Happyludic: conquering the French market with laughter and games

barcelonaexportadmin on February 18, 2025

Happyludic – Suppliers of children’s laughter and games to humanise urban spaces

Happyludic is a company from the Osona region (Barcelona) dedicated to the distribution of children’s games and street furniture, with a significant presence in Spain and Andorra. Founded in 2005, the company has grown considerably over the years, standing out for offering high quality products and excellent after-sales service.

The company distributes playground equipment for school playgrounds and other recreational areas as well as urban playgrounds. Another important activity of Happyludic is urban sports parks..

Project objectives

Happyludic contacted us with the aim of expanding its presence in the French market through distributors throughout the territory. The company had some international experience acquired through its distribution in Andorra, but without a concrete strategy or direct commercial actions in France. They needed to develop a strategy that would allow them to increase their market share in the French children’s playground and street furniture sector.

We started the project by preparing all the commercial documentation and translating their website into French. Together, we carried out a pre-selection of the range of products to be exported. We designed and translated the export catalogue and worked on the price list for international markets. This initial phase is key in any export project as it defines the first impression that potential French customers will have of our company.

Then, taking into account the proximity of the dates of the SETT trade fair in Montpellier and the fact that Happyludic was one of its exhibitors, we agreed on the need to have a good pre-fair, developing an agenda of meetings at the stand that kept the space always full but in an orderly manner.

This conveyed an image of interest to every visitor who passed by the Happyludic stand, as our agenda consisted of 42 confirmed meetings. SETT in Montpellier is a key event for outdoor hospitality facilities, such as campsites, town and village squares, schools, etc. There they could take the temperature of the sector by meeting potential customers but also possible distributors of their products in France.

Throughout this process, we worked with Happyludic to define their commercial objectives in the country, to profile the type of potential customers they wanted to reach, and to carry out an exhaustive analysis of the sectors with the greatest potential, such as town halls, schools, campsites, street furniture distributors, municipal swimming pools, stations and airports and family hotels, with the aim of identifying the most promising opportunities and establishing an effective prospecting strategy.

We carried out a market study to understand the sector in the neighbouring country, created a specific database and designed a prospecting strategy to initiate penetration of the French market, optimising their presence and communication in this new territory.

This project is part of the ACCIÓ Coupons for starting to export 2024 programme. They received an €8,000 grant that covered our fees as an outsourced Export Area Manager.

The playground and street furniture sector in France

In France there are two leading trade fairs in the street furniture and children’s playground sector. These are the Salon des Maires et des Collectivités Locales (the French public sector trade fair par excellence, which takes place every year in the city of Paris) and the SETT trade fair (which takes place every year in the city of Montpellier). These two annual events bring together the main players in municipal management, urban planning and the provision of public and tourist facilities..
The Salon des Maires et des Collectivités Locales is an annual trade fair in Paris aimed at mayors, local administrations and public sector players. It is the leading event in France for municipal management, where innovative solutions in urban planning, mobility, energy, the environment, security and public services are presented.
The SETT fair has established itself as a benchmark event in the outdoor tourism sector, bringing together the main professionals in camping, holiday accommodation and equipment for tourist areas. This annual meeting is the ideal setting to discover the latest innovations, establish strategic contacts and explore new business opportunities in a constantly evolving market.
In the last edition of the SETT Exhibition, more than 730 exhibiting companies took part, including Happyludic, presenting their innovations to thousands of outdoor tourism professionals.
The 2025 edition of the Salon des Maires et des Collectivités Locales will take place at the end of the year and we hope that Happyludic will be able to visit it to study it, expand its knowledge of the market and consider participating as an exhibitor for 2026.
Play areas and urban equipment are much more than a means of entertaining children. They are a focus for socialisation, development and growth, for inclusion, for social activity, for good citizenship and for integration. And a way of humanising the harsh concrete spaces of cities. For this reason, they are a focal point that attracts laughter and well-being. Currently, booming in the French market with a wide range of competitors and very high levels of innovation, the aim is to provide new formulas for play and interaction for generations to come.

Project results

As a result of Happyludic market research, we have detected a series of relevant factors that we would like to share:

Since the start of the search, street furniture has established itself as the sector with the greatest business opportunities. In this context, we have established contact with key players who have shown an interest in marketing their products. Negotiations have begun to define a distribution model that is satisfactory for both parties.
Some sectors present greater barriers to commercialisation due to various factors. In the case of hotels for children, swimming pools and town halls, access is not always easy, as many acquisitions depend on tendering processes or long-term planned renovations.
On the other hand, the swimming pool sector has seasonal limitations, as most aquatic complexes are closed for certain periods of the year due to the low season. This factor makes commercial prospecting difficult and must be taken into account in order to take advantage of the months prior to reopening.
The market research has allowed us to identify sectors with great potential and others with specific challenges. Street furniture and distribution are emerging as strategic areas of growth, while sectors such as hotels, swimming pools and town halls present barriers to entry that require long-term strategies.
In the final phase of the project, we carried out a detailed follow-up of the most relevant leads and agreements to ensure that the negotiations progressed effectively.

The Barcelona Export team wishes Happyludic great success in the French market, for which we will feel pleasantly co-responsible. We hope they will export high volumes of laughter and games.

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The outsourcing of the export department of Mecanizados Canimarc

barcelonaexportadmin on November 30, 2024

Case Study

The outsourcing of the export department of Mecanizados Canimarc

From 0 to 65% export in France. Seven years with Mecanizados Canimarc, specialists in small parts machining.

Mecanizados Canimarc is a family business in the city of Terrassa, in the province of Barcelona, which machines small parts in series with excellent quality standards. Cecilio Cano founded the workshop in 1995 until his son Marc took over the reins of the family business more than a decade ago.

Mecanizados Canimarc specialises in turning and milling. Their machine park consists of several machining centres and high-precision Japanese brand milling machines with a low rate of technical incidents. They also have a 3D digitising arm for the metrology and tolerance control of all their parts. Mecanizados Canirmac has become a solid partner in the machining of metal parts, combining tradition and experience with innovation and high technology.

Project objectives

Mecanizados Canimarc contacted us with the aim of outsourcing the export department to open the French market. The company had previously carried out some indirect operations through intermediaries in the French market, which confirmed the competitiveness of its services, but had not yet carried out any direct international commercial actions.

We set to work to write a good company profile, a company presentation to be sent by mailing and the French version of the corporate website was created. We jointly defined the objectives, the profile of the potential client and analysed the sectors with the highest return in order to create a tailor-made database.

We carried out a market study to understand the machining situation in France and came to the conclusion that the average prices of our French competitors were significantly higher, which gave us a clear competitive advantage.With these premises, we began to penetrate the French market.

Industrial subcontracting in France

The first step of our outsourcing service for the export department of Mecanizados Canimarc is to carry out a market study of the industrial subcontracting sector in France.

Seven out of 10 companies use industrial outsourcing as a strategic measure. These are specialised services with the aim of becoming more efficient in production and structurally lighter and thus gaining business competitiveness.
The turnover of the French industrial subcontracting sector for the manufacture of metal parts by machining using techniques such as milling, turning, drilling or grinding amounted to 100 billion euros in 2022.
These parts are used in a multitude of sectors, such as the manufacture of automobiles, aircraft or industrial machinery for agricultural use or construction, among others. The sector is highly fragmented and is mainly made up of small companies, although some well-known medium-sized companies have emerged, such as Mecachrome, Figeac Aéro, Nexteam or LPF, driven by investment funds that aim to consolidate the sector.
Industrial subcontracting companies in France are concentrated in the east of the country. The Rhône-Alpes region generates 20% of the French sector’s turnover and Ile-de-France 16%. The Centre-Val de Loire area is home to some of the largest reference manufacturers and assemblers with a high demand for industrial subcontracting such as Sealed Air, Faiveley, Daher, Thalès Avionics, John Deere, Hutchinson, Socofer, Zodiac Seats, MBDA, Paulstra, Delphi Diesel Systems France, SKF or Mecachrome among others. 50% of the companies subcontracted by these companies are from outside France.
France is a very attractive market in industrial subcontracting for Spanish companies, especially from the Basque Country and Catalonia, due to its geographical proximity, high technical level, excellent customer service and price competitiveness.

Project results

Since we began our collaboration with Mecanizados Canimarc, the company’s percentage of exports has gone from 0 to 65% of its total turnover, consolidating a stable and recurrent portfolio of French customers. We have accompanied the company on several commercial trips to France to visit potential customers that have emerged from the prospecting of the personalised database that we set up.

As a result of internationalisation, we have worked on the optimisation of Mecanizados Canimarc’s internal processes, such as quality control and the implementation of new production protocols.

We have also increased our machine park with the acquisition of a Faro arm for dimensional measurements.

For Barcelona Export it has been a pleasure to work and accompany the company Mecanizados Canimarc and its manager, Mr. Marc Cano in its export strategy in France. Their high quality, reactivity and seriousness has allowed us to achieve these good results. Our best wishes to all our customers.deseos para Mecanizados Canimarc!

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The outsourcing of the export department of Mecanizados Canimarc

barcelonaexportadmin on November 30, 2024

la externacionalizacion del departamento de mecanizados canimarc

From 0 to 65% export in France. Seven years accompanying Mecanizados Canimarc, specialists in small parts machining. The outsourcing of Mecanizados Canimarc ‘s export department has guaranteed these excellent results. And it has led to new challenges, requests, needs, improvements and new business opportunities.

The company Mecanizados Canimarc

Mecanizados Canimarc is a family business in the city of Terrassa, in the province of Barcelona, which machines small parts in series with excellent quality standards. Cecilio Cano founded the workshop in 1995 until his son Marc Cano took over the reins of the family business more than a decade ago.

At Canimarc they are specialists in turning and milling. Their machine park is made up of several machining centres and high-precision Japanese brand milling machines with a low rate of technical incidents. They also have a 3D digitising arm for the metrology and tolerance control of all their parts. The company has become a solid partner in the machining of metal parts, combining tradition and experience with innovation and high technology. And the new project of the new generation is to internationalise the company by contracting Barcelona Export to outsource the export department.

La externalización departamento exportación Mecanizados Canimarc, especialistas en torneado y fresado, parque de máquinas by Barcelona Export

Aims of the project

Mecanizado Canimarc contacted us with the aim of internationalising its services to France. The company had previously carried out some indirect operations through intermediaries in the French market, which confirmed the competitiveness of its services, but had not yet carried out any direct international commercial actions. It understood that to be successful it had to focus its efforts on doing what it did best, machining metal parts to the highest quality. And to outsource the export department of Mecanizados Canimarc to a consultancy specialising in the French market.

We set to work to write a good company profile, a company presentation to send by mailing and the French version of the corporate website was created. We jointly defined the objectives, the profile of the potential client and analysed the sectors with the highest return in order to create a tailor-made database.

We carried out a market study to understand the machining situation in France and came to the conclusion that the average prices of our French competitors were significantly higher, which gave us a clear competitive advantage. With these premises, we began to penetrate the French market.

Example of parts - the outsourcing of the export department of Mecanizados Canimarc by Barcelona Export

Industrial subcontracting in France

Seven out of 10 companies use industrial subcontracting as a strategic measure. These are specialised services with the aim of becoming more efficient in production and structurally lighter and thus gaining business competitiveness.

The turnover of the French industrial subcontracting sector for the manufacture of metal parts by machining using techniques such as milling, turning, drilling or grinding amounted to 100 billion euros in 2022.

These parts are used in a multitude of sectors, such as the manufacture of automobiles, aircraft or industrial machinery for agricultural use or construction, among others. The sector is highly fragmented and is mainly made up of small companies, although some well-known medium-sized companies have emerged, such as Mecachrome, Figeac Aéro, Nexteam or LPF, driven by investment funds that aim to consolidate the sector.

Industrial subcontracting companies in France are concentrated in the east of the country. The Rhône-Alpes region generates 20% of the French sector’s turnover and Ile-de-France 16%. The Centre-Val de Loire area is home to some of the largest reference manufacturers and assemblers with a high demand for industrial subcontracting such as Sealed Air, Faiveley, Daher, Thalès Avionics, John Deere, Hutchinson, Socofer, Zodiac Seats, MBDA, Paulstra, Delphi Diesel Systems France, SKF or Mecachrome among others. 50% of the companies subcontracted by these companies are from outside France.

France is a very attractive market in industrial subcontracting for Spanish companies, especially from the Basque Country and Catalonia, due to its geographical proximity, high technical level, excellent customer service and price competitiveness. And with the outsourcing of Mecanizados Canimarc’s export department, we are also getting closer culturally, thanks to the language skills of our interlocutors.

Results of the project

Since we started our collaboration, taking over the outsourcing of the export department of Mecanizados Canimarc,the percentage of exports of the company has gone from 0 to 65% of its total turnover, consolidating a stable and recurrent portfolio of French customers. We have accompanied them on several commercial trips to France to visit potential clients that have emerged from the prospecting of the personalised database that we set up.

As a result of internationalisation, we have worked on the optimisation of internal processes such as quality control and the implementation of new production protocols. We have also increased our machine park with the acquisition of a Faro arm for dimensional measurements.

The outsourcing of the export department of Mecanizados Canimarc by Barcelona Export

For Barcelona Export it has been a pleasure to work and accompany the company Mecanizados Canimarc and its manager, Mr. Marc Cano in its export strategy in France. His high quality, reactivity and seriousness has allowed us to achieve these good results in the outsourcing of the export department. Our best wishes to Mecanizados Canimarc!

Halal food trade mission to France

barcelonaexportadmin on October 21, 2024

Study Case

The Girona Chamber of Commerce organises a Halal food trade mission to France with Barcelona Export

The Girona Chamber of Commerce is organising a Halal food trade mission to France for Spanish producers. We work together with the Cambra with the aim of helping participants to generate business opportunities in France by prospecting commercial agents, distributors, large supermarkets or buyers in restaurants.

Project objectives

This Halal Food Trade Mission to France will mainly involve specialists in meat products, processed meat products and turkey charcuterie, but also spices, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, jellies, soups, ingredients, other food products, tourism and transport, among others.

The Girona Chamber of Commerce, together with Barcelona Export, will select the 10 candidates with the greatest potential to generate business in France. In the selection process, we apply criteria such as the quality of the prospecting material and the website in French. We also analyse the internal teams of the candidate companies to assess their knowledge of the language and culture of the group and the country, which will enable them to successfully develop commercial activities in the sector.

For the 10 companies selected to participate in the Halal Food Trade Mission to France, we will create customised databases of the most suitable potential customers according to their profile, product and priority distribution channels. We will then develop the commercial presentation materials in French and communication by mailings, carry out telephone prospecting and create a schedule of visits with the potential customers most interested in your products.

On the 12th and 13th of November 2024, the Halal Food Trade Mission to France will take place, for which we will travel to Paris to visit the Central Market of Rungis and the various agents and distributors in the city,donde se encuentran los actores principales del sector Halal.

Market study: the consumer of Halal products in France

The Muslim community in France represents 9% of the population. However, the consumption of Halal products has a wider reach as it is estimated that there are more than 3 million non-Muslim Halal consumers in France.
More and more consumers, especially young people, appreciate the values of Halal practice and consume Halal products on a regular basis.
The most common profiles among Halal consumers are traditional Muslim families who demand traceability and quality products, and young people living in urban environments.
The young demographic values organic products and may be more price-sensitive than other groups.
Halal food consumption in France is dominated by meat and meat products, led by poultry (38%) and frozen meat (17%), according to recent market research. Halal food tends to be highly seasonal, with a high proportion of

MainInsights

As a result of the analysis carried out during the market research for the Halal Food Trade Mission to France organised by the Girona Chamber of Commerce, we have identified a number of relevant factors that we would like to share with you:

The most common distribution channels for Halal products in France are small neighbourhood shops, Halal shelves in large supermarkets, regional and national distributors and the Horeca channel.
France has two leading Halal certifiers to which most brands go: Achahada and AVS, which has a subsidiary in Spain.
The main halal brands in France are Fleury Michon, Ile Délice, Oriental Viandes and Réghalal.
The Centre-Val de Loire region is the leader in regular consumption of Halal meat, followed by Aquitaine-Limousin-Poitou-Charentes.
Most French distributors require Halal certificates for both raw materials and processed products.
We have come across cases where the distributor requires a Halal certificate for transport. In other cases, vacuum packaging for cross-contamination has been sufficient for logistical purposes.
Some potential customers have asked us about the processes of evaluation and continuous auditing in production and the profile of the people responsible.

For Barcelona Export, it is a pleasure to work with organisations such as the Girona Chamber of Commerce to carry out this Halal food trade mission to France. Its high capacity for convening, professionalism and quality allowed us to carry out a great export project. Congratulations to all participants!

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Sofasam, the international strategy to open up new Europe

barcelonaexportadmin on October 18, 2024

Caso de éxito Barcelona Export - Sofasan

Study Case

Sofasam, the international strategy to open up new Europe

Sofasam asked us to design and implement the international strategy to open up Europe in collaboration with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

The company Sofasam

Sofasam is a Tunisian manufacturer of solid beech furniture with over 50 years’ experience. Although they have industrialised many of their production processes, they still have an important handicraft component with a remarkable commitment of skilled and specialised workers. They have a large catalogue of standard pieces, but they also specialise in the manufacture of exclusive bespoke furniture.

They have 4 showrooms and sales outlets in Tunisia and export on a project basis, particularly in the contract sector, where they are the leading furniture manufacturer in Tunisia.

Project objectives

Sofasam comes to Barcelona Export with a request for an international strategy to open up new European markets where there is an interest in quality, solid furniture at competitive prices.

The project comes from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development with which we collaborate as Specialist Advisor.

Preliminary project phase

As we always point out to our customers and to Sofasam, going international requires certain adaptations to the target markets, especially when there are accentuated cultural differences.
In this case, we find a catalogue with a strong Arab sensibility, where gold materials, filigree and strong colours abound. They use very elaborate fonts and typographies in their catalogue and some of their product images are not of sufficient quality.
We also found that Sofasam’s catalogue lacked the commercial information required by the European buyer.
After this analysis, we adapted the catalogue to the European market, where the visual trends are soft, natural colours on a white, minimalist background, highlighting fine materials such as cotton and linen. We took inspiration from the most prestigious brands in our sector to effectively communicate the value proposition and adapt the look and feel of the commercial material to capture the attention of the potential European buyer.
We also developed other international prospecting materials, such as a company profile and a portfolio of work, showing the projects Sofasam has carried out in both the contract and residential sectors. In this way, we were able to demonstrate to potential clients in Europe Sofasam’s production capacity, the quality of its products and the scale of the projects it can carry out.
We produced a short and very visual presentation which we used in a presentation email. After validation by our client, we created a database of sales agents and distributors of contract and residential furniture in Belgium, France and Spain.

International Telephone Prospecting Phase

In this phase, we contact all the leads in our database by telephone and collect the comments we receive. We collect suggestions, proposals, advice, explanations and measure the level of acceptance of the project.
The feedback we get is very positive and we find that Sofasam’s biggest competitors in Europe come from Portugal and Poland. The European furniture market offers opportunities at contract level thanks to the strong tourism sector and the large hotel chains.
We also see that in recent years there has been an increased interest from individuals to renovate and improve the aesthetics of their homes, which has had a very positive impact on sales in this sector.

Challenges and results

We have signed representation agreements with one agent in Belgium and two in France, specialising in contract business but also reaching out to furniture stores, architects and decorators. In Spain, we have acquired five exclusive agents covering the regions of Galicia, Valencia, Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Western Andalusia. In all cases, Barcelona Export took part in the negotiations to conclude the commercial agreements.

Once the contractual agreements had been signed with Sofasam, we set up a schedule of meetings with the new commercial partners in order to present the new catalogues in person and start the activity. In the course of the prospection, we also received 10 requests for quotations for important operations from high-profile potential customers.

Closure

It has been a pleasure for Barcelona Export to work with Sofasam and its manager, Mrs Lelila Arfaoui, in this export adventure. Their high level of discipline, responsiveness and quality of work have allowed us to achieve these good results, which we hope will be the first steps in the company’s sustainable growth, thanks to the rigorous monitoring of our international strategy to open up new European markets. Our best wishes to Sofasam!

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Motores Campeón reconquers France

barcelonaexportadmin on October 3, 2024

Study cases

Motores Campeón

We helped Motores Campeón, specialists in gardening machinery, to expand their network of multi-portfolio gardening sales agents in France.

The company

Motores Campeón is a Catalan company founded in 1946 specialising in the manufacture of motors and motor pumps for the agricultural, forestry and, above all, gardening sectors. They are also distributors of other brands of machinery such as lawnmowers, brush cutters, tillers, wood splitters and motor augers. They have extensive experience in the sector, a self-manufactured product with high added value and a good after-sales service for spare parts.

Motores Campeón has developed its presence in international markets for years and has managed to establish itself as a recognised brand in several countries. Its priority markets have been, among others, Portugal, Greece, Germany, Italy and, above all, France.

Project objectives

In the past, Motores Campeón managed to open the French market and consolidate it thanks to an extensive distribution network that brought significant turnover to the company. Over the years, the commercial network was losing weight in the French market, one of the most important in the gardening sector, without the company being able to react in time, to the point where it was when it contacted Barcelona Export.

After studying the case, we defined the objective for Motores Campeón to boost exports to France again, by creating a network of multi-portfolio gardening sales agents in France, with coverage across the entire country.

Market research

Our team analysed the gardening sector in France for Motores Campéon:

17 million people live in houses and more than half of them have a garden area of at least 600 m².
89% of French people have a garden space in their home. The average garden area is the highest in Europe, with a median area of 500 m². This confirms that France was a very important market for the company.
The French consumer buys 82% of their equipment in large gardening stores (such as Gammevert, Jardiland, etc.) and prefers proximity and choice. Large DIY stores (such as Mr. Bricolage, Leroy Merlin, etc.) come in second place with 46%, for the same reasons. Supermarkets such as Leclerc, Super Uno or Auchan come in third place with 43%, mainly for reasons of price, and finally the website with 14%, in commercial locations, for its simplicity. The chains most visited by customers are Truffaut, Jardiland and Leroy Merlin.
The areas where the population feels the greatest passion for gardening are Franche Comté, Languedoc Roussillon and Aquitaine. On the other hand, the least important gardening comes from Nord de Calais, Ile de France and the Pays de la Loire. It is worth keeping this in mind for the Champion Motors project.

Challenges and results

The Barcelona Export team conducted a market survey to identify multi-portfolio sales agents in the gardening sector in France who could add greater value to the company and, at the same time, cover the entire national territory.

We selected 7 candidates with experience and reach to distribution channels, such as specialized purchasing centers or large gardening and DIY companies. After a detailed analysis of the candidates and negotiations of the commercial terms, Motores Campeón signed a representation contract with 4 of the candidates proposed by Barcelona Export.

We wish Motores Campeón our best wishes for success..

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Ecoresinas exports its floor coverings to France

barcelonaexportadmin on September 27, 2018

Study case

Ecoresinas, the manufacturer of innovative floor coverings

The company ECORESINAS SLNE manufactures resins and microcements for floor and wall coverings. Ecoresinas decides to export its floor coverings to France in order to grow and diversify its commercial risk. The company has 4 types of products and a flagship product.

Project objectives

There are two self-levelling floor covering products, level colour and TRP, another Epoxy floor covering called Stone Color and a last product called Micro-cement polyurethane.

The star product is called Microquartz and is a combination of Epoxy and polyurethane floor coating that allows for natural, resistant and easy-to-apply floor finishes.

EcoResinas has very adequate marketing support: responsive website, Youtube, well-defined graphic identity, social and professional networks (Facebook, linkedin), and online catalogue. The company wants to export its floor coverings to France because it is a very popular market for innovation in this type of floor covering.

With all this in mind, Ecoresinas wants to give a boost to its export department and enter the French market,buscando distribuidores y agentes comerciales dentro del sector de la construcción.

Market study: the biggest competition to Ecoresins’ products in France

The difficulty of the Ecoresinas project is that there is a very similar product, often used in France: beton ciré. They have been using Beton Ciré for many years and therefore know very well what kind of product it is and what the negative and positive points are.
This product is widely used to obtain a natural finish, which is exactly the aim of the coatings offered by Ecoresinas.
Beton ciré has been used in France for many years and has many suppliers, companies in the sector that have developed well-established networks thanks to the time they have been working in the field. However, beton ciré is more expensive and more difficult to apply.
Moreover, in France, there is a difference compared to Spain. Many of the products sold to the large distributors of coatings are products that have to be referenced by them; this is a very important part of the process to enter and manage to implement the product in the French market in the long term.

Floor coverings in France

In France, floor coverings are an important part of interior design and construction, thus benefiting Ecoresinas and there are a wide variety of options available. The most common are:

Parquet: This is one of the most popular floor coverings in France. It consists of wooden floors that can be of different types, such as oak, beech or cherry. Parquet can be in plank form or in more elaborate patterns, such as herringbone.
Ceramic tiles: Widely used in kitchens and bathrooms, ceramic tiles are durable and easy to clean. They come in a wide range of colours and designs, allowing for great customisation.
Vinyl: This material has gained popularity for its versatility and ease of maintenance. Vinyl floors can mimic the look of wood or stone and are ideal for high traffic areas.
Laminate: Similar to parquet, but more affordable, laminate is a popular choice that offers the look of wood without the cost. It is stain resistant and easy to install.
Natural stone: Materials such as marble, granite or slate are chosen for their elegance and durability. These floors are ideal for creating a sophisticated ambience, although they may require more maintenance.
Carpeting: Although less common in high traffic areas, carpeting is used in bedrooms and living rooms for its comfort and warmth. It comes in a variety of colours and textures.
Resin flooring: This type of flooring is modern and is often used in commercial and contemporary spaces. The resin is applied in one layer and can be customised in terms of colour and finish.
Hydraulic tiles: These decorative tiles, which are back in fashion, are ideal for giving a vintage or artistic touch to spaces. They are often used in kitchens and bathrooms.

Commercial floor covering agents that might interest Ecoresinas

There are many multi-portfolio sales agents within the sector, thanks to which we can create a rich database for our client Ecoresinas.

They are all very interested in learning more about Ecoresinas’ coatings. The company is a very small company and therefore has to decide to limit the number of sales agents it can manage.

This is why Ecoresinas finally chose 3 of the agents presented to cover most of France.

We wish you every success in your new adventure of exporting floor coverings to France.

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Exporting promotional gifts to France

admin on August 29, 2018

Are you are planning about exporting promotional gifts to France? Read this article carefully to find out about the trends in this market. Barcelona Export has recently supported the company Textil Campasol, a manufacturer of personalised sports towels, in its internationalisation strategy. This international support has reinforced our knowledge of pomotional gifts to France.

Exporting promotional gifts to France, the market

Exporting promotional gifts to France in 2018 was an integral part of the global marketing and advertising industry. France is one of the largest markets in Europe, and promotional products such as branded merchandise, giveaways, and corporate gifts play a significant role in business marketing strategies. Below is an overview of the promotional gifts market in France in 2018, including key trends, sectors, challenges, and opportunities for exporters.

Overview of the exporting promotional gifts to France (2018)

Market Size: France is one of the largest markets in Europe for promotional gifts. The promotional products industry was valued at several billion euros, with promotional merchandise being an essential component of advertising and corporate marketing strategies.
Consumer Preferences: French businesses tend to prioritize quality, creativity, and sustainability when selecting promotional items. There is a growing demand for eco-friendly and customizable products that align with brand identity and values.
Trade Trends: Promotional gifts are commonly used in trade shows, corporate events, and direct marketing campaigns. As a result, there was a high demand for personalized products like branded pens, T-shirts, bags, mugs, USB drives, and eco-friendly products.

Key Trends in exporting promotional gifts to France (2018)

Several key trends influenced Exporting promotional gifts to France in 2018:

Sustainability and Eco-Friendly Products: French businesses, along with consumers, became increasingly aware of environmental issues. Promotional products made from recycled materials, biodegradable items, and sustainable resources were in high demand. For example, eco-friendly bags, recycled pens, and reusable drinkware were popular choices.
Personalization and Customization: The demand for personalized promotional gifts continued to grow in 2018. Brands were looking for ways to create unique, customized items that would stand out and leave a lasting impression. Products that could be engraved, printed, or embroidered with company logos, slogans, and personalized messages were sought after.
Tech and Innovative Products: With the increasing influence of technology, there was a rise in the popularity of tech-related promotional gifts such as USB drives, Bluetooth speakers, smartphone accessories, and wireless chargers.
Health and Wellness Focus: The health and wellness trend extended to the promotional gifts sector, with products such as fitness trackers, water bottles, yoga mats, and organic snack packs becoming popular.
Corporate Gifts for B2B: Many companies used promotional gifts as part of business-to-business (B2B) strategies. Corporate gifts for employees, clients, and partners became essential, including high-end pens, executive gift sets, branded leather products, and luxury food baskets.

Target Sectors for exporting promotional gifts to France (2018)

Different industries used promotional gifts in various ways to promote their brands and engage customers. Key sectors included for exporting promotional gifts to France :

Corporate and B2B: Many large corporations, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), used promotional items for corporate events, employee recognition, and client gifts. Items like high-quality notebooks, USB drives, and business card holders were commonly used for these purposes.
Fashion and Apparel: Fashion brands frequently used promotional gifts such as customized T-shirts, caps, and bags. Many fashion companies took advantage of the rising popularity of branded apparel and fashion accessories as promotional tools.
Food and Beverage: The food and beverage industry often used branded merchandise like mugs, coasters, tote bags, and drinkware to promote their products. They also created special gifts for clients during the holiday season.
Technology and Electronics: Technology companies regularly used tech accessories, such as headphones, chargers, and portable speakers, as promotional gifts to attract potential customers or reward loyal clients.
Tourism and Events: The tourism and events industry, particularly in cities like Paris, used promotional items for trade fairs, conventions, and expos. Popular items included maps, keychains, and travel accessories branded with the company or event logo.

Challenges in Exporting Promotional Gifts to France (2018)

While we could find many opportunities for exporting promotional gifts to France, there were also challenges to consider:

Customs and Import Regulations: Exporters had to navigate EU customs regulations and adhere to the French market’s compliance standards. Products needed to meet EU safety regulations and sometimes required specific certifications (e.g., CE marking for electronics).
High Competition: France had a competitive market for promotional products, with both local and international suppliers offering a variety of products. Exporters had to differentiate their products through unique designs, high quality, and sustainability.
Cultural Sensitivity: French companies are known for their high standards and value creativity in promotional gifts. As a result, exporters needed to tailor their products to local tastes and preferences. For example, overly generic promotional items might not resonate well with the French market.
Logistics and Delivery: Timely delivery was crucial, especially during peak promotional seasons, such as the holiday season or major events like trade shows and conferences. Efficient logistics and distribution networks were required for smooth export operations.

Why communicate through promotional gifts?

We found that customers, and in particular French customers, are particularly receptive to communication through promotional gifts. For 42% of them, it enhances the brand and company image.

However, the promotional product in France must be of good quality. Indeed, if the object is not qualitative, 65% of users do not want to buy the retailer’s brand. This is why it is important to focus on quality. Textil Campasol has understood this differentiating factor and all its production is made in Europe, avoiding the mass production that comes from Asia.

What are the most popular exporting promotional gifts to France?

If you think in exporting merchandising to France, you should know that many communication companies offer a wide variety of personalised goodies: bags, fabrics, glasses and mugs, but also personalised calendars, pens and notepads.

In fact, the most popular promotional product is usually one in the stationery category (60%), followed by T-shirts and polo shirts (30%). Other textile products account for only 10% of the market, but have the advantage of a longer shelf life. Stationery, on the other hand, can only be kept for about 6 months.

What are the selection criteria?

For promotional gifts to be effective, the French consider that it must be useful (86%), but also original and aesthetic. It must also be fun for 36% of them. Textil Campasol’s sports towels are perfectly adapted to the criteria for users in the sports market.

In addition, 80% of users would like to receive promotional gifts in France: this is a fast growing market. This really allows users to remember the brand. 99% of them keep the promotional gift for themselves or for someone close to them.

When are promotional gifts used?

Promotional gifts are not reserved for end-of-year celebrations. Events, especially sporting competitions, are particularly conducive to the distribution of personalised products. They can also be found at trade fairs and exhibitions.

They are also highly appreciated by companies that use communication by object internally and towards their customers to promote their services and motivate their employees.

Thus, our experience during the export process of Campasol Textile’s personalised towels has been rich in knowledge. The exporting promotional gifts to France is very competitive. It is offering differentiating and quality objects, such as customisable sports towels, for which we manage to attract customers and build a lasting and solid image in their eyes.

Do you have any branded gift or promotional product to export? Do not hesitate to ask for any of the export service we can propose you.

The internationalisation of Singular Spirits

barcelonaexportadmin on May 11, 2018

Study case

Singular Spirits: the company

Singular Spirits is a company from Madrid dedicated to the production and marketing of high quality craft distillates, specifically Gins and Vodkas. A young company that has been able to find different and fresh formulations, which is committed to quality in distillation, a very careful marketing and a new concept of consumption based on quality products that provide new experiences to consumers, large supermarkets or buyers in restaurants.

Description of the products

High quality handcrafted distillates: the production process

Singular Spirits produces high quality Gin and Vodka with local ingredients from Spain. The production is handcrafted, in small numbered batches with the aim of always achieving the most delicate and purest of spirits.

Characteristics of Singular Spirits distillates:

100% natural ingredients: no chemicals, no colouring, no added sugars.
Local product: with unique recipes and local ingredients.
Traditional distillation: in small batches to preserve quality, purity and creativity.
Micro-distillation: production and development in state-of-the-art independent micro-distilleries. Copper stills.

The Singular Spirits product range consists of:

Iradier and Bulfi Dry Gin: London Dry Gin, 100% natural, 42º, 7 botanicals, exclusive 300l distillations, numbered bottles.
Iradier y Bufi Sipping Vodka: 100% natural, maximum purity, slow distillation in copper, direct fermentation in distillery, no additives, exclusive distillations of 300l, numbered bottles.
Martín Sessé Madrid Dry Gin: London Dry Gin, 100% natural, 42º, 14 natural and autochthonous botanicals, 600l distillations, numbered bottles, slow distillation in copper, free of chemicals and sweeteners.
R.I.P. Unfiltered Vodka: Tempranillo grape and grain alcohol, 4 distillations, 40º, 150l distillations, numbered bottles, slow distillation in copper, free of chemicals and sweeteners.

Original and careful marketing

The entire range has a story behind each of its brands to make each tasting a different and original experience. Each brand has a name that hides an adventurous and romantic story that transports us and helps us to enjoy our cocktails.

With a vintage and different aesthetic, the bottles of Singular Spirits remind us of the bottles of the old apothecaries where the formulations were macerated. They also transport us to the Far West. And this is the inspiration for its entire corporate image and communication.

Turning point: attending Alimentaria as an international stepping stone

Our client Singular Spirits came to us after deciding to participate in Alimentaria 2018 and in view of the need to make their presence profitable with their own design stand.
Barcelona Export took charge of drawing up an agenda of interviews agreed at the stand during the days of the fair, as well as managing the agendas of contacts from the Alimentaria matchmaking.
We organised their commercial documentation and drafted the contact and invitation e-mails to the fair.
We chose 6 different countries for the search of importers/distributors of spirits and liqueurs: UK, Germany, France, Benelux, Portugal and Italy.
Taking advantage of the matchmaking at the fair we also contacted importers/distributors of spirits from USA, Japan and Latin America.
Singular Spirits arrived at the Alimentaria fair with a negotiated agenda of 25 contacts spread over the 4 days of the fair.

Results of international trade prospecting

We are pleased to say that Singular Spirits’ participation in Alimentaria was as spectacular as its products. Its design stand and its attractive products, together with the prospecting efforts of Barcelona Export, resulted in an event that brought 124 new contacts to our client.

Most of them visited the stand and had the opportunity to taste their Gins and Vodkas.
Others requested information via email and telephone, as they were unable to travel to Barcelona.
We accompanied our client to the stand during the days of the fair in order to assist them with the different languages and ways of negotiating with the different countries that visited them: Spain, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Germany, Guatemala, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Latvia, Malaysia, Malta, Portugal, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, UK, Taiwan, USA, Sweden, Singapore, Romania, Russia, Tunisia, Czech Republic, El Salvador, Switzerland and Qatar.
After the fair, we take care of writing the thank you emails for the visit to your stand at Alimentaria and of the appropriate follow-up.
A large database of potential importers and distributors of international spirits and liqueurs with whom we can start to close commercial distribution agreements.

We wish Singular Spirits a unique and successful internationalisation!

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Objetivos del proyecto

Participan principalmente especialistas en productos cárnicos y cárnicos procesados, aunque también podemos encontrar elaboradoras de especias, fabricantes de medicamentos, cosmética, gelatinas, sopas, otros productos alimentarios, turismo o transporte, entro otros.

La Cambra de Comerç de Girona de la mano de Barcelona Export elegirá los 10 candidatos con más potencial para generar negocio en Francia. Aplicamos criterios en la selección como la calidad de los materiales de prospección y web en francés. También analizamos los equipos internos de las empresas candidatas para evaluar el conocimiento tanto de idiomas como cultural que les permita desarrollar con éxito operaciones comerciales en el sector.

Para las 10 empresas escogidas crearemos bases de datos personalizadas con los clientes potenciales más adecuados según el perfil, el producto y los canales de distribución prioritarios. A continuación, desarrollaremos los materiales de presentación comercial en francés y las comunicaciones mediante mailings, realizaremos la prospección telefónica y crearemos una agenda de visitas con los clientes potenciales más interesados en sus productos.

En noviembre de 2024 nos desplazaremos a París para visitar el mercado central de Rungis y los diferentes agentes y distribuidores de la ciudad, donde se encuentran los actores principales del sector Halal.

Estudio de mercado: el consumidor de productos Halal en Francia

La comunidad musulmana representa el 9% de la población en Francia. Sin embargo, el consumo de productos Halal tiene un alcance más alto ya que se estima que en Francia hay más de 3 millones de consumidores Halal no musulmanes.
Cada vez hay más consumidores, sobre todo de perfil joven, que aprecian los valores de la práctica Halal y consumen este tipo de productos regularmente.
Los perfiles más comunes entre los consumidores Halal son familias de tradición musulmana exigentes con la trazabilidad y calidad de los productos y jóvenes que residen en entornos urbanos.
El segmento de población joven valora los productos ecológicos u orgánicos y puede ser más sensible al precio que otros grupos.
El consumo de alimentos Halal está dominado por la carne y los productos cárnicos encabezados por las aves (38%) y por la carne congelada (17%), según los últimos estudios de mercado consultados. Los productos de alimentación Halal suelen tener una estacionalidad marcada con incrementos de consumo durante el mes de Ramadán y Eid al-Adha.

Insights principales

Fruto del análisis realizado en la prospección de mercado para productos Halal en Francia con la Cambra de Comerç de Girona, hemos detectado una serie de factores relevantes que queremos compartir con vosotros:

Los canales comerciales más habituales en Francia para productos Halal son el pequeño comercio de barrio, el lineal Halal en una gran superficie, los distribuidores regionales y nacionales y la distribución de canal Horeca.
Francia cuentas con dos certificadoras Halal de referencia a las que acuden la mayoría de las marcas: Achahada y AVS, que cuenta con filial en España.
Las principales marcas de productos Halal en Francia son Fleury Michon, Isla Délice, Oriental Viandes y Réghalal.
La región Centre-Val de Loire encabeza el consumo regular de carne Halal, seguido de Aquitania-Limousin-Poitou-Charentes.
La mayoría de los distribuidores franceses solicitan los certificados Halal tanto de materias primeras como de productos transformados.
Nos hemos encontrados casos que el distribuidor requiere la certificación Halal para el transporte. En otras ocasiones con un envasado al vacío para contaminación cruzada ha sido suficiente a nivel logístico.
Algunos clientes potenciales nos han preguntado sobre los procesos de evaluación y auditoría continua en la producción y el perfil de las personas responsables.

Para Barcelona Export es un placer colaborar con entidades como la Cambra de Comerç de Girona esta misión comercial a Francia. Su alta capacidad de convocatoria, profesionalidad y calidad nos ha permitido realizar un gran proyecto exportador. ¡Nuestras felicitaciones a todos los participantes!

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La Cuina de la Iaia: the internationalisation of its gourmet croquettes

barcelonaexportadmin on May 9, 2018

Study case

La Cuina de la Iaia: the company

La Cuina de la Iaia is a Catalan company that produces and sells gourmet croquettes for the most demanding palates.

A young, family-run company, whose manager is a curious and innovative chef who is constantly developing new flavours to continue seducing his clientele. Different and surprising recipes that never cease to amaze.indiferentes a nadie.

Project details

Gourmet croquettes: the production process

La Cuina de la Iaia makes gourmet artisan croquettes by selecting the best ingredients and raw materials: top quality products, some of them even with designation of origin (DO). The workshop works at the pace necessary to preserve the original flavour of the croquettes. The batter is a special paste that gives the croquettes a crunchy touch even hours after cooking. The croquettes are frozen after preparation to keep their flavour and aroma intact, while allowing for an optimal consumption date of 12 months. The percentages of the main ingredient are very high in order to provide an intense and characteristic flavour.

La Cuina de la Iaia offers its croquettes to the HORECA channel in three formats: normal (25g), croquetón (55g) and mini or cocktail (15g).

These classic tapas are served in the best Spanish hotels, restaurants and caterers.

The flavours of its croquettes are:

Roast chicken
Ham
Spider Crab
Cod
Cod, orange and sesame
Mushrooms with Goat’s cheese
Cabrales with caramelised onion
Pepper with olives
Spinach with pine nuts and peppers
Vegan: onions and carrots
Pizza
Chocolate and orange
Sobrasada with brie
Foie and mushroom
Blood sausage and mushrooms
Emmental and bacon
Prawns
Gorgonzola and walnuts
Chicken curry

Alimentaria the international launch exhibition

Our client La Cuina de la Iaia started working with us a couple of years ago. The difficulty of the project lies in the fact that it is a frozen product that is difficult and logistically difficult, as well as costly. This year, she informed us of her participation in Alimentaria 2018 and asked us for an agenda of international interviews in addition to accompanying her at the fair.

Barcelona Export took charge of drawing up an agenda of interviews agreed at the stand during the days of the fair, as well as managing the agendas of contacts from the Alimentaria matchmaking. We organised their commercial documentation and drafted the contact and invitation e-mails to the fair.

We chose 7 different countries for the search of importers/distributors of spirits and liqueurs: UK, Germany, France, Benelux, Portugal, Mexico and Italy. Taking advantage of the matchmaking at the fair, we also contacted importers from many Latin American countries.

La Cuina de la Iaia arrived at the Alimentaria fair with a negotiated agenda of 31 contacts distributed between the 4días que dura la feria.

Results of the international commercial prospecting

We are very pleased to be able to confirm the resounding success of La Cuina de la Iaia’s participation in Alimentaria 2018. During the event, more than 3,300 croquettes were cooked and tasted by visitors to the stand. Their delicious croquettes, together with the prospecting efforts of Barcelona Export, resulted in an event that ended up bringing 161 new contacts to our client.

We accompanied our client to the stand to attend the interviews of potential clients from countries as diverse as: Spain, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Panama, USA, El Salvador, Guatemala, England and Libya.

After the fair, we took charge of writing the thank-you e-mails for the visit to their stand at Alimentaria and of carrying out the appropriate follow-up. A large database of potential importers and distributors of 4th and 5th range products for the HORECA channel with whom we can start to close commercial distribution agreements.

Thank you for this friendly and tasty relationship! Your success is assured.

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Happyludic – Suppliers of children’s laughter and games to humanise urban spaces

Project objectives

The playground and street furniture sector in France

Project results

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The outsourcing of the export department of Mecanizados Canimarc

Project objectives

Industrial subcontracting in France

Project results

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The company Mecanizados Canimarc

Aims of the project

Industrial subcontracting in France

Results of the project

The Girona Chamber of Commerce organises a Halal food trade mission to France with Barcelona Export

Project objectives

Market study: the consumer of Halal products in France

MainInsights

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Sofasam, the international strategy to open up new Europe

The company Sofasam

Project objectives

Preliminary project phase

International Telephone Prospecting Phase

Challenges and results

Closure

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Motores Campeón

The company

Project objectives

Market research

Our team analysed the gardening sector in France for Motores Campéon:

Challenges and results

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Ecoresinas, the manufacturer of innovative floor coverings

Project objectives

Market study: the biggest competition to Ecoresins’ products in France

Floor coverings in France

Commercial floor covering agents that might interest Ecoresinas

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Exporting promotional gifts to France, the market

Overview of the exporting promotional gifts to France (2018)

Key Trends in exporting promotional gifts to France (2018)

Target Sectors for exporting promotional gifts to France (2018)

Challenges in Exporting Promotional Gifts to France (2018)

Why communicate through promotional gifts?

What are the most popular exporting promotional gifts to France?

What are the selection criteria?

When are promotional gifts used?

Singular Spirits: the company

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