The footwear market - France (2024)

1.2 The global market is growing fast

Shoe sales trends and forecasts Europe, ****-****, billions of dollars Source: Euromonitor The chart above shows trends and forecasts in footwear sales by value (***) over the period ****-****. The global market has a CAGR of *.*% over the study period.

Forecasts show a steady growth trend in footwear sales through to ****, with a market value of $***.* billion in ****.

Breakdown of world production, by volume World, ****, in Source: ****

In ****, global footwear production will be dominated by Asia, accounting for **% of total volume, followed by South America at *%, Africa at *.*%, Europe at *%, and finally North America at *.*%.

1.3 The French market

French footwear manufacturing market France, ****-****, in millions of euros Source: ****

The French footwear manufacturing market saw a steady decline in sales from **** to ****, from *.* billion euros in **** to *.** billion euros in ****. This negative trend, accentuated by a significant drop in ****, probably reflects the combined effects of the economic crisis and increased international competition. Slight recoveries in **** and **** were not enough to reverse this general downward trend.

Shoe sales trends and forecasts France, ****-****, billions of euros Source: ****

The French footwear retail market showed notable resilience, with minor fluctuations between **** and **** and a sharp decline in **** probably due to the pandemic. However, it quickly rebounded with significant growth from *.** billion euros in **** to *.** billion euros in ****, even exceeding pre-pandemic sales levels.

The industrial market saw a relatively sharp decline between **** and ****, from ***.* million euros to ***.* million euros, a loss of just under *** million euros, before picking up again in ****, with a *. *% increase in production between **** and ****.

In ****, however, sales by French footwear manufacturers will amount to *** million euros. French exports of shoes and footwear increased by *% in ****, reaching a new record of *.** billion euros for French brands and companies.

Footwear production in volume France, ****-****, in millions of pairs Source: ****

Looking ...

1.4 French foreign trade

Overview :

Production value, imports and exports France, ****, billions of euros Source: ****

Exports :

Main destination countries for footwear exports France, ****, in millions of euros Source: ****

Total French footwear exports in **** amounted to *.*** billion euros. They were heavily concentrated in three countries: Italy, the United States and Germany, with export values of €***.* million, €***.* million and €***.* million respectively that year.

it should be noted that the top five destination countries for French exports in **** (***).

Breakdown of exports by product category France, ****, in Source: ****

Shoes with leather uppers are the most exported by the French market, accounting for **. *% of total French shoe exports in ****. Shoes with textile uppers are the second most exported product, accounting for **. *% of exports, followed by shoes with synthetic or rubber uppers(***).

Imports :

Main countries of origin of imports France, ****, in millions of euros Source: ****

Total French footwear imports in **** amounted to around €*.*** billion. French imports are overwhelmingly dominated by Chinese imports(***). If we take the three main countries of origin of French footwear imports in ****, namely China, Italy and Vietnam, the total imported value is *.*** billion euros, or **.*% of the total imported value.

Breakdown of imports by product category France, ****, in Source: ****

Shoes with leather uppers are the most exported ...

2.1 A customer base still predominantly female

According to a **** survey by YouGov, women make up the majority of customers in the French footwear sector. In fact, it is estimated that a woman buys around * pairs of shoes a year, while a man buys three and a half. [***]

Sales are largely dominated by women's shoes, accounting for **% of the total value of French shoe sales in ****. Sales of men's shoes accounted for **% that year, and children's shoes for **%.

French women attach the following importance to footwear:

The importance of shoes for French women France, ****, in Source: ****

This histogram shows the mainfrench women's main purchasing criteria when buying shoes in ****, by age group. French women aged** to ** yearswere around **% more likely toto prioritize comfort over aesthetics or pricewhilemost women aged ** and over cited comfort as their main purchasing criterion.

Women's purchasing criteria when buying shoes France, ****, in %

There's a very strong difference when comparing these two age groups at the extremes of the comparison spectrum, with comfort being the most important factor for respondents aged ** and over, while aesthetics is cited first for **-** year olds.On average, the criterion most favored by French women when buying shoes is comfort, with **% making it their first choice in ****. It is ...

2.2 Consumer profile

French women's average shoe budget France, ****, total Source: ****

The histogram above illustrates the average annual budget French women allocated to shoe purchases in ****, by age. On average, French women spend around *** euros a year on their shoes, compared with a higher budget of almost *** euros for women aged ** to **.

Average number of pairs of shoes owned by age France, ****, total Source: ****

On average, a French woman owned ** pairs of shoes in her dressing room in **** . While women aged ** to ** have the highest average budget of the sample (***), they own the fewest shoesthat these consumers are less sensitive to product price and spend more on each pair of shoes they buy, as they know they will last over time.

2.3 Greater ecological awareness

Consumers are looking for footwear that combines style, comfort and durability. As a result, footwear manufacturers have begun to offer options that are more environmentally friendly, more comfortable and better adapted to the different needs of their customers. Eco-responsible footwear has become a growing trend in the footwear market.

Consumers are increasingly aware of the environmental impact of footwear production, which has prompted manufacturers to offer more sustainable and eco-friendly options. Shoes made from recycled materials, vegan footwear and locally produced footwear are becoming increasingly popular [***].

Repairability:

Shoe repairability enjoys near-unanimous support among consumers! This trend could become a real problem for sports footwear in the future, as most of it is little or not at all repairable. On the other hand, it's an opportunity for sneakers, shoes, ankle boots, boots, pumps, moccasins, sandals, etc., to demonstrate their commitment to responsibility, by offering consumers the chance to improve their lifespan.

According to a survey conducted by FFC among *,*** people in January-February ****, almost * out of ** people (***) agree with the following statement: "All shoes should be repairable in order to prolong their use". This attitude is shared by both men and women, and is unanimously supported by all generations [***].

To support consumers in ...

2.4 A dynamic sports segment

Demand for sports shoes by price range France, ****-****, millions of consumers Source: ****

Multi-brand shoe chains (***) remain the main marketing channel and accounted for **.*% of shoe sales in France in **** [***].

The explosion in running shoe sales in recent years can be attributed to two distinct trends:

The perception by some consumers that sneakers are becoming genuine fashion accessories The second is the popularization of running

Between **** and ****,the sneaker segment grew by *.*% per year, gaining * points of market share in France. Sneakers account for **% of children's shoe sales and **% of men's shoe sales. The segment's growth prospects are very promising indeed, since it accounts for **% of sales in the children's footwear market, while its growth in the women's market is accelerating (***) [***]. Part *.* of this study is devoted to the sneaker trend.

According to Union Sport & Cycle, the running market in France is booming, with **% of French people over the age of ** running in ****, compared with **% in ****. While running shoes accounted for ** million pairs sold in France in ****, current sales reached nearly * million pairs [***].

Average budget allocated to the purchase of running shoes France, ****, in Source: ****

If we look at the average budget of French people for running shoes in ****, we see ...

2.5 The rise of sneakers

Almost half of all footwear sold in France is sneakers (***), testifying to the growing popularity of sneakers with consumers.

Most popular shoes sold France, ****, in millions of euros Source: ****

Sneakers are very popular with the French. **% of French people are used to wearing sneakers. Of these, **% wear them regularly, while **% say they only wear this type of shoe. Sneakers, both trendy and comfortable, are particularly popular with young people, with **% of **-** year-olds wearing them regularly [***].

Frequency with which French people wear sneakers France, ****, in Source: ****

Interestingly, French sneaker wearers have an average of * pairs in their wardrobe. In terms of purchasing intentions, more than * out of ** French people(***).

The survey also revealed that **% of French people questioned often buy new sneakers on impulse.

Survey "Do you consider your sneaker purchases to be impulsive?" France, ****, in Source: ****

The phenomenon of raffles, or draws, in the sneaker context, gives buyers a chance to acquire highly sought-after pairs. Men are more likely to take part in these raffles, with **% of them having already had the opportunity to do so, compared with *% of women. Raffles are also increasingly popular among young people aged ** to **, with **% taking part, compared to *% of the overall population.

2.6 France's favorite brands

The graph below is based on OpinionWay's survey of French consumers' favorite brands in February ****. These are respondents' answers to the question "Do you like this or that shoe brand?" for each brand, the percentage corresponding to the proportion of respondents who answered "yes".

Among the following brands: Zalando, La Halle, Chausséa, André, Eram, Sarenza and Minelli, Zalando is the French people's favorite shoe brand, with **. *% of respondents saying they liked it. Minelli is the least-liked brand, with only **.*% of respondents saying they liked it. Minelle's relatively low approval rating is mainly due to its low level of brand awareness, which barely exceeds **%, whereas Zalando and La Halle are more than **% well known. On the other hand, Minelli is the brand with the least negative ratings.

The graph below compares the level of appreciation of * brands according to the gender of respondents. On the whole, women appreciate the brands more than men.

French people's favorite shoe brands by gender France, February ****, in Source: Opinionway Marque préférée des Français survey conducted in February **** - Base: representative sample of *,*** French Internet users aged ** and over The graph below compares the level of appreciation of * shoe brands according to ...

3.1 Footwear market value chain

The value chain in the footwear industry comprises the various stages and players involved in the design, production, marketing and distribution of footwear. Here are the main stages in the value chain:

Research and development (***): This stage encompasses research into new fashion trends, the exploration of new materials, technological innovation and the design of new footwear models. Footwear brands invest in R&D to remain competitive in the marketplace. Design and prototyping: Shoe designers use computer-aided design (***) software to create virtual prototypes of shoes. These prototypes are then physically built to assess their appearance, comfort and functionality. Sourcing materials: Footwear manufacturers source materials such as leather, fabric, rubber, soles and other components needed to produce footwear. They may work with national or international suppliers to obtain the required quality materials. Production and manufacturing: This stage involves the transformation of materials into finished shoes. Manufacturing plants use specific machines and techniques to cut, sew, glue and assemble the various shoe parts. Quality control: Footwear undergoes quality control processes to ensure that it meets established standards and specifications. This may include tests for strength, durability, comfort and aesthetics. Marketing and distribution: Once shoes have been manufactured and tested, they are marketed and distributed. ...

3.2 The main market players

Trends:

The health crisis has exacerbated the difficulties that players in the sector have been facing for several years, notably the reduction in spending on footwear in favor of other budget priorities, and the rise of online shopping. Against this backdrop, the sector will have to cope with far-reaching restructuring, with company disposals (***) and a rationalization of physical outlets, which are set to decrease significantly in number.

However, the players with the biggest market shares are still chains with physical stores. Indeed, the three chains with the highest market shares in **** are Intersport(***).

Market share trends for the various players France, **** - ****, in Source: ****

3.3 Distribution mainly through points of sale

The footwear retail sector is facing a number of major challenges. Pressures on purchasing power are prompting consumers to be more price-conscious, and to make the majority of their footwear purchases during sales or promotional periods, which is reducing margins for professionals. What's more, although footwear is holding up better than clothing, its share of household budgets is declining in favor of other expenditure items such as housing and leisure.

While specialist stores only account for **% of the sector's sales, sports stores are gaining ground and now represent almost **% of the market in value terms. They are benefiting from the consumer craze for sports footwear, which is no longer reserved for the practice of sport. Sneakers now account for almost half the footwear market by value.

At the same time, the share of e-commerce continues to grow. With its attractive prices, extensive range and services such as home delivery and free returns, e-commerce is exerting competitive pressure on physical networks. Despite the latter's multi-channel distribution strategies, e-commerce pure players such as Sarenza, Spartoo and Zalando are booming.

Furthermore, in their search for new sources of growth in a slumping fashion market, apparel brands are stepping up competition by offering a footwear ...

3.4 Development of the online market

Companies supplying shoes only "online", without a physical store, accounted for **.*% of shoe sales in ****. Three pure players dominate the market: Sarenza, Spartoo and Zalando.

To compensate for the absence of physical stores, these brands offer a wide choice online, combined with a policy of low prices. Additional services have also been developed, such as free returns, partnerships with retailers and the possibility of paying only for items kept by the customer.

Finally, all brands that are big enough and have physical stores are trying to exploit the synergies between their stores and their website. A commercial mobile application, the ability to book and collect orders via the Internet, helps to attract new customers and generate traffic in stores.

Runners themselves are now connected. Thanks to "pro" applications such as Runtastic, Runkeeper, Pumatrac or Nike+ Running, runners stay connected According to Sportlab, **% of regular runners use social networks, while **% run with their smartphone.

Covid's impact on the e-commerce market:

Online demand for footwear during Covid's closures saw a slight drop compared to previous years. This was not the case for the textile sector as a whole, where apparel was positively impacted.

Covid's impact on the online footwear trade in France was ...

3.5 Production in France

The breakdown of French footwear production in **** was as follows:

Footwear production by category France, ****, in Source: ****

Structure of leisure footwear production France, ****, in Source: ****

Sales of French footwear production are concentrated in * regions, which together account for **% of total sales. The main regions are Nouvelle-Aquitaine(***)

Breakdown of French footwear production by region France, ****, in Source: ****

4.1 Different types of products

There are several categories of consumer footwear. The footwear market can be segmented according to product use:

Shoes for leisure and relaxation:these shoes can be covered in leather, synthetic materials, rubber or fabric. There are many different models, depending on gender and use (***). They are generally marketed by shoe manufacturers or fashion clothing and accessories companies Sports footwear : these are shoes designed for or inspired by sports (***). They are often marketed by sports equipment manufacturers or fashion apparel and accessories companies Indoor footwear Work and safety footwear

4.2 The production process

Shoe manufacturing comprises three main stages: manufacture of the upper, assembly (***) and finishing, depending on the shoe model French Footwear Federation. more precisely :

Manufacture of the upper: first of all, the shoe is designed and the last is shaped. The various parts must be cut, the seams prepared and executed. Assembly: the shoe upper is placed on a last (***) on which assembly takes place. Finishing: If necessary, eyelets are fitted, protruding threads are burned off, and laces and insole are added. Brand labels are also applied. [***]

There are several manufacturing processes. The most common is the welded process, which involves using glue to join the upper and sole. There are also various stitching processes (***). Details of stitching methods are available on the Fédération française de la chaussure website.

On a national scale, production centers are mainly located in the West, with the Aquitaine region leading the way.

The trend for French products:

The "Made in France" trend, confirmed by a **** CREDOC study [***], is also affecting the footwear sector, with increasing product diversityLa fabrique hexagonaleoffers a guide to "Made in France" footwear. This trend seems to be hitting male consumers the hardest. The mid- to top-range market is well ...

4.3 Product prices

Producer price index (***) :

producer price index for footwear France, ****-****, base *** in **** Source: ****

France's Producer Price Index (***). Despite a visible cyclical nature, this index is on the rise overall over the ****-**** period. For the first time in the first two months of ****, the PPI exceeded ***: ***.* in January and ***.* in February. Moreover, an upward trend had been observed since **** with some consistency before a rapid increase in the PPI changed the picture during ****, taking it above *** in January ****.

Consumer Price Index (***):

Consumer price index for men's shoes France, ****-****, base *** in **** Source: ****

There is an upward trend in the consumer price index for men's footwear over the ****-**** period. Since **** (***), the index has never again reached the value of *** before ****, but has remained very close to it, with an average value over the ****-**** period of **.**.

The index value in **** was ***.**, its highest value since ****.

consumer price index trends for women's footwear France, ****-****, base *** in **** Source: ****

The consumer price index for women's footwear has followed a similar trend to that of the CPI for men's footwear over the same period (***), with a CPI value of **.*. It then began to rise again, with a value of ***.** in ****. The average CPI value ...

4.4 The latest footwear innovations

The footwear market is constantly evolving, with technological innovations opening up new prospects for footwear brands, by improving product comfort and performance. Among these innovations,*D scanning stands out for its ability to create made-to-measure footwear. Thanks to *D digitizers, it is now possible to scan customers' feet in order to design shoes perfectly adapted to their shape, offering a personalized and comfortable experience.

Innovative materials also play a key role in enhancing footwear comfort and performance. Breathable and waterproof materials offer practical solutions for sports and outdoor footwear. Memory foam and gel insoles provide extra cushioning and support for the feet.

Another promising innovation is the advent of connected shoes, which enhance the customer experience and monitor health and performance. These shoes incorporate sensors that record movements during walking, running and other physical activities, offering a practical solution for fitness monitoring. They are also used to measure athletes' performance and prevent injuries.

*D printers represent another important technological advance for the footwear industry. They enable the production of customized soles, toe caps and decorative elements, thus reducing waste and labor costs.

Artificial intelligence (***) is also being used to improve footwear design and production. Thanks to AI algorithms, fashion trends ...

5.1 Footwear standards

Labeling rules:

Footwear labeling must include information on the materials used to manufacture the upper, lining, insole and sole. This information must appear directly on at least one item of footwear. The label must therefore appear on one of the following three parts of the shoe [***] :

The upper: the outer surface attached to the sole ; The lining and insole assembly: (***); The sole: the lower surface subject to wear due to walking and attached to the upper.

It should be noted that it is not compulsory to indicate the animal species used (***) for footwear.

The texts applicable to labeling are as follows:

Decree no. **-*** of May **, ****, art. * to art. ** (***); Annex I of Decree no. **-*** of May **, **** (***); Decree ****-** of January *, **** (***).

Environmental regulations:

Certain companies in the footwear sector may be subject to regulations governing"installations classées pour la protection de l'environnement" (***).These regulations concern certain industrial activities which are listed in the nomenclature of classified facilities, in the form of a heading. Shoe manufacturing is covered by this nomenclature, under heading ****, which reads as follows: "Shoe repair, leather goods or leather working workshops" [***].

Safety standards :

Standard EN ISO *****:****: Specifies the basic requirements and test methods for safety footwear with ...

6.1 Segmentation

• Intersport France
• Go Sport France
• Chaussea France (Groupe VGM)
• La Halle
• Vivarte
• André
• Minelli
• Royer Groupe
• Sarenza
• Eram Groupe
• San Marina
• Spartoo
• Zalando
• Besson Chaussures
• Birkenstock
• Repetto
• Geox
• Louboutin
• JM Weston
• Jimmy Choo (Tapestry Capri)
• Bexley
• Palladium
• Paraboot - Richard-Pontvert
• JB Martin
• Dr. Martens
• Kleman
• Clergerie
• GDC
• Alexander Mc Queen
• Autry
• P448
• Aurélien
• LK Benett
• Balenciaga (Kering Groupe)
• Jordan (Nike)
• Jonak
• Armistice
• Stéphane Kelian
• Anniel
• Pataugas
• Roseanna
• Apologie (EMY 03)
• Rivieras
• No Name
• Heschung
• Pied de Biche
• Schmoove
• Pretty Ballerinas
• Adige
• Aigle
• Kenzo
• Castaner
• Havaianas (Alpargatas Group)
• Timberland
• UGG
• Minnetonka
• Les Tropezienne
• Start Rite
• Sezane
• Roger Vivier
• Berluti (LVMH)
• Alexandre Birman
• Pierre Hardy
• Gianvito Rossi
• Moon Boots (Tecnica)
• Lafuma
• Kappa
• Septième Largeur
• Garçonne & Chérubin