Meetings

Business Cards Help Build Relations

The French don’t have a set formality to exchange business cards, but exchanging them after the initial meeting is considered the appropriate time. Include your advanced academic degrees on your business card. To help build the relations with the French, have the other side of your business card translated in French. This will show that you have a valued interest even though it is not a business necessity.

French Business Meetings Style

Doing business in France you need to make sure you set up the meetings at least 2 weeks in advance. Appointments can be made by phone, letter, or e-mail. Do not schedule any meetings during their common vacation times during the months of July or August.

Punctuality is not like it is in the United States. Being 15 minutes late is perfectly acceptable and further down south, the more flexible this becomes. The French are quite relaxed in this affair. Even though they are relaxed, do not appear over friendly or ask personal questions. Don’t just sit anywhere, wait until they instruct you where to sit. The French don’t look at meetings as a place to decide, but more for discussions. The decisions are generally made at the top of the company rather than from the meeting room. They are more receptive to low-key, rational presentations and arguments are clearly states the main topics.

The Finer Points of Negotiations

Business is conducted slowly so you will have to be patient and not seem ruffled by the strict procedure on how they do business meetings. Negotiations become passionate to the French so you will be judged on your ability to present your agreements logically. Never exaggerate when presenting your topics of discussion; the French appreciate stable, truthful, and open discussions. Debating skills will help in showing your knowledge in all aspects in the business deal.

Meeting can get intense and argumentative which is where debating skills can be an asset. If you have reached a stalemate in business negotiations, you will need to try to approach issues from different angles. When an agreement is reached, the French may insist a well-organized, precisely worded, and comprehensive contract. 

Proper Gift Giving Etiquette

• Never send a gift for a colleague to their home address.
• Never send gifts with the company logo imprinted on them
• When you’re going to give a gift, make it a good quality one wrapped beautifully or none at all.
• When invited over to someone’s home, always bring a gift for the hostess.
• Give flowers in odd numbers, but not 13 it’s considered unlucky.
• Give the highest quality of wine you can afford is appreciative by the French

Work cited

Http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/france-country-profile.html. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 May 2013.

Http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/etiquette/doing-business-france.html. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 May 2013.

"Foreign Translations, Inc." French Business Etiquette Tips. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2013.

"French Business Etiquette Tips." French Business Etiquette Tips. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 May 2013.

"Encyclopedia of the Nations." France. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 May 2013.

Http://talkvietnam.com/2012/11/promotion-of-cooperative-relationships-between-da-nang-and-french-localities/. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 May 2013.

Http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-11-26/in-the-tax-battle-its-banks-2-france-0. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 May 2013.