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Summary of our market study
Advertising agency sales in France are around €15 billion.
The global advertising market is expected to reach $410 billion in 2024, with a growth rate of 4.6% between 2024 and 2028.
Digital transformation has become central, with advertisers demanding the integration of digital into campaigns, and agencies evolving to offer a broader spectrum of expertise.
Investment in digital advertising is on the rise, representing 28.1% of total communications spending in 2023.
The world's leading advertising groups have recorded significant sales figures, with WPP at $13.9 billion, Omnicom Group at $14.7 billion, and France's Publicis Groupe €15 billion in 2023.
Advertising agency market trends in France
The French advertising agency market is growing by approximately 10% to 15%.
The digital revolution has turned the market on its head, with advertisers now demanding digital solutions in their campaigns. This evolution has forced agencies to 'integrate data analysis and focus on profitability in their strategy.
Advertising spend by French advertisers is set to rise from €15 billion to €17 billion between 2019 and 2023.
Demand is undergoing a notable transition from traditional media to digital channels. The most significant growth is seen in digital audio and paid social networks
Players in the advertising agency market
- Publicis Groupe - French multinational
- Havas Group - Another French player
- WPP - Based in the UK, WPP is a global leader
- Omnicom Media Group - American media, marketing and corporate communications holding company
- Kwanko - Specialized in digital marketing
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Summary and extracts
1 Market overview
1.1 Definition and scope of study
An advertising agency, or communications consultancy (a broader term encompassing a wider field of action, and gradually replacing the former), is a company charged with advising its client, the advertiser, on its commercial communications strategy. This mission can encompass a wide range of activities, from the creation of an advertising campaign to the implementation of a non-media marketing plan.
The activity of advertising agencies is included in the INSEE nomenclatures undercode 73.11Z, which covers "the provision of a whole range of services, directly or by subcontracting, in particular consulting, advertising creation and the production of communication materials". This NAF code is the main one considered here; however, the code 73.12Z "régies médias" (media agencies) is not included in the study.
The global advertising market is growing, and should continue to do so between 2024 and 2028, with a compound annual growth rate of 5. 1%. Worldwide, the three main advertising groups are WPP, Omnicom Group and Publicis Groupe, a French group.
The French market is recovering well from the health crisis, with sales higher than in the pre-crisis period. In addition, between 2015 and 2023, sales for advertising agencies (registered under code 73.11Z) rose by 11.75%. The market must adapt to new advertiser expectations, with demand becoming increasingly demanding and autonomous. In addition, advertisers are increasingly demanding the integration of digital into their advertising campaigns.
With the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, French advertising agencies have had to cope with an increase in demand and are likely to do so again during 2024.
1.2 A growing global advertising market
The size of the global advertising agency market has increased in recent years. It will rise from $***.** billion in **** to $***.** billion in ****, with a compound annual growth rate of *.*%.
Between **** and ****, it should continue to grow steadily at a compound annual growth rate of *.*%.
Size of the global advertising agency market World, ...
1.3 French market recovery
Growth in advertising agency sales France, ****-****, in billions of euros Source: ****
Sales growth for advertising agencies in France (***) between **** and **** shows an overall positive trend, despite some annual fluctuations. Moderate growth is observed until ****, with a steady increase in sales. However, a significant downturn is recorded in ****, probably due to ...
2 Demand analysis
2.1 Who are the main French advertisers?
Advertisers are companies and organizations that want to get a message across through advertising. There are * main categories of advertisers:
Large companies (***), which often have large advertising budgets. SMEs/SMIs with more limited budgets Non-profit organizations Public administrations and services The State Political figures
Top advertisers in ****:
The ranking is based ...
2.2 Demand typology
Advertiser portfolio by media France, ****-****, in number of advertisers Source: ****
Analysis of the advertiser portfolio by media in France between **** and **** reveals significant changes in the distribution of advertising spend. Overall, we see a decline in the number of advertisers in most media in **** compared to ****, with the exception of ...
2.3 Demand shifts to digital and social networks (paid social)
In France, digital media are increasingly used by advertisers. In ****, digital media will account for **. *% of advertisers' communication investments. (***)
Evolution of different communication levers France, ****-****, in € millions and as a % of sales Source : Kantar Advertiser spending on the various communication levers in France in **** reflects a significant distribution of investments, ...
2.4 An increasingly demanding and autonomous demand
The arrival of digital at the heart of advertisers' concerns and strategies has meant that demand has become both more demanding and more autonomous.
Today, advertising agencies can no longer rely on the promise of notoriety or buzz to win over major advertisers.) to win over major advertisers, who increasingly want ...
2.5 The "Olympic Games effect" on the advertising market
With a record audience of * billion viewers for the opening ceremony and ** million visitors expected, the Paris **** Olympic Games offer an unprecedented opportunity for the French advertising market. According to forecasts by advertising group Magna, advertising investment is set to rise by *.*% in France this year, reaching **.* billion euros, surpassing the ...
3 Market structure
3.1 Advertising campaign value chain
To accomplish its mission effectively, an advertising agency must first and foremost understand its client's needs. This requires careful listening, in-depth analysis and precise diagnosis of the advertiser's objectives and resources. Once these elements have been clarified, the agency can draw up a suitable communications strategy, including a strategic plan, integrating ...
3.2 Number of advertising agencies and number of employees
The number of advertising agencies in France between **** and **** shows a generally stable trend, with relatively minor fluctuations from one year to the next. Although variations can be observed, notably a slight decrease between **** and ****, followed by a slight increase thereafter, the total number of establishments remains constant overall.
Between **** and ...
3.3 Geographical location of business in France
The geographical distribution of advertising agencies in France in **** reflects a significant concentration in the Île-de-France region, with a total of *,*** establishments, representing a significant share of the overall national market. The most populous regions, such as Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes,Occitanie and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, boast a significant number of advertising agencies, ...
3.4 The different types of advertising and communications agency
Major integrated players
French groups such as Publicis and Havas, or international ones such as the UK's WPP or the US's Omnicom Group, are what we might call "complete" players: that is, they integrate a diversity of brands and agencies enabling them to meet all customer needs.
The example of Publicis' ...
4 Offer analysis
4.1 Prices for advertising agency services
Price index for advertising agency services France, ****-****, base *** Q* **** Source: ****
The price index for advertising agency services in France, over the period from **** to ****, reveals a certain volatility, with rather moderate but significant fluctuations.
Initially, over the course of ****, the index shows a slight decline in the first quarter, followed ...
4.2 The transformation of the offer under the influence of digital technology
The growing importance of digital and new types of media in corporate communications and advertising strategies has had a number of consequences for the advertising agency market.
Competition
Finally, a new type of competition has emerged, driven by consulting firms, which are increasingly encroaching on the turf of communications and advertising ...
4.3 Advertising media
Advertising media, essential communication channels for advertising campaigns, enable companies to broadcast their promotional messages and entice consumers to buy. With a variety of formats available, brands can choose media according to criteria such as budget, marketing objectives and target audience.
Advertising agencies can therefore offer their customers different advertising media ...
5 Regulations
5.1 Advertising protection
Advertising is protected by copyright, trademark law and unfair competition.
Visit Book I of the French Intellectual Property Code concerns copyright.
The mere fact of creation gives rise to intellectual property rights over a work: "The author of a work of the mind enjoys an exclusive intangible property right in this ...
5.2 Advertising regulations
Protecting the French language - Loi Toubon
The Toubon Law, or law n°**-*** relating to the use of the French language, is designed to protect the use of the French language in advertising. The use of the French language is mandatory for the offer, presentation and description of goods, products ...
5.3 Self-discipline in advertising
several players are involved in self-regulation in the advertising and communications sector.
The International Chamber of Commerce
Since ****, the International Chamber of Commerce has published and regularly revised a Code of Good Practice on advertising and communications. [***]
This code establishes the following principles:
Basic principles : all communications and advertising must be ...
6 Positioning the players
6. Segmentation
- Publicis Groupe
- Havas Groupe (Groupe Vivendi)
- WPP
- Omnicom Media group France
- Kwanko
- Milee Media (Hopps Group)
List of charts presented in this market study
- Sales of the world's largest advertising groups
- Expected share of global growth
- Size of the global advertising agency market
- Trend in advertising agency sales
- Value of advertising expenditure by advertisers
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Latest news
Havas launches 400 million euro investment plan - 19/06/2024
- Havas employs 23,000 people worldwide.
- - Publicis: $8.1 billion to acquire Sapient and Epsilon.
- - IPG: $2.3 billion for Acxiom.
- - Dentsu: 1.5 billion for Merkle.
- - Omnicom: $835 million for Flywheel Digital.
- - Recent acquisition by Havas: Majority stake in creative agency Uncommon
Faced with the collapse of the advertising print market, Milee (ex-Adrexo) plans to cut 3500 jobs | Milee (ex-Adrexo) plans to cut 3500 jobs as a result of the advertising print crisis - 14/03/2024
- - The leaflet market has shrunk from 700 million euros in 2018 to less than 300 million in 2023
- - Milee's job protection plan (PSE) concerns 3,500 of 10,600 positions.
- - Milee management has announced the closure of a third of local branches in France.
- - Less than 30% of the population sticks an authorization to receive advertising on their letterboxes.
- - Addressed mail and parcel distribution generates annual sales of 2.3 billion euros.
- - This heavy industrial sector is declining by 5% a year.
- - Milee has set itself the target of capturing 10% of this market.
- - Milee's target for 2024 is to distribute over 400 million items of mail.
Flyers: Milee discontinues distribution of printed advertising materials - 13/03/2024
- Second-largest multi-media local communications operator
- La Poste group's challenger is facing the collapse of the market for indiscriminately addressed leaflets and catalogs in letterboxes.
- It is to cut 3,500 jobs and refocus its activities on the distribution of addressed mail.
- In six years, the market has lost almost half its value, dropping from 450 million euros in 2022 to less than 300 million, of which 130 million will be generated by Milee.
- Closure of 76 Milee branches (out of 250).
- milee to focus on address-based distribution business
- The market is worth around 2.5 billion euros in France
- This activity currently represents sales of 30 million euros
- Objective of over 130 million euros in sales by 2025
Publicis launches major artificial intelligence plan - 25/01/2024
- Publicis has a market capitalization of 22.5 billion euros.
- Publicis has around 100,000 employees.
- Publicis has 45,000 engineers, IT consultants and data experts.
- The group unveils CoreAI, an internal platform to be used by all employees.
- Publicis bought Sapient for $3.7 billion in 2014.
- Publicis also bought Epsilon for $4.4 billion in 2019.
- Publicis has data from 2.3 billion profiles worldwide and trillions of data points analyzing the commercial performance of campaigns.
Havas takes the plunge when it leaves Vivendi's fold - 14/12/2023
- Havas is expected to be relisted within twelve to eighteen months.
- The enterprise value of Havas is estimated at between 2.5 and 2.8 billion euros.
- Last summer, Havas acquired a majority stake in the creative agency Uncommon for several tens of millions of euros.
- Havas is a major player in France and the UK.
- Havas is expected to generate sales of around 2.8 billion euros in 2023.
- Havas generates 35% of its revenues in the United States, compared with nearly 60% for the Anglo-Saxon giants and Publicis.
- Havas' operating margin is just over 11%, compared with a range of 15% to 18% for WPP, IPG, Omnicom and Publicis.
Omnicom strengthens its presence in e-commerce - 30/10/2023
- Omnicom has acquired Flywheel Digital for $835 million, the largest acquisition in its history.
- The e-commerce and retail media sector is expected to generate over $100 billion in revenues by 2022, a figure that GroupM (WPP) predicts will double in the next five years.
- Flywheel Digital has over 2,000 employees and almost 4,500 customers.
- Omnicom's e-commerce and retail media competitor, Publicis, recently acquired CitrusAd for around 100 million euros, and Profitero for 200 million euros.
- Omnicom is the sector's second-largest market capitalization, just behind Publicis.
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the advertising agency market | France
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