Doing Business in France

The Market

68% of the French shop online while 26% of people shop in stores.  Amazon and eBay are very popular sites.  The French shop more online because there are better sales and better options.  It is a law in France that the last week in June and the first week in July, every store needs to have a sale.  This helps stimulate the economy as well as gives people an incentive to shop.  When people do shop they will go to malls, speciality shops, and vintage shops.  The open markets are very popular as well.

Communication

Communication

Types of Communication used in France:

-Telephones

     - 39.883 million

-Cellphones

     - 59.84 million

Broadcast Media

     -Public TV's

     - Privately owned TV's

-Cable

-Satellite

-Radio

     - FM stations

Internet

     - Users: 45.262 million

Social Media

-21.9 Million users

Twitter (users by age)

          - 1-24: 1.2 million

           -25-34: 1.1 million

          - 35-44: 0.9 million

          - 45-54: 1 million

           - 55+ : 1.3 million

The age group 55+ increased 100% from 2012

Social Networks used by smartphone users

-Facebook: 11,167,000 (+38%)

-Twitter: 1,545,000 (+117%)

-Myspace: 656,000 (-6%)

-Skyrock: 453,000 (+15%)

LinkedIn: 442,000 (+126%)

Viadeo: 183,000  (+44%)

Instagram: 119,000

Oreo Commercials

OREOS

Below is an Oreo's commercial in France

Below is an American commercial for Oreo's

     The difference in the two commercials is that it is two different target markets.  The French one is marketed towards parents and kids opposed to the American one that is marketed towards college students and young adults.  The atmosphere of the commercials are different as well.  The French one is based in a little girls tent where the American one is based in a library.

     Both commercials elaborate on the chocolate cookie and the white filling.  They both start with interpersonal conversations which allow the citizens to be able to relate to it more.  I think it is extremely interesting how both make the cookie sound so intense with either not sharing or getting upset about the cookie.

Diet and Nutrition

Diet and Nutrition

     France is known for their delicious pastries, bread, wine, and cheese.  Each chef is extremely proud of their cooking and make sure they have the freshest ingredients.  Most chefs will go to the daily market where they will pick up some meats, vegetables, fruits, and cheeses.  Everything is so fresh and there are no preservatives in the food.  I have a dairy allergy but I could eat some dairy products because of how fresh everything was.  The wine is cheaper than a bottle of water and there is no drinking age.  Bread is extremely cheap as well.  A loaf is normally 1 euro which is almost $1.25.  Escargot is also a popular dish in France.  I never tried it while I was over there because I was too scared but I regret not trying it now.

     Looking at all the carbs the French eat, some wonder how they are not overweight.  The French walk everywhere so they walk it off during the day.  They also eat a bigger lunch than dinner so the food has more time to digest.  Going to the gym is also very popular over there.  One thing that is different than here is that people do not walk around in workout clothes.  They go to the gym and change and shower and change after the workout.

Croissants are also a specialty.  Above is a chocolate croissant.  These are to die for!

Cheese!

Language and Religion

Language

     The official language of France is French.  Before the French graduate high school, they are required to pass a English exam.  Therefore, most French know English but some are not comfortable to speak it.  While at a restaurant, most have an English and French menu.  When walking into a restaurant and they notice you are American they will normally give you an English menu opposed to a French menu.

     There are not really any different dialects in the country but some other languages will be spoken because of the neighboring countries which are: Spain, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy.

Religion

     The French are mostly Roman Catholic.  2% are Protestant, 1% Jewish and 5-10% Muslim.

The Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the most popular places to visit in France.  It is a Roman Catholic Cathedral which draws in13 million visitors a year and still is used for service.  The stained glass windows date back to the 13th century.  It is also known for the beautiful portals and the West front.  This place is a MUST see when touring the country.

Below is a picture of the cathedral.  

The beautiful stained glass window

Business Etiquette

Business Etiquette

1. Call others 'Monsieur' or Madame"

2. Lunch is a very important business time to meet.

3. Use first and last name when introducing yourself

4. Light handshake

5. Always be on time

6. Interruptions are okay
7. Make sure your business card is both in English and French
8. Little eye contact
9. Do not speak loudly

Business Attire

NOT APPROPRIATE

- loose ties

-no coat

-bright colors

-statement pieces

-glitter

APPROPRIATE

-dark colors

-patterns

-well tailored jacket

Population

Population

Population: 65,951,611

Age Structure:

     - 0-14 years: 18.7%

     - 15-24 years: 11.9%

     - 25-54 years: 38.9%

     - 55-64 years: 12.6% 

     - 65 years or older: 17.9%

Median Age: 40 years

     -Male: 38 years

     - Female: 41 years

Population Growth Rate: .5%

Birth Rate: 12.7 births/ 1,000 population

Death Rate: 8.9 deaths/ 1,000 population

Urban Population: 85% of total

Population of Cities:

     - Paris: 10.41 million

     - Marseille-Aix-en-Provence: 1.457 million

     -Lyon: 1.456 million

     -Lille: 1.028 million

      - Nice-Cannes: 977,000

Sex Ratio (male/ female): 

     - at birth: 1.05/1

     - under 15 years: 1.05/1

     - 15-64 years: 1/1

     - 65 years and over: .74/1

     - total population: .96/1

Maternal Mortality Rate: 8 deaths/ 100,000 live births

Infant Mortality Rate:

     - Total: 3.4 deaths/ 1,000 births

     - Male: 3.7 deaths/ 1,000 births

     - Female: 3 deaths/ 1,000 births

Life Expectancy at Birth (years):

     - Total: 81.46

     - Male: 78.35

     - Female: 84.73

Total Fertility Rate: 2.08 children/ woman

Doctors Density: 3.497 doctors/ 1,000 people

Sanitation Facility Access:

     -Urban: 100% of population

     - Rural: 100% of population

     -Total: 100% of population

HIV/AIDS- Adult Prevalence Rate: .4%

HIV/AIDS- People living with it: 150,000

HIV/AIDS- Deaths: 1,700

Obesity-Adults: 16.9%

Literacy:

     - Total: 99%

     - Male: 99%

     - Female: 99%

School Life Expectancy

     -Total: 16 years

     - Male: 16 years

     - Female: 16 years

Economic Statistics and Activity

Economic Statistics

GDP: .1%

Unemployment Rate: 10.3%

Population below poverty line: 7.8%

Household income %: 

     - lowest 10%: 3%

     - highest 10%: 24.8&

Distribution of family income: 32.7

Investments: 19.9% of GDP

Taxes: 52% of GDP

Public Debt: 89.9% of GDP

Inflation rate: 1.3%

Principle Industries: machinery, chemicals automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics, textiles, food, processing, tourism

Industrial Production Growth Rate: 2.4%

Exports: $567.5 billion

     - machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, beverages

     - Partners

             - Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, United Kingdom, United States, Netherlands

Imports: $658.9 billion

     - machinery and equipment, vehicles, crude oil, aircraft, plastics, chemicals

     - Partners

             - Germany, Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom, China

Debt: $5.633 trillion

Stock of Foreign Investment: $ 1.702 trillion

Military Expenditures: 2.6 % of GDP
Health Expenditures: 11.9% of GDP
Education Expenditures: 5.9% of GDP

Transportation

Airports: 473

Pipelines

     -Gas: 15,276 km

     -Oil: 2,939 km

     - Refined: 5,084 km

Railways: 29,640 km

Roadways: 951,200 km

Waterways: 8,501 km

Merchant marines: 162

Ports and terminals:

     - Calais, Dunkerque, Le Havre, Marseille, Nantes, Paris, Rouen

Geographical Setting

Geographical Setting

     France can be compared to the size of Texas and is the largest country in West Europe.  The capital is Paris, France which is located in the northern part of France.  Its neighboring countries are Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Spain and Italy.

     

The Climate

In the metropolitan part, it normally has cool winters and mild summers.  

Along the Mediterranean they have mild winters and hot summers.  They have mistrals which are strong, dry, and cold winds that come from the north.

The French Guiana is normally hot, humid, and tropical.  They do not really have seasons so the weather remains pretty constant

Guadeloupe and Martinique is very subtropical.  Due to this, they have lots of trade winds, a good bit of humidity and has lots of rain.  They are pretty used to hurricanes which they have once every eight years

Mayotte is tropical.  It is hot, humid, and rainy during November to May.  It dries up and stays pretty cool from May to November.

Reunion is very tropical as well but the temperature varies from cool to dry and hot and rainy.

Topography Map

This affects the climate

Why France?

     FRANCE

       I studied over in Paris, France last summer for a month and feel in love with the country.  I could see myself moving there and creating a new life for me over in Paris, France.  I thought that it would be important to learn more about the country before actually attempting to find a job over there and know the proper etiquette so I do not look foolish while applying and interviewing for jobs.

Above is a picture of me and my friend Melissa shopping at the market the second day I was there! 

The view from my apartment in Paris!