Visitors to Martinique will find inexpensive French products such as perfume and fragrances, designer clothes, and wine. In addition, certain luxury items are offered at a 20 percent discount if paying with certain credit cards or travelers checks. Select stores in Fort-de-France offer duty-free shopping or you can save your big haul for the airport (if you're not traveling to EU member states). For perfume or fashion, head to one of the shopping centers such as Galeries Lafayette, Galerie Saint-Louis or Centre Commercial le Rond Point, all in Fort-de-France.
If you're in search of locally produced souviners, there are many artisanal "bijoux Creole" goods. Items include locally crafted jewelry, straw weavings, dolls, pottery, and tapestry. Creole jewelry is steeped in Martinique history, and will easily fit into your luggage to take home. Items include a multi-strand beaded necklaces called collier chou, or a cable necklace called a chaine forcat. You will be able to find local jewelry in many stores in Martinique or you can head to La Galeria in Le Lamentin, which is home to about 140 boutiques.
To purchase straw baskets, the Cooperative de Vannerie in Sainte Marie offers hand woven products. For other handmade items, the main market in Fort de France, Le Grand Marche, is a good place to start. Here you will find local spices, homemade liquors, dolls, and other souvenirs. If you're into collectibles, La Maison de la Poupee (literally translated to the "Doll House") is a cool place to see creations utilizing over 600 different types of fronds, leaves and plant materials. The store is located near Bass-Pointe in the far north of the island.
Art is another good buy in Martinique and Galerie Jecy in Les Trois-Ilets offers metalwork designed with island themes like starfish, octopus, geckos, and billfish. Les Tros-Ilets has more arts and crafts available at Le Domaine de Chateau Gaillard, which features pottery and tapestries. For something very unique, Les Coraux de Leonne is a store specializing in art made from coral and other sea materials located in Trinite.