The street furniture market - France

Street furniture is defined by the book Aménager les espaces publics - le mobilier urbain as"all public or private objects or devices installed in the public space and linked to a function or service offered by the community". A distinction can be made between specialized furniture (specific installations designed for particular or specific uses in the urban environment) and functional furniture (furniture designed to meet the everyday needs of citizens and the practical layout of urban space), although the most distinctive - and lucrative - segment remains advertising furniture. This market, worth 947 million euros in 2022, is dominated by a handful of players competing to win long-term contracts with the various local authorities, the most emblematic of which is JC DeCaux. The market went through two difficult periods, the first before 2017, which came to an end thanks to renewed interest caused by changes in the French urban landscape, and the second during the pandemic. This growing interest on the part of the French in the development of their city centers, coupled with the innovations surrounding the smart city concept, and the rising costs of the raw materials used in the construction of furniture have contributed to the ever-increasing size of the street furniture market. This rise in costs is proving a particularly tough challenge: in 2022, the index rose by almost 30 points for both wood and steel production. This increase has had a direct impact on local authority spending on urban development.