the backpack market | France

1.1 Market presentation

A backpack is a bag that is carried on the back that holds the weight of its contents on the shoulders through padded and adjustable straps and sometimes even on the hips through a belt. The capacity of its volume is expressed in liters and ranges from half a dozen liters for racing bags to a hundred liters for trekking and mountain models.

Different types of backpacks are included in our market analysis:

• School, sports and hiking backpacks;
• Backpacks for everyday and urban use;
• Leather backpacks.

The global backpack market is growing, with a positive evolution forecast of more than 5% per year in the coming years, driven in particular by consumption in China and the Asia-Pacific region, while the American market, on the other hand, is progressively weakening.

France is a major player on the European market, both in terms of consumption and production, with a rather high-end/premium positioning based on the know-how of the textile and leather goods sectors. 

The competitive landscape is characterized by the presence of many players positioned in the different product segments. There are strong competitive tensions both in terms of distribution location, selling prices and the search for originality. 

There are 3 main types of manufacturers that directly influence the French backpack market: 

-New entrants positioned in niche segments;
-Manufacturers of leather goods and specialized accessories;
-Generalist textile manufacturers.

We identify 3 types of major backpack distributors in France:

-Specialized or non-specialized importers; 
-Agents representing a foreign trademark; 
-Distributors of textiles and leather goods, specialized or not. 

The trade in backpacks is regulated, particularly in terms of import and production abroad.