Third Time's The Charm?

Nicolas Sarkozy is rumored to run for the 2017 French Presidential Election. After losing the 2012 election to François Hollande, Sarkozy is back and lobbying for the Republican nomination to fulfill his second five year term as President of France. 

There are multiple candidates running for the 2017 election however, only a few pose a threat to Sarkozy. But, should Sarkozy worry about his opponents or his past? One of the downsides of running for re-election is that people have preconceived ideas about you and articles on your past endeavors are passed around like candy. 

Do you think Sarkozy's campaign will be strong enough to win the election or do you think his time is over?

Soaring Your Product into a New Market

With the ever evolving technological advances, the consumer drone market is growing rapidly. So, it is important that you make sure your company is developing products that match the applications and marketing those products to the correct customer segments. There are three different customer segments in the drone market: military, commercial, and consumer drones. All three of these markets are extremely different. Knowing your target segment is imperative in order to be able to succeed in a booming industry.

Drones can be used by everyone and for almost everything; agriculture crop monitoring to surveillance to sporting events. As a result, the photographic equipment market is declining; 11% over just four years, because it does not offer the same multi-use functionality that drones have. This decline in photographic equipment offers a unique partnership for your company with this suffering industry because they are so closely related.

While there are many alternative ways to take photographs and videos, none pose a serious threat to drone manufacturers because their offerings are not even comparable to the complex and technologically advanced equipment that drones provide. In addition, there is no market leader yet recognized by the general public. So, consumers have low brand attachment which allows for market penetration. However, there is a lot of competition. This means that your company will have to have a competitive advantage in order to stand out and gain brand awareness.

French Institutions, Innovation Leaders

France has four schools on Reuter's Top 25 Global Innovators list. In fact France's Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) is #1 on the list. CEA is the first on this list because its research receives more patents than most government organizations. In addition, CEA's research has created 115 companies in the last decade. 

Other French institutions that placed on the list were: #5 National Center for Scientific Research, #10 French Institute of Health and Medical Research, and #17 Pasteur Institute International Network. While the United States had six Institutions that made the list, France is not far behind. 

Do You Want A Piece Of The $67.3 Billion Pie?

By 2018, the jewelry market is expected to reach $67.3 Billion. With the convenience of the internet, expanding your business into the United States is even easier. Online shopping is convenient and, typically, consumers can find lower prices. Ever since the recession, consumers have started to be more price sensitive. This is a major incentive for costume jewelry retailers because costume jewelry is cheaper than high-end jewels.

Another incentive is that no single company controls more than a 6% share of sales. Jewelry manufacturing in the United States has been declining because of strong foreign competition; so, the United States has started to produce their product overseas. This opens a huge window for companies, like you, wanting to expand into the United States because the brand loyalty just is not there anymore. Since the recession, people are more price sensitive and have less brand loyalty, especially if the products are not even made in the United Sates. As a result, they are open to changing brands if they like the quality, aesthetics and price.

In addition, the second largest customer segment for buying jewelry are people between 24 and 35 years old. This customer segment has the lowest income, yet, spend a lot of money on jewelry. So, providing them access to jewelry that is more affordable and versatile is one effective way to penetrate the market.

Since costume jewelry is less event-centric, people buy it more often and year-round rather than just around the holidays. In addition, more men are starting to wear jewelry which expands the customer market making the demand for jewelry even larger.

In the United States, there is something for everyone. By knowing how to leverage your product and which way to promote your business, you can successfully expand your business into the United States.

Far Right? Or Far Wrong?

"An American Election is a World Election"

In light of recent political activity, the French-American relationship continues to be strained. President Hollande reinforces his disapproval for Republican American Presidential candidate, Donald Trump. Hollande stated that "an American election is a World election" which could prove to be interesting if far-right Front leader Marine Le Pen runs in the upcoming 2017 French presidential election. Hollande believes that if Le Pen and Trump win, "It could lead to a very strong turn to the right in the world."

Tea-ing Off Into America

Shift towards a healthier lifestyle opens the market for international companies looking to expand 

Health and wellness is quickly becoming more and more of a concern for people. One small step people are taking towards this healthier lifestyle is drinking more tea and less coffee. The gourmet coffee shop market has been steadily declining for the past five years. This provides a gap that needs to be filled and is being done so by the high quality tea market.

In the United States, over 22% of the population drinks tea. In general, tea consumption increased with age; however, this trend is shifting. The largest tea consumer groups are now urbanites and hipsters under the age of 34 years old. While women still consume more tea than men, this new consumer group in comprised of more men than women. This shows a shift in tea consumption and broadens the market.

Despite the US recession, the sales of tea did not slow down. Instead, the positioning encouraged consumers to learn more about what they were paying for. This led to the opening of boutiques and artisan teashops.

Premiumsation trends tend to anchor tea consumers to higher quality teas. Manufacturers use a health and wellness image of tea from exotic countries and use perceptions of high-end quality to justify these higher prices. The entry barriers for this market are quite low because of the low capital intensity of the market. Also, this market has risen close to 9% in the past four years. Companies need to leverage these health and wellness and premiumsation trends for added value.

Have Your Cake and Eat It Too?

Britain exits the EU but still relies on French to build nuclear power plant.

It was confirmed, by a mere 10:7 vote, that EDF will build the 18 billion pound nuclear power plant in Hinkley Point. The project has been in debate since 2007 but has experienced set backs, until now. 

This new plant in Hinkley Point will provide seven percent of UK power and will help them cut their carbon emissions. So, for the UK this new plant is crucial. 

On the other hand, the French are split on their opinion of this new contract. While the French unions say the project is too big and costly for EDF, the company says that the project will be profitable. In addition, the French government believes the project will support the French nuclear industry over the next decade

What are your thoughts? Do you think that this project will be profitable and beneficial for everyone? Or, do you agree with the unions that it will ultimately lead to the decline of EDF?