The average French household looks pretty similar to that of the UK and similar socio-economic trends are at work. The proportion of households who own their principal home has grown steadily from 50% in 1984 to a 56% in 2003. Of these owners, 6 out of 10 have paid off their mortgages. Another 38% of dwellings are rented and this is split about evenly between the social and private sectors.
Both demographic and social changes have increased the demand for smaller size accommodation, while rising living standards are pushing for greater space. The average size of the French household is 2.4 people and about a third of households are comprised of a single person.
One of the most significant changes in the French DIY market is the emergence of the female DIYer.
Whereas it was a rare exception to find a Frenchwoman tinkering with screwdrivers and paintbrushes 20 years ago, a poll conducted in 2003 found that 80% of French women confess to doing DIY around the house on a regular basis.
The same poll found that 56% of the DIY projects of a couple are initiated by the woman and that nearly two-thirds exceeded their initial budget. The rise of the DIY-woman in France is the single most important factor influencing the retail sector at the moment.
