It’s the first Italian furniture importer and it will be the same for very long time. France loves Italian furniture style enough to overtake Germany and USA, respectively second and third place in the great admirers list of Made in Italy.
According to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, France imported Italian furniture for over 1 billion and 400 million euro in 2016 with a turnover increase for more than 73 million euro compared with the previous year. Even the balance of the period January-August confirms a growth of around 3,7% by comparing the same periods in 2016-2017 (according to the Italian Trade Agency).
Likewise, the annual sector report of CSIL (Italian Centre for Industrial Studies) points out the relevant position of the French country confirmed as the first Italian export destination with a share of 14% and an unstoppable view to growth in 2018.
Looking at references, France also holds the absolute primacy in Italian kitchen furniture import. The Italian furniture manufacturers association Federlegno notes a value of about 71,5 million of euro exported Italian kitchens in France in 2016 overtaking USA with their 50 million of euro. Precisely because of this sector development, Gabriele Magliola is setting up a commercial network aiming at increasing his customer portfolio and representing an Italian company producing high style kitchens (interested agents can write to: info@gabrielemagliola.com).
And if numbers speak for themselves, product values explain the reason of this preference, too. In fact, French people love Italian furniture quality, the use of several woods for different rooms (such as the rosewood in the kitchen and dark solid wood in the bedroom), modern and functional design, environmental sustainability about materials and production processes.
So, Italian manufacturing has a strong potential without losing its classic roots. Magazines show it directing French people’s needs. The prestigious design magazine Ideat and the popular furniture website Houzz.fr agree that 2018 will be dominated by an ergonomic well-being, a minimalist modularity and by natural materials and colors. It’s about the so-called Scandinavian style which leaves room to creative eclecticism and eco-compatibility: features present in Italian product more than anywhere else.
With reference to the sustainability loved by French people, Italian furniture industry is the most virtuous in Europe about saving electricity and containing emissions, according to the Federlegno report, Made in Italy lives the future – Legno Arredo towards the circular economy, Fondazione Symbola and FederlegnoArredo, 2016.
Focusing on the waste reduction, Italian furniture environmental performance is important, even if it is not a primacy: 15,5 tons of waste for one million of euro produced better than Germany (15,8), but worse than Spain (7), UK (13) and France (10).
Last one is a fundamental aspect for those companies that wish to operate in the French market. Starting from 2012, in fact, transalpine regulatory framework obliges all furniture chain operators to contribute to the costs related to the waste collection and treatment inherent to furniture placed on the market. Since 2013 an eco-contribution is indicated and invoiced in the retail.
For the fulfilment of the obligations, producers and distributors get together in an eco-organization approved by the State, called Eco-mobilier. In just 5 years, it has recovered and recycled 90% of used furniture and aims to “Zero Landfill” within 2023.