The Future of E-commerce in France
Statistics, Trends and Predictions for the Amazon Marketplace

Content Strategist at MarginBusiness

Table of Contents
The Amazon France marketplace offers sellers a tempting platform for international expansion. France has a large and growing retail market. French online sales exceed India’s, and Amazon sales make a significant contribution to these numbers.
Amazon is a trusted retailer, facilitating expansion into foreign markets. Still, a move into foreign markets is a big step. Before you make the move to sell on Amazon France, you must know the French market.
“In 2021, the French spent $5,902.7 million on Amazon goods. The next biggest contenders, cdiscounters.com and veepee.fr trailed Amazon by a whopping 65%.
In this article, we look at the future of French e-commerce and how the trends might affect Amazon France marketplaces. We also look at the challenges and opportunities that await Amazon sellers in their quest for Amazon France success.
The current state of e-commerce in France
France is one of Europe’s e-commerce heavyweights. Ranking third after Germany and the United Kingdom, French consumers will spend $91,641.50 online in 2023, according to Statista.
The market potential is enormous, and sellers can expect a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.5% between 2022 and 2027. French annual online expenditure should reach $126,879 million by 2027.
🚀 Internet Penetration
The enormous growth in online trade is due, in part, to high Internet penetration. 93% of the French population has easy access to the internet.
A report on Dataportal.com reveals French digital exposure.
- There are 60.92 million active internet users in a population of 65.51 million.
- 6 million people are active on social media. That’s 80.3% of the population who regularly use social media.
At the beginning of 2022, the French had more than 70 million mobile internet connections. Many French users have more than one mobile connection since the number exceeds the population.
🚀 Online Purchase Categories
Five product categories dominate French online shopping. They are
- Fashion – comprises 33.1% of all French online sales.
- Food and personal care – 22.9%
- Media and electronics – 16.9%
- Furniture and appliances – 13.6%
- Toys, hobbies and DIY – 13.6%
Trends in E-commerce in France
Many e-commerce trends are apparent across the European Union. However, there are some country-specific trends worth noting.
- Preferred payment methods – JP Morgan 2020 insights show that French shoppers prefer to use bank cards for payment. A full 79% of French shoppers use bank cards, and 13% use digital wallets. Mobile phone use will drive increased use of digital wallets.
- Click-and-collect – French consumers are happy to use click-and-collect online purchasing. They pay and then collect goods at local drop-off In 2020, Amazon installed parcel lockers in French train stations to take advantage of the click-and-collect trend on Amazon France.
- Mobile commerce – is increasingly popular in France. As more consumers use their smartphones to shop online, sellers will have to mobile-optimize webs and listings.
- Social commerce – French consumers typically use search engines to find products. Yet, social commerce is widely used. Social media advertising offers Amazon France sellers a good return on expenditure. Platforms like Instagram and Facebook are particularly popular.
- Cross-border purchases – French consumers increasingly use international e-commerce sites. Retailers can tap into this market by offering international shipping and multi-language support.
- Personalized shopping – Retailers have begun to invest in technologies like AI and machine learning. These technologies enable personalized product recommendations and targeted marketing messages.
- Eco-friendly sustainability – French consumers are increasingly aware of environmental issues. They will continue to demand sustainable and eco-friendly products.
Amazon's Presence in France
Amazon France is the biggest retailer in the French online marketplace. In 2021, the French spent $5,902.7 million on Amazon goods. The next biggest contenders, cdiscounters.com and veepee.fr trailed Amazon by a whopping 65%. The 2021 expenditure at these stores was $2,066.3 and $1,997.1, respectively.
Amazon France receives 15 million visitors each month. The company operates six French fulfilment centers and employs more than 18,000 people. It also has thousands of independent sellers using its marketplace to earn an income.
How to Start Selling on Amazon France
If you’ve decided to expand your business into the Amazon France marketplace, here’s how to start selling on Amazon France
- Register as an Amazon seller – If you have not yet registered as an Amazon seller, register for a seller’s account on Amazon’s website. Once registered, you can create product listings, manage inventory, and process orders.
- Do your market research and select your product – Market research is essential. You need to identify a target market and identify needs. You must also understand what the competition offers and at what price.
- Create product listings – These should include detailed product descriptions and quality images. Pricing, shipping, and returns information are also important. France has strict returns policies, and vendors planning to operate in the French retail space must factor this in.
- Optimize your listing – Use keywords and search terms to optimize your product listing. Locally optimized listings will increase your visibility so you can improve your sales performance.
- Manage your inventory – You need optimal inventory levels to meet customer demand. You also don’t want to tie cash up in slow-moving stock items. Optimal inventory levels are a careful balancing act, but you can use Amazon’s inventory management software.
- Fulfil your orders – Orders must be accurate and on time. FBA can make this easier. An alternative is a contract with a local third-party logistics provider.
Monitor your performance – Metrics include customer reviews, order defects rate, and late shipments. Use this information to improve your product listings and customer service.
Predictions for the Future of E-commerce in France
French retail sales reached an all-time high in April 2022. Inflation has put a damper on sales, and by January retail sales growth had reached the negative territory.
According to a recent McKinsey report, rising prices have become a primary issue for French consumers. It has overtaken concerns like climate change and the war in Ukraine. The search for value has led consumers to abandon trusted brands and seek alternatives. Consumers also forgo discretionary items as they have to spend more on food and fuel.
Several trends and innovations will shape the future of e-commerce over the next few years.
- Artificial intelligence (AI) will transform online shopping.
- Chatbots will become more advanced and capable of handling complex customer queries.
- Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) will become mainstream. AR and VR technologies will create immersive shopping experiences. Customers will try online makeup and clothing using these technologies. They will view furniture in their homes, and even test-drive cars. Already many of these technologies are available online, allowing customers to try products before they buy.
- Customers will increasingly use voice assistants for shopping. Retailers will optimize their online stores and listings to respond positively to voice commands.
- Sustainable e-commerce will gain traction as consumers become more environmentally aware. Retailers will have to opt for environmentally friendly packaging, products and green logistics practices.
The move to mobile will continue the upward trend with more people shopping from their smartphones. The mobile commerce market is set to grow at a far higher rate than e-commerce. According to a JP Morgan report, mobile commerce will reach €45 billion in value by 2023. To keep customers happy, retailers will have to optimize their online stores for mobile devices.
Predictions for Amazon's growth and evolution in the French market
Amazon is an AI pioneer. It already uses machine learning to identify customer trends and offer personalized messaging. The company will continue to use AI to improve product recommendations, personalize marketing messages, and automate customer service.
It will also be at the forefront of the AR and VR revolution. We can expect that Amazon will lead the way in revolutionary new and immersive technologies on Amazon France.
Analysis of potential challenges and opportunities
After years of growth, retail sales in Europe, and France, have started to cool as inflation bites. Still, inflation is likely short-lived. There are other challenges and opportunities facing sellers moving into Amazon France sales.
🚀 Challenges
- Consumer protection – The EU has strict regulations on consumer protection, data privacy, and other related areas. E-commerce businesses must comply with these regulations, which can be complex and time-consuming.
- Cross-border expansion – Cross-border sellers face challenges like language and culture. They must also navigate currency exchange, taxes and duties and country-specific legislation to achieve Amazon France success.
- Competition – The e-commerce market in Europe is highly competitive, with many players competing for market share. New entrants into Amazon France marketplaces must have a clear strategy to succeed.
- Localization – To sell on Amazon France, e-commerce businesses must tailor their offerings to the market. Sellers must ensure their listings are properly translated and localized to make the most of search engines. As with all markets, Amazon France’s success depends on your product attracting the right traffic.
🚀 Opportunities
Opportunities on Amazon France marketplaces include;
- A large online customer base – France has the third largest online retail market in Europe. Competitors with a good product proposition can thrive and grow on Amazon France.
- Growth potential – Amazon France statistics show enormous growth potential. Newcomers to the market can harness this growth to find new customers and sell on Amazon France.
- Innovation – There is plenty of room for innovation and new products on Amazon France marketplaces. Technologies such as mobile commerce, personalized marketing, and AI are all set to grow.
- New market segments – Amazon sellers can target new market segments like the growing number of older consumers who increasingly adopt online shopping habits.
Want to expand your Amazon business to this growing market of France with lower competition? We are here to help.

The future of Amazon France marketplaces is exciting. Amazon France is a large and growing market moving into the future, embracing technology. If you’re looking forward to a future driven by innovation, where opportunities abound, look no further than Amazon France.

Z.D. Babar
Connect @ LinkedIn

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