total digital retail sales attributed to holiday shopping. French online buyers are usually tech savvy and confident in online shopping. As customers, they appreciate respect, politeness, clear information and a prompt delivery of service. However, social customer service still seems to be in its infancy. Price is a key factor for many French buyers, especially since the global economic downturn. According to Euromonitor, 80% of French consumers compare prices before buying non-grocery products. This has helped to fuel the growth of flash sales. In fact, France\u2019s vente-privee.com is the world\u2019s biggest flash sale site. If you\u2019re an international online merchant who wants to sell in France, it\u2019s important that you translate and localize your online store. It\u2019s also important to interact with French-speaking consumers in their native language. Among other things, overcoming the language barrier will definitely make the purchasing process more straightforward for French-speaking consumers. There are further benefits. The French language, the sixth most widely spoken language in the world, is used not only in France, but on five continents. This can provide international online sellers with extra opportunities, e.g. the possibility to reach millions of consumers in Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, and in Francophone Africa. Popular product categories Among the top products purchased by French online buyers are clothing\/footwear, books, home electronics, cosmetics, haircare and skincare and children\u2019s items. Logistics, delivery &amp; shipping New logistics approaches, e.g. free delivery and returns, unlimited delivery subscriptions or pick-up lockers, contribute to ecommerce growth in France. This is encouraging for cross-border retailers thinking of entering the French market. However, the French are demanding when it comes to delivery and they expect it to be utmost convenient. Thus, retailers should prioritize consumer convenience when providing delivery options. Offering a choice is crucial here, along with reliability and speed. The preferred delivery method is home delivery (83%), followed by shipping to a pick-up &amp; go location (66%) and delivery in store (26%). Pick-up points close to consumer homes are very popular among the French, e.g. at local stores, post offices or in lockers at train stations. The main postal service in France is called La Poste (historical postal operator), Collissimo is used for parcels and Chronopost for express deliveries. La Poste, Collissimo and Chronopost are recognized and trusted brands in France so it\u2019s recommended to provide French consumers with these delivery options on your website. This way, they\u2019re more likely to put trust in your business. According to UK\u2019s Royal Mail\u2019s research, reassurance about delivery, tracking goods and receiving all the relevant information are very important in France, even more so than in the UK. 85% of French would be happy to track every order, rather than rather than just high-value items, compared with only 60% in the UK. One of the biggest challenges for retailers may be differing customer expectations: some want one-hour delivery slots, others might want to have their product delivered to a secure locker and so on. Advice from our shipping expert Adrien would recommend shipping goods directly from the country of origin or using marketplace fulfillment &amp; logistics solutions, e.g. FBA. The majority of standalone logistics companies are not able to offer competitive shipping rates. A good alternative is fulfillment done by cDiscount, which enables you to fulfil orders from any sales channel at an extremely low price. This marketplace also drives very high traffic. It\u2019s worth noting that there\u2019s a benefit to importing goods into France. That\u2019s because in some cases de minimis<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":373967,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9691,9672,9673],"tags":[9707,9708,9690],"class_list":["post-373965","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ecommerce-localization","category-expanding-to-new-markets","category-international-selling","tag-ecommerce-free-ebook-uk-en","tag-ecommerce-study-uk-en","tag-international-marketplaces-uk-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.1 (Yoast SEO v28.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The defiintive guide to ecommerce in France<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"France is the third largest ecommerce market in the EU and 6th in the world. 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