-
Which Cora supermarkets in France are rebranding to Carrefour?
The changeover will be gradual and in three stages, with no job losses expected
-
Five things they do not tell you about… shopping in France
Navigating the etiquette, from greeting shopkeepers to market manners
-
French supermarkets to begin ‘automatic refunds’: how will this work?
The refunds will come into force from 2025 and are intended to encourage recycling packaging
Quoi de neuf - French shopping in March 2020
New products, designs and gift ideas from around France. This month: pop-up landmarks, shoes for little feet, natural skincare, and nice stacks
Paris pop-ups give landmarks 3D edge
French folding genius Dominique Ehrhard is a paper engineer and illustrator best known for a series of children’s colouring books focusing on the history and monuments from different regions of France.
His works are regularly shown in galleries both here and abroad.
Now he has turned his skills to the capital’s iconic locations, with his incredible pop-ups of Paris: Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, Hôtel des Invalides, the Louvre, Notre Dame, Place des Vosges, Centre Pompidou and Sacré-Coeur.
Designed with a retro feel aimed at mimicking travel guides from the past, it makes a very cool gift idea for any Paris lover.
Price $19.95 from Universal (from Rizzoli).
French-made for little feet
The Bopy shoe brand is steeped in history – more than 100 years ago, its founder Pierre Humeau was so passionate about creating footwear that he began working for a local shoemaker aged just 12 (with his mother’s permission!).
Today the firm, based at Beaupréau-en-Mauges in Maine-et-Loire, has 140 artisan shoemakers crafting a wide range of high quality footwear for youngsters of all ages and shoe sizes (16–41), with the clear focus on comfort and foot care.
So if you have some little people in your life, check out their website or find a local outlet.
It’s only natural
Solavie is a new active skincare range for both men and women from PhytoQuant, a Monaco-based cosmetics and skincare firm with Nicola Frassanito at the helm.
Made using 100 natural ingredients “harvested from nature... to offer an infinite life source for your facial skincare ritual,” Solavie promises “vitality and regeneration for your skin”.
The complete range ‘for her’, with cleansing milk, toning lotion, revitalising serum, nourishing cream and de-stress eye contour cream: €306.
Stacking up nicely
CUBIX is a stylish French furniture concept using modular units that allows you to create a bespoke design for shelving or bookcases in your office, sitting room or even kitchen.
Using the 19mm thick panels and connecting corner plugs, you can compose unique pieces of furniture to your required dimensions, and to match your existing interior decoration.
You can also choose from a wide range of colours, including oak, graphite grey, beige.
CUBIX products are entirely French-made using sustainably sourced wood.
See the website for design inspiration and to configure and order your units.