 |
The New York Times named Zara the world’s largest fashion retailer. Not only is the brand taking over the world, but its CEO, Amancio Ortega Gaona, is the world’s third richest man. Zara is a fast fashion phenomenon. With about 4,400 stores around the globe this empire is twice the size of Swedish H&M and no end is near; Zara is opening more than one new store every day or approximately 500 every year.
|
Zara stores cozy up to the most famous brands in the world to sing their luxury ambitions even as they profit off a brilliant, cheap, short supply chain that delivers similar fashion at a much lower price. The company, now the largest fashion retailer on earth, has grown overall sales by about 50% in five years to $17.5 billion. Its employees have gone from 80,000 to 110,000 in that time, despite being headquartered in a depressed Spanish economy, and selling predominantly to a very sick European continent.
New designs will hit stores within weeks. It’s the pulse of fast fashion and it’s about using online strategies to boost offline sales. Zara employs hundreds of designers and they’re all anonymous. Mean tongues repeat the standard accusation; Zara is not designing – they’re copying. Whether that’s true or not this giant is far from a soulless replica. Zara may not invent a lot of plays but they invented the game. The production process, from design idea to finished product, takes two to three weeks.
With all stores getting new deliveries twice a week (the entire stock in any store changes within 11 days) Zara has created a “buy now or never” mentality amongst its customers. They have learned they’ll never see the same garment twice, buy it right then and there – at a great price – or forget about it.
Last step of the sales process is the actual stores; for a company that doesn’t advertise – the stores are the only visible marketing. Zara invests heavily in real estate. The stores are always placed at the best locations, preferably in historical and beautiful buildings and always as close to the luxury brands as possible.
I like Zara! They are my go to store for blazers and jackets. I spend a small fortune on them each season, it’s my go to shop for everything but trousers and skirts as has been said its hard to fit a typical black body in their trousers. They are pocket friendly but not cheap. What are your thoughts on Zara? Do you like shopping there? Does it deserve to be called the world's largest fashion retailer?
Source
Zara is not very expensive compared to designer brands. But if you were to go to Spain the prices would be considerable cheaper because it is a Spanish company and they don't have to ship their products across the sea.
ReplyDeleteSome people shop at Zara because they are a bit better quality perhaps and have a range of styles... but I prefer H&M
ReplyDeleteZara is too goody two shoes for me.
ReplyDeleteSome of my favourite pieces are from Zara. I got a sliver-gray silk boyfriend jacket from Zara in Madrid . And a cropped navy jacket with turned up, denim lined sleeves from Zara in Kensington. In every city I visit, I go to the Zara shop.
ReplyDelete