Guest Article

By Karen Henrich

Soldes d'Hiver: Sales The French Way.

Most Parisians have a love/hate relationship with the soldes, the twice yearly government-regulated shopping extravaganza offering deep discounts. The bargains are fantastic but the crowds can be downright frightening! Just a few years ago, I ventured out on the first day (stupid) and fled with my life after only four hours (like an amateur), minus some skin and blood because a woman with razor-sharp, long nails had swiped a belt out of my hands (I still have a faint scar).

Why, I have wondered, does the French government incite such mayhem each year and not allow price reductions throughout the year, or whenever a merchant needs to clear out some merchandise? The government controls the sales, forcing store owners to allow their goods to be sold only during very specific times two months out of the year: January and July. In my mind, this rule produces a sluggish economy and fuels the ‘non-spending, scouting’ practice of Parisians: throughout the year, Parisians scout for the goods they want to buy months down the road during the soldes, thereby delaying buying. This concept goes against the very nature of commerce. 

Scouting before the soldes: No shopping bags

Okay, merchants are getting smarter. More often, we are seeing ‘mini-sales,’ with the cleverly-disguised names of 3J or something similar. But they can never, ever use the word soldes unless it’s during the specified times. This commerce tactic fascinates me, as do a lot of ways of the French.

I found my answer in the profoundly enlightening book titled Sixty Million Frenchmen Can’t Be Wrong by Jean-Benoit Nadeau & Julie Barlow. This book written by French Canadians who were paid to do a study of the French for two years (great gig!) is fascinating and provides in-depth reasons that are backed by deeply researched historical facts as to why the French behave as they do. Even my Parisian friends are fascinated to learn the reasons why they think/behave/act the way they do as researched and presented by this duo!

Nadeau and Barlow say that the law on the soldes dates back to practices of the merchants’ guild in the Middle Ages.  Guilds settled disputes amongst tradesmen and protected tradesmen against competition from other towns. Provosts (medieval cops) broke guild members’ legs if they broke the guild rules (ouch). Today, the system of policing prices and sales has evolved into the soldes, a practice that predates the discovery of America by at least three hundred years!

An interesting side-note about their book is that when it was first published, the sub-title was ‘Why We Love France But Hate the French’ (très intéressant) but has since been changed to ‘What Makes the French So French.’ Hmmm, perhaps some nasty Gallic backlash? The original version will surely become a collector’s item! Learn more on the authors’ site at http://www.nadeaubarlow.com.

Back to Les Soldes D’Hiver 2008. A waning US dollar is just one of the reasons that the City of Paris and other agencies have joined forces to promote the sales to tourists with its 'Soldes by Paris' initiative, in its second year. This year's soldes are held from January 9 to 20, 2008. I've got a suggestion: how about the novel idea of announcing the soldes dates a few months in advance so that visitors can actually plan their visits in time to coincide with the sales? Instead of just a few weeks before? Another one of the great French mysteries...

Soldes by Paris has a website and a welcome kit that is given out at participating stores, boutiques, agencies and hotels. A cute little plasticized bag with an adjustable handle contains a shopping guide book and a Paris map. The guide generally highlights five shopping routes: original, trendy, romantic, creative and chic. There are a few specific addresses listed and some coupons provided for further discounts from participating vendors.

I loved the following little gem the most from the guide. There is a test to discover which kind of Parisian you are, and ultimately, your preferred shopping route. Famous French actors are likened to each shopping type such as Catherine Deneuve for CHIC and Audrey Tatou for ROMANTIC. By far my favorite description is for the E Group (ORIGINAL): Eccentric, unconventional and crazy, just like Julie Depardieu, you are ORIGINAL and nondescript. Hmmm, I wonder how the Group E’s and the daughter of Gerard would like seeing themselves described this way! Crazy and nondescript.  

Crowds or no, now is the time to snag some legendary French fashion at reduced prices of up to 70% off. Best bargains are in the last few days, if you can wait that long and don't mind slimmer pickings.

Karen’s Soldes Survival Strategies:

1.    The night before, plan which items/areas you will hit the next day.

2.    Get a good night’s sleep.

3.    Be well hydrated, take a bottle of water with you that you can ditch later.

4.    Dress with a minimum of fuss to allow for on-the-spot try-ons. A great outfit to wear is leggings and boots that can easily come off. This way, you can try on a pair of pants or skirt without having to wait in line to try it on. This is often where people give up in frustration and pack it in. Wear a spaghetti strap top, with a light sweater over it. It can be very hot in some stores, and if you wear the right kind of sweater, you can easily take it off and tie it around your waist. This also allows for quick dress or top try-ons. Bring a light jacket that can be slung over your arm and a small over-the-shoulder bag with just your essentials like money, credit card and phone.

5.    Bring a light but tough plastic or cloth shopping bag to put your purchases in.

6.    Break up marathon shopping sprees with several ‘minis.’

Happy bargain-hunting!