The French Furniture Association has raised concerns over the rise of "fast home decor," highlighting the declining share of French-made furniture in domestic sales. Only 37% of furniture sold in France is now produced locally, down from 77% in the early 2000s, while imports, particularly from China, have surged.
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Cathy Dufour, General Delegate of Ameublement Français, attributed this trend to aggressive pricing by platforms such as Temu, Shein, and AliExpress, the growth of e-commerce, and the globalisation of supply chains. A recent study found that 25% of French households bought decoration products and 10% purchased furniture from Temu in the past year.
Testing revealed widespread non-compliance with safety, environmental, and consumer protection standards. Children's bunk beds, deck chairs, and changing tables were particularly hazardous, failing regulations and posing risks of falls, strangulation, or entrapment.
The Association urged consumers to be wary of unusually low prices, inconsistent product descriptions, and vendors lacking a French contact. They also called for stronger European market surveillance and platform accountability to prevent illegal products undermining domestic manufacturers.
Dufour stressed the need for French brands to strengthen their visibility, emphasising repairability and service as competitive advantages.
Source: www.maisonapart.com
