Sold on ‘les Soldes.’ France’s summer sales begin.

And Prince 24's Solange Moussa now joins us in the studio to tell us more about this French tradition of Nissan. Did the sales that kick off today's Solange? The rules over what is considered a sale are actually quite strict in France, aren't they? Yeah, they really are. And we're going to have to break down some terms to better understand these sort of shopping bonanzas in France. In French, there are multiple words for discounts, les sold, promotion, von prive. And all of these are sales and discounts. But there are specific rules for businesses to use these terms to attract clients into their shops. As for les sold, these are bi annual sales and the rules here are the strictest of them. The summer ones, they sold de de generally begin on the last Wednesday of June and they sold de liver. The winter ones they normally start on the second Wednesday of January. Now there are exceptions though to this depending on the calendar year and on the location. Overseas territories and areas near Francis borders often have different rules, all of which are enforced by the DGCCRF or the anti fraud and consumerism body in France. Now they apply all of the legislation that's in place, which of course has changed over the years. Now currently Lessel can only last for four weeks. They used to be longer and have been altered because of changes in how we all shop. Now there are other rules as well. Shop owners must show the original price as well as the discounted one, as well as put only on sale items that were already in the in the shop at least a month before the sales began. But above all, the main difference between les sold and les promissions or smaller sales well is that they're sold. With the sold businesses can sell at a loss to get rid of their excess stock. During these mega sales, they are generally larger than the the discounts are generally larger than les promissions or the sales that pop up all year round. Now it does seem that you see more sales throughout the year, but they can sell at a loss. During this all is interesting. How did les solds get their start? Well, they're actually a French invention and specifically a Parisian one as well. In the early 1800s, stores with a little bit of everything, Les Nouvotes as they were called, they became fashionable as people had more disposable income to spend on frivolities, on nice things. One of these stores, Laputi Santomas on the Ludu back in the 7th around this month, Paris, well, it was quite a chic place to shop. And the legend goes that its founder, Seymour Manuri, had a surplus of fabric, the coupon they were called. And so in 1830, he decided to sell that excess amount of fabric at a discounted price and they sold, were born. Now, beyond this, Mr. Manoli was quite an inventive salesman. He is. It's also attributed to him for putting actual price tags on things, allowing shoppers to roam freely through the aisles. He also created a a mail order option for non Parisians. But the story doesn't stop there. One of his employees, an Aristide busico, would eventually go on to Co found the famous department store Le Beau Marche and it's through these grand magazine Le Beau Marche Le Prnton gallery Lafayette. The sales actually became seasonal and a very popular thing, so much so that in 19 O 6 the French government intervened and created intervened and created a law that with guidelines to the sale so that prices wouldn't keep dropping. And since then, there have been a series of laws that have kept up with how our habits when it comes to shopping have changed. Fascinating history of the way. So let's talk numbers now. How much do the French people spend compared to other nations? Well, France's sales laws are actually much stricter than many other European nations, many of which have sales periods, but they don't have the same set in stone laws, especially in regard to dates. And France is definitely a far cry from the big discounts all year that you find for example, some American shops. Although it's important to note the phenomenon of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Well, they are now a thing here in France as well as is on the opposite end of the spectrum, an anti sales sentiment that is growing among some people and also among some brands that now refuse sales with the argument that quality cost something. Nonetheless, the French, over 60% of them generally do participate in Lesald an opinion way. A poll found that their budget for these summer sales is €307.00, which is actually down from last year's budget of €362.00. So sales yes, but not as much shopping as before. And this is actually in line with studies that show that Fred the French spend less of their actual total household budget, just 3.8% on clothing and shoes. And that is actually less than mother other EU nations, Which is quite ironic considering that France is considered such a chic and fashionable place. Indeed, who would have thought it France 24, Solange Moujan with that fascinating history of they soaked here in France.