Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
residential, estate agent. Standard business leases are for
nine years unless prior agreement is reached for another time
frame. The lease will be renewed automatically for the same
duration unless the tenant informs the landlord (or vice versa)
Do shake hands at the beginning of a meeting and
just before leaving.
Do make sure that you have a business card ready
to exchange at meetings and social events. It should
contain your name and title, business affiliation, fixed
telephone line and mobile numbers, fax number, email
address and website of your company. Self-service
machines for printing namecards can be found in some
train stations and supermarkets.
Papeteries
(stationery
stores) make stylish cards, but may take some time to
be ready.
Don't mistake a seemingly cold formality for lack
of interest. Similarly, heated discussions and even
negative comments about ideas and proposals may
indicate a high interest in the project.
Don't automatically assume that the French still like
long business lunches. Long business lunches are less
popular than in the past, owing to time constraints
and the tendency to eat and drink less during business
hours. Nonetheless, lunch is still seen as a pleasant
method to cement a business relationship, but not to
close a deal.
Do not expect to have finalised orders or agreements
after a first meeting, which is generally seen as an
opportunity to size up the company or product.
Lastly, take into account that in August nothing will
get done, for there is no one around to do it. (This
also means that if your business depends on a year-
round cash flow, you should understand that Parisians
disappear in August and sometime around Christmas
and Easter.)
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