The "Made in France" fever

Here is the literal translation of the blog post:

7 out of 10 French people say they are in favor of turning toward Made in France products (Appinio study, 2021). For customers, Made in France implies that the country of manufacture of a product is France and that the quality of the product results from unique expertise and the use of predominantly French raw materials.

In reality it is far more complex than that: Made in France, Fabriqué en France, Origine France Garantie, France Terre Textile, etc. We are talking about labels and markings, and it is not so simple to say that a product was manufactured in France. Let us take stock.

"Made in France is really great…" — Gérard Depardieu

Made in France, concretely what is it?

"Made in France" marking, optional mention and other rules

The "made in France" marking, regulated by the General Directorate for Enterprise according to the non-preferential rules of origin established by the EU, attests that a product has been totally or partially manufactured in France. This type of marking is not mandatory in Europe for manufactured products (it is different for agricultural, food, or cosmetic products). For the DGE, a "made in France" product must meet two criteria:

• "Derive a significant share of its value or one or more of its manufacturing stages located in France"
• "Have undergone its last substantial transformation in France"

Thus, a product whose raw materials are not French, but which was produced in France, can bear this mention. However, European authorities monitor this mention fairly rigorously.

Beware of abuses

Made in France is very popular in 2022, which is why the "Made in France" marking is often misappropriated in order to make consumers believe that this or that product is manufactured in France. Thus "designed in France," "packaged in France," or a small blue-white-red flag on the packaging is a nasty marketing trick! The regulations are still vague and have no power over these abuses of language or the use of the flag. In short, be vigilant — not just anyone can claim to be made in France! The one and only "Made in France" marking is regulated by customs officers, and it is possible to make inquiries.

The famous indications celebrating tricolor expertise

It is not easy to recognize a genuinely made in France product, as the regulations are still vague and the Customs Code still allows for free interpretation of this label. But there are more regulated labels.

The Origine France Garantie (OFG) label, created in 2010, is a certification for products meeting a very precise set of specifications, approved by the National Assembly. Two major criteria: the place where the product takes on its essential characteristics must be in France, and at least 50% of the unit cost price must be acquired in France.

The EPV (Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant) label, established by the French State, distinguishes French companies with excellent artisanal and industrial expertise for a period of five years.

The Terre Textile label celebrates the expertise of the Alsace, Vosges, Nord, Champagne, and Rhône-Alpes regions, and each beneficiary is audited.

The Appellations d'Origine Contrôlée and Protégée (AOC and AOP) refer to products whose entire production stages have been carried out in the same region. The AOC is a first step toward the AOP, recognized at the union level. For a less difficult label to obtain, it is possible to apply for the IGP (Protected Geographical Indication).

The future is tricolor

Why choose Made in France?

Today, 8 out of 10 French people are convinced that French production is a guarantee of quality (Opinion Way). Since the coronavirus crisis, more than 60% of consumers say they have incorporated French products into their purchases, particularly everyday fashion. Indeed, there are several reasons that push them to consume locally.

First — ecology: made in France is good for the planet, no need for transportation if it is produced locally, and we know the origin of the product better. Second, the economy: by buying French products we are relaunching the French economy, since we are financing tricolor companies. We avoid importing products from distant lands and no longer financing other countries. We slow down unemployment and relocation phenomena: as long as there is demand, supply will follow! Finally — consuming French is also celebrating traditions and expertise and protecting workers. The Uyghur scandal is no secret — buying made in France means avoiding financing this modern-day slavery!

Relocation, reindustrialization — change starts now!

In 2022 our economy is undergoing a metamorphosis. It was nonetheless shameful when France was unable to produce the necessary equipment to face the Covid-19 virus. In 2021, French industry experienced a prosperous period with more than 120 new factories (176 openings and 56 closures), a record year! The government greatly helped industrialists through a program aimed at accelerating the opening of factories. In addition to openings, 87 French companies chose to repatriate their production to France — a 290% increase versus 2020! Incredible. On employment, 2021 marks a particular year, the year when French industry created almost as many jobs as the digital sector (wow!). In 2022, the economic context is more complex: energy crisis, war in Ukraine, inflation — French SMEs must face serious problems and adjust accordingly. We must hold on! The reindustrialization of the territory is well underway, but the road is fraught with obstacles!

Bonx, the Made in France ERP

SMEs, the forgotten victims of digitalization

With Bonx, we have had the opportunity to exchange with a hundred or so French industrialists and it is clear that in terms of digitalization our SMEs are not at the top: outdated software. Heard during a visit: "we use an ERP software that is no longer maintained, but the retired CEO of that company helps us maintain it" or "well the devices… if there's a storm, they stop working." It is quite shocking. On a more positive note, France Num has launched a digital transformation barometer for very small and small-to-medium enterprises. In 2021, 66% of these companies had a website (versus 37% before Covid). Digital tools are starting to be adopted, slowly…

Digitalizing and offering the keys to performance

Bonx was created with this desire to offer ultra-high-performance software at an unbeatable price (versus old-model ERPs in particular) in order to be able to manage industrial processes with complete ease. We therefore opted for a no-code cloud ERP that can integrate with the best-of-breed CRM, invoicing, HR, or accounting solutions! One objective: to give you total control of your production data. Enjoy customized views, accessible in real time and simple to set up and modify! Bonx is also even easier to use than Hubspot or Pipedrive in particular! Ultra-simple to get to grips with, any operator can learn to enter data and format it, whether on a computer, tablet, or smartphone! Never seen before! The idea is to help French SMEs become efficient and competitive, and thus indirectly encourage French people to consume locally and to reinvigorate French territory!

Dear SMEs, Bonx is the industrial ERP you need and we have even thought of a Made in France offer, if you have the label! For now it is a secret, but we can already discuss it! Come on, shall we show you Bonx?