Is France closing for business? (1 Viewer)

Nov 25, 2013
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We are currently wandering around the Southern Loire region. Can't help but notice how many business including many restuarants and bakers have pulled the Shutters down and closed. Never have been sure how they actually make a living in the rural communities because whatever time of day you drive through communities there is never a soul about. An unemployment rate of 10 percent clearly has a lot to do with it but is there any other reason? Lunch time is the most important time of day when there are always a few lurking about in the eateries .
Is there something I have missed? Or have the French actually 'got it right' ?
 
Oct 12, 2008
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A lot of shops do shut for lunch time . We just have a different way of seeing things and lunch (meals in general) is a very important part of the day. Only tourists (well most of the time) want to buy things when it's lunch time, and most of the time there are not that many in small villages. So why would the shop keepers bother for just a few souls who are not French lol !The French will come and buy later. Not a lack of money , just using the time differently. Probably what make English feel life is more relax in France. Of course you still have lots of supermarkets which don't shut.
Also, a lot of shops in tourists areas would only work in summer, hoping to make some profit, then when school year starts again , they have another job in some nearby town factory/business.
Small villages have to cope with the fact that once school year has started again, they will lose money if they try to carry on with whatever business they have in summer.
May be the baker is the swimming pool warden in another town, the butcher might be an accountant somewhere else, the nurse might be chief of emergency department in the biggest hospital 20 kms away..... and so on ...! Villages live in summer from about mid May till end of August.
Same thing for campsites owners... shutting at the end of summer because they have to work during the year otherwise they won't be able to survive!!

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chrisgreen

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I thought France was on strike? tear gas being used on its own people at this very moment in Paris:(

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Snowbird

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The south generally closes on 31st of August. Some places reopen at Easter but many dont bother till the second week of July :).
 
Oct 12, 2008
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I thought France was on strike? tear gas being used on its own people at this very moment in Paris:(
It happens all the time Chris. Being on strike doesn't mean you're having fun, not going to work. Most of the time strikes are on during a bank hols or such so people can recover from wounds/itchy eyes. No..... "strikes" are not a fun way to live, just a way to fight for whatever you believe in. I get upset now and then when it's annoying my Little Life, and Routine, but I respect the people who are standing for their beliefs. At least they are trying to do something. This is more than what a lot of people do...moaning that is!

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Oct 12, 2008
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Loads of roadside cafes seem closed for good to me
Life in small villages can get really hard and complicated.
Also, people get older, give in, and there's no one to carry on after them. Young couples tend to want to live in bigger towns. Quite a few villages are completely abandoned.
Sad....
 
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Nov 25, 2013
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I have been coming to France for over thirty years during which there has been a steady decline in the Hospiality industry. The number of Logis have dramatically dropped mainly due to the very high employment taxes imposed by the Government. Lately the number of closures have extended to many businesses . How often do you find automated fuel pumps today?

Almost everywhere off the motorways. The numbers off Relais Routiers transport restuarants has drastically diminished . Their basis was providing a substantial meal for 10 francs. Not euros I would add.

When I mentioned shops closing it was on a permanent basis. A vendre or a louer in the window.

The Country is largely Agricultural thanks to the generous CAP . With more mechanisation less staff are required and there does not appear to be new job creation anywhere . They must be very jealous of our 4.9 per cent unemployment rate. However with a 35hour week being the norm with their Socialist Government and militant unions there seems to be a lack of light in the French Tunnel.

When you speak of multi job tasking Poland is the best example . Some years ago we were there and speaking to the waiters it was clear that most people have more than one job to make ends meet .

How would you manage that with a 35 hour week?

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Oct 12, 2008
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@martin2603 LOL .... don't ask me! I have 3 jobs and I work around 80 hours a week. This year a little bit less as I have given up 2 or 3 Wednesdays afternoons to make sure my mum rests whilst I look after my dad.
.....And this doesn't mean I earn for the 80 hours work !


As for the 35hours/week , basically it was to share the work among all the people being unemployed. Thing is, the charges for the employer are so high , they very often can't have more employees....well.... they do, but not in the legal way: it's what we call black work, under the table money.
Edit ...there are official figures .... and the rest!

 

Abacist

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The other considerable factors, like in our own country, are the huge quantity of motorways and by-passes that now mean that there is no passing trade to help sustain local shops, cafe/bars and restaurants. There are also now supermarkets and out of town shopping centres resulting in the reduction of viable shops etc in towns and villages. Add to that the fact that the locals don't have much local work any more and have to or have chosen to commute to a town or city instead. Sad but much the same as home!
 

snowdrops

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We are currently wandering around the Southern Loire region. Can't help but notice how many business including many restuarants and bakers have pulled the Shutters down and closed. Never have been sure how they actually make a living in the rural communities because whatever time of day you drive through communities there is never a soul about. An unemployment rate of 10 percent clearly has a lot to do with it but is there any other reason? Lunch time is the most important time of day when there are always a few lurking about in the eateries .
Is there something I have missed? Or have the French actually 'got it right' ?
They've got it right. We always adopt the french lunch while in France. Usually we're way down south so the 2 hour lunch is spent in the cool shade of restaurants. When in cooler climes tho, we know to have our lunchtime baguette ordered or bought in the morning. Just keep your fridge stacked with lovely cheeses, olives, hams etc and yawn your way through the 2 hours somewhere pretty. :)
 

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