Normandy and digital: regional economy in transition

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The Normandy region develops a solid e-commerce ecosystem with 3,913 businesses recorded, representing 3.8% of the French national market. This performance confirms the digital transformation of a historically industrial and maritime region.

Key regional figures:

  • 3,913 active e-commerce businesses
  • 11th national ranking for digital businesses
  • Dominant model: B2C (64.2% of businesses)
  • Preferred CMS: WooCommerce (46.1% of sites)

Distribution by department

Leading departments in Normandy

  1. Seine-Maritime (76): 1,286 businesses (32.9% of regional total)
    • Ultra-dominant professional services: 869 businesses (67.6%)
    • Developed B2B: 806 businesses (62.7%)
    • CMS: WooCommerce 45.1%, PrestaShop 22.5%, Shopify 22.6%
  2. Calvados (14): 1,089 businesses (27.8% of regional total)
    • Professional services: 698 businesses (64.1%)
    • Significant B2B: 588 businesses (54.0%)
    • CMS: WooCommerce 46.4%, PrestaShop 23.0%, Shopify 20.1%
  3. Eure (27): 669 businesses (17.1% of regional total)
    • Dominant industrial B2B: 385 businesses (57.5%)
    • Professional services: 366 businesses (54.7%)
    • CMS: WooCommerce 44.2%, PrestaShop 24.5%, Shopify 20.6%
  4. Manche (50): 586 businesses (15.0% of regional total)
    • Professional services: 311 businesses (53.1%)
    • Developed tourism: 228 businesses (38.9%)
    • CMS: WooCommerce 51.9%, PrestaShop 22.7%, Shopify 15.9%
  5. Orne (61): 283 businesses (7.2% of regional total)
    • Ultra-dominant industrial B2B: 196 businesses (69.3%)
    • Professional services: 176 businesses (62.2%)
    • CMS: WooCommerce 42.0%, PrestaShop 23.3%, Shopify 22.3%

Analysis of sectors in Normandy

Top 5 most represented sectors

  1. Professional Services: 2,420 businesses (61.8%)
    • Dominant sector of the region
    • Digitalization of services to businesses
    • Norman tertiary transformation
  2. Business to Business: 2,268 businesses (58.0%)
    • Digitalized industrial tradition
    • Maritime and agribusiness sectors
    • Manufacturing innovation
  3. Home & Garden: 1,417 businesses (36.2%)
    • Norman art of living
    • Digitalized rural craftsmanship
    • Modernized traditional habitat
  4. Travel & Hospitality: 1,112 businesses (28.4%)
    • Coastal and heritage tourism
    • Digitalized Norman hospitality
    • Green and historical tourism
  5. Health & Beauty: 965 businesses (24.7%)
    • Wellness and thalassotherapy
    • Natural beauty products
    • Marine cosmetic innovation

E-commerce technologies preferred

Most used CMS in Normandy

  1. WooCommerce: 1,804 sites (46.1%)
  2. PrestaShop: 903 sites (23.1%)
  3. Shopify: 804 sites (20.5%)
  4. Magento: 124 sites (3.2%)
  5. Other solutions: 278 sites (7.1%)

Regional specificities:Normandy favors WooCommerce (46.1%), slightly above the national average (45.5%). PrestaShop maintains strong implantation (23.1% vs 20.3% national), testifying to loyalty toward French solutions.

National comparison: The balanced adoption of the three main CMS (46.1% / 23.1% / 20.5%) reflects mature technological diversification.

Business models in Normandy

B2B vs B2C vs D2C

  • B2B: 657 businesses (16.8%)
    • Above national average (14.9%)
    • Strong industrial tradition
  • B2C: 2,513 businesses (64.2%)
    • Dominant regional sector
    • Tourism and local consumption
  • D2C: 676 businesses (17.3%)
    • Below national average (23.0%)
    • Local craftsmanship in development

Comparative analysis

The 16.8% B2B / 64.2% B2C / 17.3% D2C distribution reveals an industrial region oriented toward B2C with developed B2B but D2C behind on national commercial innovation.

In-depth departmental focus

Seine-Maritime (76) - The Norman economic hub

With 1,286 e-commerce businesses, Seine-Maritime represents 32.9% of the regional digital ecosystem, confirming the economic leadership of the Rouen metropolitan area and Le Havre.

Specific economic profile:

  • Professional services: 869 businesses (67.6% of the department)
  • B2B: 806 businesses (62.7% of the department)
  • Home and garden: 445 businesses (34.6% of the department)

Preferred technologies:

  • WooCommerce: 580 sites (45.1%) - Slightly below regional average
  • PrestaShop: 289 sites (22.5%) - In line with average
  • Shopify: 291 sites (22.6%) - Above regional average

Economic models:

  • B2B: 221 businesses (17.2%) - Close to regional average
  • B2C: 813 businesses (63.2%) - Slightly below average
  • D2C: 217 businesses (16.9%) - Below regional average

Calvados (14) - Norman balance

1,089 businesses with a balanced profile between services (64.1%) and B2B (54.0%), illustrating economic diversification of the territory.

Orne (61) - Industrial specialization

283 businesses with ultra-dominant B2B specialization (69.3%), a regional record reflecting the industrial vocation of the department.

Remarkable departmental specificities

Norman technological homogeneity

WooCommerce stable everywhere:

  • Manche: 51.9% (regional record)
  • Calvados: 46.4%
  • Seine-Maritime: 45.1%
  • Eure: 44.2%
  • Orne: 42.0%

PrestaShop resistant:

  • Eure: 24.5% vs 23.1% regional average
  • Maintained loyalty toward French solutions

Shopify moderate:

  • Seine-Maritime: 22.6% (urban adoption)
  • Orne: 22.3% (surprising for a rural department)
  • Manche: 15.9% (lower adoption)

Sector specializations by territory

Seine-Maritime - Metropolitan services:

  • 67.6% of professional services (regional record)
  • 62.7% of B2B businesses (economic hub)
  • Urban concentration Rouen-Le Havre

Orne - Rural industry:

  • 69.3% of B2B businesses (regional record)
  • Digitalization of traditional industries
  • Affirmed manufacturing vocation

Manche - Coastal tourism:

  • 38.9% of tourism businesses (regional record)
  • Digitalized coastal economy
  • Heritage and nature valued

Controlled geographic concentration

Balanced leadership:

  • Seine-Maritime + Calvados: 60.7% of total
  • Homogeneous distribution across territory
  • No hyper-concentration of metropolitan area

Maintained rural development:

  • Orne: 7.2% despite rurality
  • Sector specializations affirmed by territory

Trends and regional specificities

Strengths of Normandy

  • Digitalized industrial tradition: Developed B2B (16.8%)
  • Territorial balance: No excessive concentration
  • Sector diversification: Services, industry, tourism
  • Technological stability: Homogeneous WooCommerce adoption

Development opportunities

  • D2C innovation: Lag in online craftsmanship (17.3% vs 23% national)
  • Digital tourism: Untapped coastal and heritage potential
  • Agribusiness: Valorization of Norman specialties

National comparison

Normandy position

  • 11th French region for number of e-commerce businesses
  • 3.8% of national market
  • Industrial development vs metropolitan concentration
  • Marked sector specializations (industry, services, tourism)

Norman specificities vs national averages

  • B2B: 16.8% vs 14.9% national (+1.9 points)
  • D2C: 17.3% vs 23.0% national (-5.7 points)
  • PrestaShop: 23.1% vs 20.3% national (+2.8 points)

Go further

Analyses by region in May 2025

Return to national analysis

Methodology: Identification of e-commerce stores by CMS technology and matching with businesses via legal notices (SIRET/SIREN/VAT number). Only active businesses are kept during analysis.

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