The Lille Model: Lessons for Aspiring E-commerce Hubs

Lille's transformation from industrial decline to e-commerce dynamism offers valuable lessons:

1. Geography still matters: In the digital age, physical location remains crucial for logistics-heavy businesses like e-commerce.

2. Build on existing strengths: Lille leveraged its merchant heritage rather than starting from scratch.

3. Think European, not just national: Lille's cross-border mindset created advantages pure French focus would miss.

4. Infrastructure is foundational: Investment in logistics, fiber optics, and transport preceded e-commerce growth.

5. Community accelerates success: The collaborative culture, unusual in competitive tech, creates resilience and innovation.