CBI Product Fact Sheet Children’s Wear in France
Transcription
CBI Product Fact Sheet Children’s Wear in France
CBI Product Fact Sheet Children’s Wear in France ‘Practical Market Insights for Your Product’ This product factsheet provides you with information that is relevant if you want to enter the French market for children’s wear. The French favour stylish classic clothes in modest colours. This is also reflected in the children’s clothes. French clothing is known the world over for its high quality and French parents also consider this as important. French children have clothes for special occasions. Girls also often wear dresses and skirts instead of trousers when dressed casual. The sales of clothes for girls, babies and toddlers are steady despite the recession. The middle segment has suffered most from the recession. The middle and upper price segment have the most potential for DC exporters. French parents will increasingly consider it important to buy ethical and organic clothes. Product Definition Children’s wear in France comprises clothing designed for children up to about 14 years old. The main sectors of the market include girls’ clothing (ages 2 to 14), boys’ clothing (ages 2 to 14), and infants (incl. baby’s) clothing (for under-2 yearolds). There is no separate product group for children’s wear. Girls’ and boys’ clothes are included in the adults’ product groups. Girls’ clothes in women’s clothing product groups and boys’ clothes in men’s clothing product groups. These product groups are divided in the following categories under the HS codes of chapter 61 and 62: Knitted and woven clothing Product groups: 1. Trousers and shorts 2. T-shirts 3. Shirts and blouses 4. Jerseys and cardigans 5. Dresses and skirts 6. Jackets and coats Source : C BI Market Information Database • UR L: www.cbi.e u • C ontact: mark [email protected] • www.cbi.e u/disclaimer C BI Product Fact Sheet Children’s Wear in France 7. Suits and ensembles Body wear Product groups: 1. Underwear 2. Night and indoor wear (pyjamas, nightshirts, bathrobes) 3. Hosiery (socks, tights) Sports clothing Product groups: 1. Anoraks and ski jackets 2. Track suits and ski suits (including jogging suits, recreational wear) 3. Swimwear 4. Special sportswear Babywear: clothing products made for babies and infants up to the age of two Product groups: 1. Baby jackets and coats 2. Romper suits and stretch suits 3. Baby vests 4. Pants 5. Babywear accessories (napkins, gloves, mittens and mitts) Fashion accessories Product groups: 1. Gloves, mittens & mitts 2. Neckwear (shawls, scarves) 3. Carrying products (handbags, shoulder bags, wallets, purses) 4. Other fashion accessories (handkerchiefs, belts, hats and caps) In France, like the rest of Europe, children's clothing sizes are based on the height of the child. But it is also still common to use age as size. The largest size is 170 (14+) meant for children around 14, but most French brands go up to size 164 (14). Until 2 years old, the age sizes in French children’s clothes are in months (mois in French). 2 years old is 23 mois (months). From 3 years, the sizes are in age. 3 years is 3A (3 Ans (years)). Some brands adapted to the European sizes start with 2A. Clothes made especially for the French market tend to be slightly smaller in size than clothes made for Northern and Western European countries. This is related to the smaller average height and body posture of French people who, like the Italians and Spanish, are shorter than people of other European countries. For an overview, see Table 1 below. Table 1: Overview of clothing - size conversion children’s wear in France Clothing - Size Conversion Children’s wear AGE European (Height) France M=Mois A=Ans France actual size in cm 1 80 1.5 23M 2 2-3 3-4 4-5 5-6 6-7 7-8 8-9 86 86 92 98 12M 18M 23M 74 81 9- 10- 11- 12- 1314+ 10 11 12 13 14 10 11 11 12 12 134 140 146 152 158 164 170 4 0 6 2 8 2 14+ 3A 4A 5A 6A 7A 8A 9A 10A 11A 12A 13A 14A A A 86 90 94 10 10 11 12 12 132 138 144 150 156 162 168 2 8 4 0 6 Source : C BI Market Information Database • UR L: www.cbi.e u • C ontact: mark [email protected] • www.cbi.e u/disclaimer C BI Product Fact Sheet Children’s Wear in France Product Specifications Quality The main quality specifications for children’s clothes are: • Washability (needs to be washed fairly hot without shrinking or fading colour) • Natural materials French clothing is known the world over for its high quality. Therefore, children’s clothes made for the French market should be of good quality, which means sturdy, long lasting, and made of good fabrics (see Materials for more details on requested materials). The different quality segments and related market shares for Children’s wear in France are illustrated below in Table 2: Table 2: Children’s wear quality segments and market shares in France Product criteria Brand names Fashion criteria High price luxury segment Market share 10% Upper middle price segment Market share 25% Limited collections, made with special care; sometimes handmade, high quality materials Designer / brand name stands for exclusivity and fashionable clothes Collections are produced after presale; extra attention to fitting and accessories Branded products, good quality materials, broad range of designs Burberry, Stella McCartney kids. Antik Batik kids, Jean Paul Gaultier, Chloe, Sonia Rykiel, Lacoste, Louis Vuitton, Aigle, Baby Dior Bobine, Baby & Taylor, Oeuf, Petit Bateau, Bonpoint, Cacharel, Catimini Middle price segment Market share 30% Collections are produced after preDerhy kids, Jacadi, Elle sale; good quality materials girl, Du pareil au meme, Trend-following and large variety in IKKS, Lili Gaufrette, Little assortment; branded products Paul & Joe, Tartine & Branding vitally important Chocolat Produced in larger quantities to lower Groupe Zannier, Spot, the price; fancy fashion styles, less Camaieu Enfant, Comptoir changes to patterns, fitting des Cottonniers, La standardised Redoute, Quelle, Prenatal Medium- good fashion base quality materials Large quantities- fashion following Auchan, Kiabi, Carrefour, Les Halles aux standardised fitting. Two packs Vetements, Groupe Andre, Leclerc Highly fashionable collections Exclusively designed materials and artworks. Haute couture for kids. Luxury branding for mini adults Trend-setting in fashion Large variety of styles and materials Styles and fitting are vitally important “Style lab” products in line with the latest fashion trends. Mini adult lines- semi- luxury kids lines Fashion feel and good fitting is important. Recognizable by brand name, visible on outside Low to middle price segment Market share 20% Discount segment Market share 15% Collections with a view to the current fashions Less fashionable, close to trends; fashion for the right price as key driver Fashion following- close to trends only at cheap cost; price is the argument Disclaimer: Company and brand names have been included as examples only and do not necessarily give a complete overview. Materials Children’s clothes sold in France consist mainly of cotton. Cotton can be washed hot (washability). Even more consumers like the soft and ‘natural’ feel of it. Conventional cotton can still contain toxic substances, like pesticides, and chemicals from the used dyes. Biological cotton is used more and more in children’s clothes in France. Organic cotton has a higher quality than conventional cotton and is better for the environment . Therefore, this alternative is more appealing for the growing number of responsible consumers. Another main reason of the success of organic cotton is that it prevents oversensitiveness and allergies. Source : C BI Market Information Database • UR L: www.cbi.e u • C ontact: mark [email protected] • www.cbi.e u/disclaimer C BI Product Fact Sheet Children’s Wear in France Design The French, including children, are dressed less casual than most other Europeans. French like to dress their children classic and stylish. For example, it is less common to wear jeans. Instead, children may wear khakis or slacks of slightly higher quality. Girls still wear more dresses or skirts than trousers. The traditional French-striped shirt, usually in navy and white, is still popular. Comfort is important to French parents, but it is really about fashion. Table 3 below gives an overview of the key fashion trends in French children’s wear for the period 2013-2014. Table 3: Key fashion trends in French children’s wear, 2013-2014 Key Motifs Cool dogs Peacocks Moustaches Polka dots (from small to large) Leopard and Cheetah spots and reptile skins, often with a colour tint Robots Colour blocking Ice cream cones and popsicles Elephants Mixed stripes Chevron stripes Zigzag stripes Ikat Ombre Key fabrics Linen Chiffon Seersucker Lace Printed denim / Coloured denim Rainbow effects Dip-dyes Geometrics (cube, helix, diamond, circle, cylinder shape prints) Key Looks/Influences/Themes India Latin America Mexico Native American Victoriana '60s Modern Sunset hues Coral Turquoise Lime Red, white and navy Orange Cream Red with white Navy with white Rainbow brights Madras plaid Terry and French Terry Silk Rayon Jersey knit and double knit Twill Key Colours All shades of neon Grey Key details Decorative ribbon Ethnic embroidery Puffed sleeves Glitter Dangling details (tassels, ribbons, beads, and pompoms) Ruffles Fabric/pattern mixing Metallic thread Insets and trim in crochet and other laces Banded collars Novelty buttons Key Silhouettes A-line dresses and shift dresses Vests High-waisted pants Tops and dresses with highlow (uneven) hems Rompers Sundresses Ethnic tunic and smock tops Source: NASH International Labelling In general, the following information will be found on the label in clothes: Care symbols (see examples on the right) Composition (Fibre content (percentages of fibres used)) Size Country of origin (Made in) Further information, such as eco-labels etc. if applicable (see examples on the right) The product information on the label should preferably be in French. Textilespecific labelling requires the inclusion of the fibre content. It is optional to include origin, care, manufacturer and/or importer information, and size. Source : C BI Market Information Database • UR L: www.cbi.e u • C ontact: mark [email protected] • www.cbi.e u/disclaimer C BI Product Fact Sheet Children’s Wear in France Care labels There is no EU-wide obligation to show instructions on how to wash and maintain textile products. However, many EU retailers voluntarily use care symbols instead of words. As long as there is no uniform EU legislation on the matter, it is recommended to use the following European/international standard: ISO 3758:2012 Textiles Care labelling code using symbols. Most European countries, including France, use the international care labelling code GINETEX. The European trademark GINETEX care labelling system is a voluntary service offered to the consumers by the textile and apparel industry. To control the correct application, the care labelling code is protected by an international trademark. The ownership of this international trademark belongs to GINETEX. According to GINETEX standards, labels should include (see example on the right): general care and warnings washing drying ironing professional textile care (dry-cleaning) For all the GINETEX labels, see GINETEX website. Packaging Packaging in France needs to meet all EU requirements (see below). These requirements aim to prevent the production of packaging waste, to promote the reuse of packaging, and as such to reduce the final disposal of such waste. Retailers are mostly responsible for the way the products are packed for sale in shops and can ask suppliers to do this for them. Each individual garment is wrapped with plastic with a sticker providing information on brand, size, and kind of garment. Similar items could be packed in boxes. Source : C BI Market Information Database • UR L: www.cbi.e u • C ontact: mark [email protected] • www.cbi.e u/disclaimer C BI Product Fact Sheet Children’s Wear in France Images Legislative requirements When exporting to the EU, you need to take into account various requirements regarding labelling, dangerous substances, product safety and liability. Products that fail to meet the legal requirements are not allowed on the EU market. Labelling In order to ensure that consumers are given accurate information on the fibre composition of the products they are buying, the EU has harmonised legislation regarding the names, composition, and labelling of textile products. Dangerous substances The EU has restricted the use of several chemicals in textile products because they pose a health risk for consumers. Examples of restricted substances are: TRIS, TEPA and PBB (flame retardants), Azo dyes, Nonyl Phenol Ethoxylates, Dioctyltin (DOT) compounds, and nickel (e.g. in zippers and buttons). Product safety and liability Products placed on the EU market should be safe when used as intended. The EU has regulated product safety in the General Product Safety Directive (GSPD), which applies to all consumer products marketed in the EU. The Directive on liability for defective products provides that companies placing products on the EU market can be held responsible for damage caused by defective products. In principle, your EU buyer can be held responsible for damage caused by defects to your products. However, possible claims may be passed on to suppliers. If you export clothing intended for children up to age 14, you have to make sure your products comply with the European standard on the safety of children’s clothing. Although the standard is voluntary, all EU Member States refer to the Considerations for action Make sure that your products comply with the labelling requirements, implying that you need to indicate the fibre content using prescribed fibre names. Refer to the document EU Legislation: Labelling of Textile Products (Including Garments) on the CBI website for more information on the labelling requirements. To avoid the risk of using restricted substances, it is advised to keep an up-todate inventory of the chemicals used in your products. For more information on the prohibited substances, their uses, and possible alternatives, refer to the following documents: EU legislation: Azo dyes in textiles and leather products. EU legislation: Flame retardants in textiles. EU legislation: Nonyl phenols and ethoxylates. EU legislation: Nickel in clothing, jewellery and acc essories. EU legislation: Organotin compounds EU legislation: Phthalates in toys and childcare articles See the documents EU legislation: Liability for defective products , EU legislation: Product safety (consumer products) and EU legislation: Safety of children’s clothing for more information on these requirements. Source : C BI Market Information Database • UR L: www.cbi.e u • C ontact: mark [email protected] • www.cbi.e u/disclaimer C BI Product Fact Sheet Children’s Wear in France standard in their national legislations. As a result, children’s clothing that does not comply with the safety requirements are often withdrawn from the EU market. Non-legislative requirements Sizing Considerations for action The sizing of clothes sold on the EU market tends As long there is no legislation on sizing, it is to vary from country to country and even from recommended to use a recognised standard store to store. This can be very confusing and on clothes sizing. the textile industry in the EU is therefore urging the EU to lay down legislation on standard sizing. At the moment, the situation is precarious and it is unclear whether the EC will start discussions on the matter. Depending on your target market (segment), Sustainability on the rise certification or otherwise participating in an Consumers are increasingly aware of the social initiative addressing sustainability issues can and environmental circumstances during give you a competitive advantage. Assess what production. Consequently, requirement s is actually interesting and feasible by asking regarding sustainability and certification are yourself the following questions: increasingly important to buyers. In particular, What is my main market and who are my social aspects like basic labour rights are major main clients? issues in the garments industry. What is their demand with regard to my sustainability performance and how may this Implementing a management system (e.g. ISO demand change in the future? 14000 on environmental aspects, SA 8000 on What sustainability initiative is potentially social conditions or OHSAS 18001 on the most suitable for me? occupational health and safety) or using What do I need to invest to become certified sustainably produced (e.g. organic) materials is and what revenues can I expect in return? often required or may otherwise be a competitive What support can I get to become certified advantage. (e.g. training)? Codes of conduct EU buyers may expect you to comply with their supplier codes of conduct. This can be the importer’s own code of conduct or a code of conduct as a part of an initiative in which the importer is participating (e.g. BSCI, Fairwear, and the Clean Clothes Campaign). In the event that participating in a specific initiative is not desirable and/or feasible for your business, assess whether you can still benefit from the general trend towards sustainability. You may consider the following step: Implement practical measures aiming to avoid or minimize negative sustainability impacts of your operations. Use the criteria of certification systems and codes of conduct of your clients as a source of information and inspiration. Refer to the documents Labels and Standards: Sustainability for Apparel and Management systems supporting sustainable development for more information on relevant standards, labels, and other initiatives. Consumer labels Consumer labels are labels used on the final product to show consumers that the product they are buying is produced in a socially responsible or environmentally friendly way. To be allowed to carry the label, producers must meet certain standards and are often audited by Source : C BI Market Information Database • UR L: www.cbi.e u • C ontact: mark [email protected] • www.cbi.e u/disclaimer C BI Product Fact Sheet Children’s Wear in France independent auditors. Consumer labels can focus on one issue (e.g. FairTrade for social conditions or the EU Ecolabel on environmental issues or on social and environmental issues, such as MADE-BY). Examples of consumer labels that could be relevant are: Fair Trade, EU Ecolabel, and GOTS for organic textile. Another important label is OEKO-TEX. The OEKO-TEX Standard consists of three types of certification for textiles. These address the effects of textile production processes on humans and the environment, and the effects of the textiles themselves, including the chemicals, on the health and well-being of the consumers. Trade and Macro-Economic Statistics Population in France Of the more than 65 million people living in France, 18.6% (12,192,506 children) are between 0-14 years old. This is shown in Table 4 below. Table 4: French population in age groups and gender per 1 January 2013 Age Males Females Total In % total population 0-1 116,368 110,571 226,939 2.4 2-8 2,911,225 2,785,623 5,696,848 8.7 9-14 2,502,622 2,394,547 4,897,169 7.5 15-24 4,044,029 3,918,260 7,962,289 12.1 25-54 12,667,835 12,996,361 25,664,196 39.1 55-64 3,989,779 4,281,197 8,270,976 12.6 65+ 4,836,608 6,659,282 11,495,890 17.5 Total 31,768,630 33,817,227 65,585,857 Source: INSEE, 2013 France has the second highest birth rate in the EU behind Ireland (2.08 children per woman in 2012 according to Eurostat). Children’s Wear Market in France France accounts for 13% (€6.36 billion in 2012) of the European children’s wear market value. This is shown in Table 5 below. Table 5: France children’s wear market geography segmentation: € million, 2012 Geography 2012 % Germany 8,057.3 16.5 United Kingdom 6,823.2 14.0 France 6,362.1 13.0 Italy 6,048.9 12.4 Spain 2,135.8 4.4 Sweden 1,004.7 2.1 Rest of Europe 18,307.2 37.1 Total 48,739.2 100.0 Source: MarketLine, February 2013 Source : C BI Market Information Database • UR L: www.cbi.e u • C ontact: mark [email protected] • www.cbi.e u/disclaimer C BI Product Fact Sheet Children’s Wear in France Aside from a brief period of shallow growth in 2010, the French children’s wear market has been in continuous decline since 2008. The market is expected to resume very low growth from 2014, which will continue to the end of the forecast period in 2017. The performance of the market is forecast to accelerate, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 0.3% for the five-year period 2013 - 2017, which is expected to drive the market to a value of €6.5 billion by the end of 2017. This is shown in Figure 1 below. Figure 1: France children’s wear market value: € million, 2008–2017 * 7 6 € Billion 5 4 3 2 1 0 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012* 2013* 2014* 2015* 2016* 2017* Source: MarketLine, February 2013; * Forecast There is no separate product group for children’s wear. Girls and boys clothes are included in the adults’ product groups (HS codes 61 and 62). The total exported value of apparel goods from France was € 7.3 billion in 2012. The value of apparel imported to France amounted to € 16 billion in 2012. China was the biggest apparel exporter to France with a value of € 5.4 billion in 2012. The top 5 countries that export apparel to France in 2012 are shown in Table 6 below: Table 6: Top 5 apparel exporting countries to France, 2012* (HS codes 61 and 62) Exporting country China Value of imports (€ thousands) HS Code 61 HS Code 62 Country totals 2,535,853 2,867,247 5,403,100 Italy 623,178 751,156 1,374,334 Bangladesh 852,273 435,122 1,287,395 Turkey 599,584 414,844 1,014,428 Tunisia 296,300 491,774 788,074 7,766,470 8,237,497 16,003,967 Total imports (world) * Forecast Source: TradeMap, 2013 For further information about trade statistics, see the CBI Tradewatch Apparel. Source : C BI Market Information Database • UR L: www.cbi.e u • C ontact: mark [email protected] • www.cbi.e u/disclaimer C BI Product Fact Sheet Children’s Wear in France Market Trends Most important developments Considerations for action Higher quality demand drives French consumers to higher segments French customers are also becoming more quality-conscious and many medium- to highend products (including children’s wear) have seen sales increases which reflect this. The high-end segment will stay popular among the ‘rich and famous’. There will be little room for launches of high-value collections of children’s wear in the near future. There might be more potential in the long term, when the economy will recover. With the rise of luxury brands, a new niche has been c reated to design mini-adult collections. All high-end luxury brands now offer collections for kids, which are extremely successful in France. The segment directly below indicated as upper-middle segment is growing with new brands announced each season. The French still have a focus on knitwear for children and aim for a less casual look and more fashion city formal in the way they dress their children. Quality and comfort are important but the key drivers are fashion- and style elements. Therefore, we see a lot of high-street fashion influences translated into mini-adult collections. Special occasion and traditional clothes will always be popular In France, consumers, including children, change clothes two to three times a day depending on the occasion. Children in France have separate clothes for special occasions. Young girls are expected to wear dresses or skirts on special occasions. Classic clothes that are seasonless in neutral colours are popular. The traditional French striped shirt, usually in navy and white, will stay popular. Organic clothing becomes increasingly important Large retail chains (especially H&M and Zara) are trendsetters in organic clothing for children. Other smaller designers and retailers are following. The French market leader in ecological and ethically produced clothes for baby’s and women is EKYOG. Committed to respecting ethical working conditions. It is expected that French parents will increasingly consider it important to buy organic clothes, especially the ones that can Trade up to a higher segment with a good quality product. Be creative. The middle price and upper price segment have most potential for DC exporters. Try to work for the design houses by designing a special item or a whole collection for e.g. girls that stands out with design and quality. Formal occasion clothes will always have potential, because they are seasonless and timeless. Look at the collections of the popular brands to get ideas on what is popular in France. Popular brands are for example Groupe Zannier: Absorba, Alphabet, Catimini, Chipie, IKKS, jeanbourget, Kenzo, Levi Strauss, Lili Gaufrette, Little Marc Jacobs, Z, and 3 Pommes. Groupe Okaïdi: Okaïdi , Obaïbi, Vibel, Véronique Delachaud, Jacadi, and Oxybul éveil et jeux. Others are: Bonton, Du Pareil au même, H&M, Orchestra, NafNaf, Petit Bateau. Offer quality organic for affordable prices for the middle segment or a special collection for the upper-middle segment. Make sure your product is made CSRcompliant (the whole process) and communicate about that. Source : C BI Market Information Database • UR L: www.cbi.e u • C ontact: mark [email protected] • www.cbi.e u/disclaimer C BI Product Fact Sheet Children’s Wear in France afford the middle-high segment prices. School wear is still worn in many French schools Many schools in France still require their students to wear uniforms. These uniforms vary from very simple ensembles of a skirt and blouse or slacks and a polo shirt to uniforms that consist of a blazer and skirt or slacks and dress shoes. Most schools, even more progressive schools without uniforms, usually have a dress code of some kind that enforces conservative dressing, forbidding shirts that are too low-cut or skirts that are too high. Look into opportunities in school wear, as there is a demand for more modern clothes. For further information on market trends, see the CBI Trendmapping Apparel. Market Channels & Segments Children’s wear in France has become increasingly polarised and has pushed the market in opposing directions. On the one hand, cautious spending by consumers provided a boost for the low and middle-low segment. On the other hand, intense competition at the value end pushed children’s wear specialists upmarket. This caused a struggle in the mid-market segment. The mid-market specialists had to implement new initiatives to survive. The French children’s wear market is increasingly concentrated, with supermarkets, hypermarkets, and clothing chains growing their market share at the expense of the independents. Figure 2 provides an overview of the Market channels for the EU/EFTA children’s wear market in France. Figure 2: Market channels EU/EFTA children’s wear market in France Independent multi brand stores Specialised clothing chains Developing Country European market Customers Department stores Developing Country exporters Hyper/supermarkets Mass market retail Importers/ Wholesaler/ distributors Retailers Retailers Agents/ Brokers/ Buying Houses Popular stores Mail-order companies European manufacturers Main distribution flow Secondary distribution flow Sales generated through clothing, footwear, sportswear, and accessories retailers are expected to be the most lucrative for the French children’s wear market in 2012, with total revenues of €3.2 billion, equivalent to 49.5% of the Source : C BI Market Information Database • UR L: www.cbi.e u • C ontact: mark [email protected] • www.cbi.e u/disclaimer Online Street markets (stalls) C BI Product Fact Sheet Children’s Wear in France market's overall value. Sales through discount, variety, and general merchandise retailers will generate revenues of €1.4 billion in 2012, equating 22.8% of the market's aggregate revenues. Table 7: Change in turnover French children apparel per retail channel in % 2013 Channel Independent multi brand stores January-1.9 April 2013 Cumulative Total clothes -1.6 Children’s +0.7 clothes April 2013 Total clothes +3.3 Source: IFM, May 2013 Specialised chains Mass market retail Department stores Popular stores -5.5 -2.6 -3.2 -8.5 -1.6 -2.1 -4.0 +22.2 -1.4 +16.0 +1.1 +16.2 +13.0 Online TOTAL -7.1 Hyperand supermarkets -9.8 -8.5 +11.4 +3.4 +13.4 -9.8 -4.9 -2.5 +7.8 +8.3 +13.0 -1.2 +5.7 For more insights on market channels and segments and considerations for actions, see the CBI Market Channels and Segments Apparel. Market Competitiveness The competition in the French Children’s wear industry is analysed below. Figure 3: Competitive forces in the French Children’s wear industry Buyer power Supplier power Substitutes Degree of rivalry New entrants Buyer power: moderate The performance of the children’s wear market has been considerably more resilient than that of both the women’s wear and men’s wear markets during the difficult economic climate. The product is a necessity and is something that must be bought on a regular basis due to child growth. The wide variety of potential customers, coupled with factors such as negligible switching costs and the position of retailers at the end of the value chain, results in a moderate degree of buyer power in the market. Degree of rivalry: moderate Difficult economic conditions have contributed to a decline in the market, further intensifying rivalry. Low switching costs and a large number of players contribute to a moderate degree of rivalry. Source : C BI Market Information Database • UR L: www.cbi.e u • C ontact: mark [email protected] • www.cbi.e u/disclaimer -5.2 C BI Product Fact Sheet Children’s Wear in France The French children’s wear market is becoming more concentrated, with supermarkets, hypermarkets, and clothing chains increasing their market share (see Market Channels & Segments). Some retailers in this market are diversified, but many players retain a strong emphasis on children’s wear, which intensifies rivalry, as they are very reliant on this market. In the children’s wear market, a shift is taking place to medium to high-end products, because of the demand of consumers for quality products. This may increase rivalry as players attempt to trade up. New entrants: high Entry to the children’s wear market is possible on a small scale and capital requirements are low enough for individuals to enter. Easy access to suppliers and distribution networks further encourage new entrants. Brand power is less important in children’s wear than in adult apparel, which also increases the likelihood of new entrants. However, the economic situation may discourage new entrants. Substitutes: weak Substitutes for the children’s wear market include buying direct ly from manufacturers, which is facilitated by the growth of online sales. Homemade and custom-made (couture) clothing are also niche alternatives to the retail of ready-to-wear clothes. Supplier power: moderate Suppliers experience a moderate degree of power as favourable factors such as a lack of substitute inputs play against low switching costs for retailers. As international trade liberalises, supplier power in the global market is decreased through competition from manufacturers in low-wage regions. Switching costs for retailers are not very high. Suppliers could be weakened by their lack of diversity, which makes the market important to their business. For more insights on market competiveness and considerations for actions, see the CBI Competitiveness Apparel. Useful Sources The Union of Textile Industries (UIT): http://www.textile.fr/en Union Française des Industries de l’Habillement (UFIH): http://www.lamodefrancaise.org/fr/index.ht ml Institut Français de la Mode (IFM): http://www.ifm-paris.com L'Institut Français de l'habillement et du textile (IFTH): http://www.ifth.org UbiFrance: http://www.ubifrance.fr International Chamber of Commerce France: http://www.icc france.fr Trade Fairs ApparelSourcing Paris: International trade fair in c lothing and fashion accessories for men, women, and children, held twice a year in February and September. Indigo Fashion Paris: International trade show organised twice a year in February and September at which 150 to 180 international studios present their collections for men, women and children. Playtime Paris: Yearly international trade show dedicated to the children's clothes and maternity wear. KIDEXPO: Large apparel trade fair in Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. Source : C BI Market Information Database • UR L: www.cbi.e u • C ontact: mark [email protected] • www.cbi.e u/disclaimer C BI Product Fact Sheet Children’s Wear in France This survey was compiled for CBI by Global Intelligence Alliance in collaboration with CBI sector expert Dhyana van der Pols. Disclaimer CBI market information tools: http://www.cbi.eu/disclaimer Source : C BI Market Information Database • UR L: www.cbi.e u • C ontact: mark [email protected] • www.cbi.e u/disclaimer