A RETAILER’S GUIDE TO FRENCH MARKETPLACES Helping you choose the best ecommerce platforms for your business FRENCH MARKETPLACES A DIVERSE RETAIL LANDSCAPE France is one of the most established ecommerce markets worldwide, and it continues to hold a firm position as the third-largest online industry in Europe, only behind the UK and Germany. Thanks to the growing number of online offers, the arrival of new shoppers, and a stable rise in the number of ecommerce transactions; ecommerce revenue in France is expected to grow to 23.1 billion U.S. dollars in 2025. Retailers can capitalise on this highly lucrative market by trading on the broad range of trusted and influential online marketplaces operating in the French region. Unlike many countries, where ecommerce giants Amazon and eBay dominate the marketplace landscape, the French landscape presents a variety of local marketplaces, focused on specific products verticals and tailored to the tastes of French shoppers. WWW.AMAZON.FR Amazon is one of the largest, most well-known and fastest-growing ecommerce platforms globally. With its excellent global reputation, high level of security and focus on customer satisfaction, Amazon is the most popular online marketplace in France and among the most visited websites in the country. PRODUCT CATEGORIES Amazon.fr and third-party vendors offer various items in categories such as books, DVDs, music & games, computer & electronic products, home, children's toys, baby clothes, accessories, shoes, jewellery, health & beauty, sports and outdoor. KEY STATISTICS 7th most visited website in France Over 195.67 million visits on average every month 9.7 million sellers globally 1st shopping platform in France COMMISSION FEES Sellers have to pay a membership fee, and a referral fee is charged when a product is sold. The latter varies by product category and country of the region you are trading in. WWW.CDISCOUNT.COM Cdiscount is one of France’s most significant ecommerce players. Having started as an online discount retailer, Cdiscount is currently the second most visited online marketplace in France, trailing after Amazon. Cdiscount’s marketplace, C le Marché, was launched in 2011 and showcased an exponential growth - its market shares had grown up more than 43% in 2020. PRODUCT CATEGORIES Cdiscount’s marketplace offers a broad range of products in various categories, including apparel & accessories, shoes, luggage, bath & bed, home accessories, furniture, consumer electronics, and toys & games. KEY STATISTICS Over 53.27 million visits per monthly 30 million parcels shipped per year More than 24 million unique users per month Offering more than 60 million products COMMISSION FEES Sellers have to pay a monthly subscription of €33.99. Plus, there are commission rates for trading on the site that range from 4.5% to 20%, depending on the product category. WWW.EBAY.FR eBay is a globally recognised brand, which enables it to trade on a local, national and international level. Making their entrance in France in 2000, eBay has provided online merchants with great sales opportunities, and is undoubtedly one of the key marketplaces to succeed in this region. PRODUCT CATEGORIES eBay.fr offers a huge variety of products across a wide range of categories. These categories include fashion, beauty, technology, vehicle parts, home & garden, as well as many more. KEY STATISTICS More than 185 million active users Over 1.7 billion live items 19 million private sellers Over 46.52 million visits on average every month Over 514 million app downloads COMMISSION FEES Monthly fees depend on a merchant’s store subscription, and listing fees are charged based on product category. Final value fees apply when an item is sold. WWW.FNAC.COM Founded back in 1954, FNAC is one of France’s go-to shopping destinations for technology and media products. In 2016, Darty, a leader in the household appliances market, was taken over by the FNAC group and became Fnac Darty. Today, Fnac Darty marketplaces are the most visited ecommerce sites in France, following Amazon and Cdiscount. PRODUCT CATEGORIES The marketplaces offer a wide variety of products across various categories, including technology, home & garden, books, sports and baby products. KEY STATISTICS 1 of 2 French buyers benefit from Fnac Darty Over 44 million monthly visits are recorded by the two sites combined More than 36 million active consumers 29% of Fnac Darty’s turnover is made online COMMISSION FEES Sellers can register on Darty and/or on Fnac. The monthly subscription price is €39.99, plus a commission rate on the sales that range from 6.5% to 16%, depending on the product category. WWW.LAREDOUTE.FR La Redoute is a hugely popular ecommerce platform in France, boasting 99% brand awareness. It is the second outlet of choice for French e-shoppers, focusing specifically on fashion and home products that reflect French style. In 2010, La Redoute launched its marketplace proposition, which currently accounts for 30% of the company’s global turnover. PRODUCT CATEGORIES On laredoute.fr, buyers have access to thousands of listings from partner brands and professional sellers; primarily in the fashion and home categories, but they can also shop for products such as jewellery, watches and computers. KEY STATISTICS Over 17.33 million visits per monthly 12 million parcels shipped per year More than 11 million active buyers Over 9.2 million unique visitors per month COMMISSION FEES Listing on La Redoute’s marketplace is free of charge and is covered by the monthly subscription of €49.90. WWW.FR.SHOPPING.RAKUTEN.COM Formerly known as PriceMinister, Rakuten France was founded in 2000 and acquired by Rakuten Group in 2010. Rakuten France marketplace is one of the leading shopping platforms in the region. PRODUCT CATEGORIES Rakuten France offers various products, including books, video games, clothing, home and food. KEY STATISTICS More than 10 million active consumers Over 22 million members More than 8,000 retailers from all categories Over 17 million monthly visitors COMMISSION FEES A monthly subscription fee applies, depending on the type of account, and the commission rate consists of a variable part and a fixed amount per item sold. WWW.RUEDUCOMMERCE.FR Founded in 1999, Rue du Commerce is another company that benefits from strong brand awareness in France. The ShopInvest Group bought the marketplace in 2020. The online retailer allows merchant partners to accelerate their sales and benefit from increased visibility through the Rue du Commerce brand since their marketplace proposition. PRODUCT CATEGORIES Initially specialising in high-tech products, Rue du Commerce now offers a wide range of products across various categories, including fashion, electronics, tech, sports, culture, home, garden and DIY. KEY STATISTICS More than 3.31 million monthly visits Over 6 million products listed More than 7,700 brands selling on the site 75% of merchants are French COMMISSION FEES A monthly subscription fee applies and commission rate consists of a variable part and a fixed part per item sold. WWW.GALERIESLAFAYETTE.COM An iconic department store and a leading player in the French ecommerce landscape, Galeries Lafayette launched their online marketplace in September 2013, as a way to expand their catalogue and offer a complete shopping experience to their customers. The marketplace allows selected brands and professional sellers to market their products directly on Galerieslafayette.com, getting access to the site’s millions of visitors. PRODUCT CATEGORIES The main product categories offered by Galeries Lafayette are fashion, beauty and home & garden. KEY STATISTICS More than 5.4 million monthly visits Over 1000 brands sell actively on the site The average online basket value is €104 Over 330.000 active consumers EXPAND INTO NEW MARKETS We Are Pentagon is a market-leading technology and service provider that drives global sales via 80+ online marketplaces across 30+ countries, through a team of 200+ ecommerce specialists. Our deep expertise in both traditional and emerging marketplaces, including Amazon, eBay, Cdiscount, Fnac Darty and La Redoute, combined with our end-to-end tailored global solution, will accelerate your international brand growth by removing the hassles of cross-border trade. GET IN TOUCH.