France in Focus

Just been to Mr.Bricolage in Saint Junien half price and 35% off its a fire sale, the whole group is in danger, lots of stores to close and bankruptcy knocking at the door, same as Lapeye, Gifi, Mr Mensuiers even Leroy Merlin are closing some stores, some of the smaller stores are blaming the bigger ones the bigger ones are blaming the like of Amazon. We have shopped at Mr.Bricolage for twenty years and always wondered how they could keep going with the likes of Amazon, todays example Galvanized post stands Brico price 24€ each, Amazon similar stand, same dimensions thickness of metal etc 47€ for four of them! delivery on Wednesday to my house, there will be a lot more Iam sure. Find out more here. ProcedureCollective.fr

I haven't seen a Mr. Bricolage around here for over ten years. The nearest one closed down after announcing a 50% discount on all remaining stock. I was going to do a bit of shopping in the Carrefour next door to the Brico and thought it funny that there were very few shopping carts to be had. Then I noticed people coming out of the Brico loaded with stuff in Carrefour trolleys. I went in to see and it was like sharks in a feeding frenzy. I picked up a few tins of paint and lazure that at half price were just about worth it.

I can't imagine anything I have bought in a Brico that could be had from Amazon. No longer travelling to UK or knowing anyone that does has forced me to shop mostly online. Too few useful shops within sensible driving distance and the hassle of timing the trip to avoid the "Black Hole", not to mention the crazy prices once you find them open.

Not only in France, but also further north.

We used to shop at M. Bricolage Saint Junien in the days when I could drive. No DIY now (I can't and OH has 3 left hands) so I have to pay artisans to do stuff I'd have done myself in the past. Good for the economy but none of them has employees. That I understand, having spent most of my 35 years here self-employed. Earn €100, give €60 to the state - hence all the "wonderful" benefits France gives you! Hence also the black (cash) economy that thrives. What makes me spit most is the pittance of a pension I get, despite the enormous sums handed over at gunpoint to gens de bureau with golden pensions.
I have a great femme de ménage paid under Cesu: we pay her and we pay her social charges* too, so 150% of her salary. We get 50% back as a crédit d'impôt, burt surely there's a simpler way of doing things...?
* To finance her benefits: health, pension, etc.

On Monday I'm seeing a gardener, also paid under one of the crédit d'impôt systems, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she's a real gardener, not a blitz merchant as so many have been.

Rant over.

Just an update we went back yesterday, to Brico got a Invicta stove for my workshop, 35% off and a load of gravel and an outdoor set of table and chairs 50% off, got talking to a staff member it appears that this store has been sold to Brico Depot, so all staff re-employed, but it closes in April for a few months while alterations take place.

Another problem is the startup incentive, you dont have to pay any tax for the first year of trading, but it is only deferred, so it all has to be paid back by the third year, which is why you get loads of three year businesses, with them going broke on the third year.

widge wrote: ↑Wed Mar 04, 2026 8:49 am Another problem is the startup incentive, you dont have to pay any tax for the first year of trading, but it is only deferred

Ah, this explains a lot. I figured something like this must contribute to the closing of businesses - that often seems quick (within a year or two of opening).

widge wrote: ↑Wed Mar 04, 2026 8:49 am Another problem is the startup incentive, you dont have to pay any tax for the first year of trading, but it is only deferred, so it all has to be paid back by the third year, which is why you get loads of three year businesses, with them going broke on the third year.

widge wrote: ↑Wed Mar 04, 2026 8:49 am you dont have to pay any tax for the first year of trading

Not IR perhaps (I can't remember that far back!) but social charges were always crippling. Yes, I'm getting some of it back now, but I'd prefer a fairer pension and to pay artisans normally.

25 years ago DIY, renovations, conversions, extensions and invasion from UK (including me) was like a tsunami. New bricos were appearing everywhere and the existing ones doubled in size. Everyone was happy.
M. Bricolage seemed to have TV advertising under their control including the Meteo sponsorship. I rarely notice them now. Lapeyre had an excellent range of double glazed windows, some made to measure. I bought one as a test of my ability to fit it. It was a great success but then their range of goods contracted and I was unable to buy anymore.
I hope the collapse doesn’t extend to Bricomarche which our local source of almost everything.

Unlikely to happen around here. Bricomarche in Guingamp has recently moved into larger purpose-built premesis. Nearly as big as LeRoy Merlin which is an hours drive away. There are a couple of builders' merchant type places in the area but don't keep much in stock and where they do, they don't put a shelf price on it. Makes it a real pain to work to a budget. My "Go to" brico used to be Brico Depot untill last year when they did away with the tills and make you do the scanning yourself. That's a slap in the face seeing as there are often more staff than customers in there and those staff are reticent to actually assist customers.