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Summary
The global market for online photo albums has seen significant growth, driven in particular by the rise of e-commerce and customizable products. Online sales in France, a key player in this segment, posted a record performance in 2020, with sales reaching 147.9 billion euros, up 13.8% on 2021. French e-commerce sites benefited from the closure of physical stores during the pandemic, attracting a broad customer base from different age groups and socio-economic statuses. The market is moving towards consolidation with frequent acquisitions, as evidenced by major European groups and GAFAs entering the space, despite Apple's withdrawal in 2018. Google and Amazon remain active competitors. With the increased desire for physical memories, over 1,550 billion photos were taken daily in Western Europe in 2022.
Leading French players such as Photobox reported sales of 107.9 million euros in 2021, while others such as Cewe and Cheerz also held substantial market shares. The offering has diversified beyond photo albums to include a range of personalized products. Despite the market boom, logistical challenges such as first-mile management remain key factors in customer satisfaction. French regulatory frameworks also guide e-commerce operations in the country.
Overall, the online photo album market has seen robust growth and an evolution towards digital platforms, promising significant potential for the future given consumer demand for tangible memories.
French market analysis: nostalgic trends shape the evolution of photographic demand
Analysis of French market demand for online photo albums and photo printing services reveals a clear picture: a powerful mix of nostalgia and technology is at work. French consumers are looking for physical representations of their most cherished memories, which has made the creation of online photo albums a flourishing trend. The movement is particularly strong among French people who wish to preserve tangible elements of their personal history, as evidenced by the significant number of French citizens, between 70 and 80%, who continue to print their photos with the primary aim of creating photo albums.
This renewed interest in physical photographic memories coincides with a sharp rise in the number of photos taken daily in Western Europe - over 1,500 billion taken and shared every day thanks to modern technology. While this digital consumption shows no signs of slowing down, the French market demonstrates a tenacious and timeless demand for the physical counterpart. This desire is in line with global trends in online photo consumption, which have grown steadily, reinforcing the contrast between the ephemeral digital and the enduring physical. The important moments that motivate the creation of photo albums are major life events, with births, weddings and travel topping the list. These occasions represent sentimental milestones that the French wish to commemorate in a form that transcends the ephemeral nature of digital snapshots.
In terms of product preferences, French consumers lean towards photos that retain a sense of authenticity - natural, spontaneous photos that have not undergone digital enhancement are the favorite choice. This indicates a broader cultural appreciation of the preservation of "unfiltered" reality, suggesting that retouched and supercharged photographs may not have the same resonance in the marketplace. Even in the wider field of online retailing, the trend is towards product personalization, suggesting a future rich in opportunity for companies that can combine technological convenience with a bespoke human touch.
In conclusion, the French market shows a clear demand for a blend of tradition and innovation. The market landscape is shaped by an enduring attachment to paper and the appeal of personalization in photo printing, as consumers seek modern ways to satisfy age-old desires - to keep memories tangible and close at hand.
The main competitors in the French online photo album market
In the current landscape of the French online photo album market, several outstanding companies have distinguished themselves by their strong market presence, innovative offerings and business acumen. Although sales figures are not discussed here, the strategic position and contributions of each of these entities have played an important role in the evolution of the sector. Let's take a closer look at the main players mentioned in the full market analysis provided above.
- Photobox.fr (Photobox Group): Photobox has established itself as Europe's leading provider of personalized photo services, thanks to a significant online presence. Known for offering a wide range of customizable products, from photo albums to various photo printing products, Photobox has carved out a place for itself, particularly appreciated for gifts and the preservation of memories.
- Monalbumphoto.fr (Albelli): Acquired by the M6 group in 2010, then by the Dutch company Albelli, Monalbumphoto.fr has benefited from the strategic support of these groups, enabling it to grow and strengthen its market position. The company offers its customers user-friendly software for designing their own photo albums, which remain a popular choice for immortalizing life's special moments.
- Cewe.fr (Cewe Group): As a German industry giant, Cewe has not only demonstrated its power by acquiring Cheerz and German company Whitewall, but also by offering services under its own brand, such as photo books. The company's strength lies in its proprietary software, which sets it apart from its competitors, and in its commitment to product quality and customer service.
- Pixum.fr (Pixum Group): Pixum.fr is known for its vast selection of personalized photo products, pushing the boundaries of innovation and customer satisfaction. Although it doesn't reveal its sales figures, its impact on market trends is evident thanks to its strong brand presence and embrace of technology.
- Photoservice.com: Another major player, Photoservice.com, continues to benefit from its early entry into the market and has constantly adapted to digital change by creating an online platform that offers a variety of personalized photo services.
- Cheerz.com: Having gained in dynamism and visibility, Cheerz has placed itself in the spotlight thanks to simple yet effective mobile application solutions that enable customers to order photo prints and albums directly from their smartphone. This accessibility has made Cheerz a favorite among the tech-savvy.
- Lalalab.com: First acquired by Photoweb, then by the Cewe group, Lalalab has managed to maintain its brand identity by presenting quality products and services.
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- Last update : 20/04/2023
Summary and extracts
1 Market overview
1.1 Definition and presentation
With the emergence of online photo book sites in 2023, creating a photo album online has become a viral trend. Photo books have become the perfect gift to remind family and friends of beautiful memories. The online photo album market is a dynamic sub-segment of the photo printing market.
Photo printing is increasingly based on online photos. The attraction of creating online photo albums can be partly explained by the desire to save certain snapshots that may be lost due to a computer problem and the desire to create a personalized album. Driven by the increased use of smartphones, a boom in online commerce, and ever-higher-quality cameras, the French online photo album market is booming.
The French market is relatively fragmented, and competition is natural, given the large number of players present in the market. Nevertheless, the number of players is stabilizing: by 2023, the market will be structured between specialized players who have established themselves on a European scale and major European groups who are buying up national players. Moreover, web giants such as Amazon and Google have taken over the market in recent years, and long-established photographic players like Fujifilm and Fnac.
The offer is diversifying, from creating a simple personalized photo album to printing on other media (magnets, T-shirts, calendars, etc.). And some startups are making the most of their innovative positioning and effective communications, such as Famileo (particularly during the confinement period).
1.2 A high-potential global market
The growth of online photo albums is mainly due to the growth of online sales and the fact that this product lends itself particularly well to this. The freedom and flexibility that characterize these products, combined with the design potential (***), are expected to drive market growth.
This chart shows revenues for ...
1.3 A French market on the rise
The photography market:
The activity of professional photographers is recorded in the Insee nomenclature under NAF code **.**Z: Photographic activities. This code covers:
commercial or private photographic production: identity photography, class photography, wedding photography, advertising photography, publishing photography, fashion photography, real estate photography, tourism photography, aerial photography, and video production for ...
2 Demand analysis
2.1 E-commerce in France
Every year, the French e-commerce federation Fevad publishes an annual report. The latest edition presents a wealth of data on the state of the sector in France.
e-commerce sales trends France, ****-****, in billions of euros Source: ****
According to the report, **** was a record-breaking year for e-commerce. Online sales reached ***.* billion ...
2.2 Demand for physical souvenirs is real and timeless
Photo consumption in all its forms on the rise In ****, over *,*** billion photos were taken every day in Western Europe via smartphone ** million is the number of prints made by Cewe, Europe's leading photo printer, every year. [***].
What's more, global online photo consumption (***) has been growing overall since ****, and in the ...
2.3 French habits
Photos, mainly used to make photo albums:
Around three quarters of French citizens (***) in **** say they print their photos, mainly to create photo albums.
Response to the question "What do you do with your printed photos?" France, ****, in %
The main occasions for realising a photo album :
For the French, births, weddings ...
2.4 Seasonal demand for photo albums: a popular gift
The graph below shows the proportion of searches for a given term in a given region over a given period relative to when it was most searched for (***). Thus, a value of ** means that the keyword was used less frequently in the region concerned, and a value of * means that there ...
2.5 Audience analysis
ONLINE PHOTO ALBUM MARKET - Audience breakdown by age group France, ****, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, %, % Source: ****
Data analysis suggests that the audience in the market studied is mainly made up of people aged ** to ** (***). ONLINE PHOTO ALBUM MARKET - Audience breakdown by gender France, ****, % of total Semrusg The overall analysis of the market studied reveals ...
3 Market structure
3.1 Towards market consolidation: many players but common software
A host of players
In France, the market is fragmented, with many players, but the number is still very small. The low barriers to entry mean that many sites offer photo prints, and albums in particular, but it's safe to assume that with the growing interest in the sector, this offer ...
3.2 The takeover of specialist players by major European groups, and the GAFAs' offer
European-scale structuring
Historically, start-ups specializing in online photo development have addressed the French market, forming a relatively fragmented market around these players (***). In recent years, however, major European groups have taken over these specialized players. for example, German giant Cewe bought French company Cheerz and German company Whitewall in **** and ****. [***]
At ...
3.3 Managing the first kilometer
First-mile management for online retailers is becoming a major growth driver for small and medium-sized businesses, which do not yet have the logistical resources or shipment volumes to benefit from advantageous solutions and rates.
The first mile covers all the stages from receipt of an order on an e-commerce site (***).
The ...
4 Offer analysis
4.1 A highly diversified offering
The main offer
Competition has given rise to a wide variety of products. While album-editing software is often similar, competition comes in the form, printing method, number of pages, size, and materials used. The photo album itself can be adapted to suit different events (***)
Different formats:
There's no point in trying ...
4.2 Average prices by product type
The most standard photo book is the softcover photo book. It's the cheapest photo book on the market because it's the simplest and least expensive to design. For more upscale books, there's the hardcover book. This book is a little more expensive because it has a hardcover. Finally, there are also ...
4.3 Famileo, the return of the family photo album
Famileo is a French start-up that was founded in **** by Tanguy de Gélis and Armel de Lesquen. The company has set up an online service that enables the elderly to receive news from their loved ones through gazettes. Using the Famileo application, family members can write messages and share photos. ...
5 Regulations
5.1 Regulations
French law governing the conduct of online business is defined in a number of different regulatory texts. Some of these are specific to online commerce, while others apply to all commercial activities.
The main applicable regulations are as follows:
Law no. ****-*** of June **, **** for confidence in the digital economy, which ...
List of charts
- The global photo printing market
- E-commerce sales trend
- The age of online shoppers
- The most visited e-commerce sites
- Photographic activities market (File 7420Z)
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