Zara is a brand part of the retail empire Inditex. Zara is the leading brand in what has been defined as “fast fashion.” With almost €20 billion in sales in 2021 (comprising Zara Home) and an integrated retail format with quick sales cycles. Zara follows an integrated retail format where customers are free to move from physical to digital experience.
The origin story and business model transformation
Born in a small town in Spain (Villamanín), Amancio started as a delivery boy in A Coruña, a city and the municipality of Galicia, Spain.
As a delivery boy, he got the chance to learn the fundamentals of the garment retail business.
And over the years, he learned that by better organizing the manufacturing and delivery of garments, he could sell those materials at a more competitive price.
He first applied this model to its first brand during the mid-70s.
This retail model would work so well that Amancio would expand all over Spain and internationally.
As its first brand, Zara expanded exponentially over the years; he consolidated his empire under the umbrella of a holding company, Inditex (it took decades and many failed attempts).
Today Inditex comprises eight core brands following similar retail formats, of which Zara is the largest and most prominent, and Amancio Ortega, its founder, is among the wealthiest men on earth.
With almost €20 billion in revenues in 2021, Zara had undergone a business model transformation process, which started with one thing in mind: giving more options to its customers.
Indeed, while starting in 2012, Zara consolidated its stores under a flagship model, it also invested massively in integrating the experience of its customers to make them seamlessly jump from physical to digital without any friction.
The flagship retail model consolidates existing physical stores to have a single location in an exclusive city area.
Therefore, on average, in 2018, Zara expanded its retail space by 50%.
Instead of locking customers’ experience to those physical stores (where Zara had invested billions), the company, in parallel, invested in technologies that enhanced the digital experience.
In short, if today you go to Zara and with your phone can directly scan products to see their availability and order them online in other Zara locations, this is thanks to a deliberate process of transformation of its retail format.
Customers are not locked in a single experience but are allowed to browse the shop and choose whatever format fits them the most.
This is the power of business model transformation, starting with a single focus: enhanced customer experience!
Zara is the core asset of the Inditex Fashion Empire
Inditex is among the largest fashion retailers in the world with eight retail formats:
- Zara & Zara Home,
- Pull&Bear,
- Massimo Dutti,
- Bershka,
- Stradivarius,
- Oysho
The Zara retail format follows an integrated offline-online store network which generated almost €20 billion in 2021 and accounted for over 70% of the group’s revenues.
The key element that has made Zara’s store successful over the years is its ability to anticipate and react to customer demands.
Zara flagship store retail model
Over the last years, Zara has been implementing an integrated retail format leveraging physical flagship stores located in exclusive central locations worldwide.
As reported on Inditex annual reports, the new flagship store opening, starting in 2018, Zara flagship stores were, on average, 59% larger than the first wave of stores opened in 2012 (from 1,452 m2 in 2012 to 2,184 m2 in 2018).
Primarily driven by new store openings, larger flagship stores, and consolidation of smaller stores within a larger flagship store.
RFID technology and Integrated experiences
RFID stands for “radio-frequency identification” and is widely used in retail to track customers’ journeys across several physical and digital touchpoints between the customer and the brand.
Starting in 2007, championed by Zara Home and Zara started a process of digitalization to build a stronger relationship with customers to prevent them from being tied to the physical stores.
This process ended with the transition to an integrated store model.
To complete this process, Zara had to undergo several initiatives to create a trackable experience from the supply chain to the retail experience.
Some of the services implemented to enrich the customer experience were:
- Click&Collect (order online and pick up in-store),
- Self-service checkouts,
- Automated online order pick-up points,
- Same-Day Delivery for online orders,
- And Next-Day Delivery.
Key takeaways
The key elements of Zara’s business model are:
- Product expansions and quick sales cycles combined with continuous product variety to anticipate or react to customers’ wants.
- Integrated shopping experience thanks to new technologies: from RFID to integrated stock management or additional services to enhance the retail model (Click&Collect service, Self-service checkouts, Automated online order pick-up points, Same-day / Next-day delivery).
- Upgrading of physical stores gradually transformed into the Flagship store, located in exclusive locations, which were on average 50% larger compared to 2012.
- The expansion of physical stores has also been coupled with the upgrading of the online sales platforms, thus incentivizing customers to a purchasing experience more congenial to their needs.
In short, Zara’s quick delivery, fast inventory, and seamless customer experience, enabling customers to jump to its physical store and shop online, helped it further consolidate throughout the last decade of digital transformation.
Key Highlights
- Amancio Ortega’s Background: Zara’s founder, Amancio Ortega, began as a delivery boy and learned the garment retail business’s fundamentals through this experience.
- Innovative Retail Model: Ortega organized manufacturing and delivery to offer garments at competitive prices. This model was applied to Zara in the mid-70s, leading to rapid expansion throughout Spain and internationally.
- Inditex and Business Consolidation: Zara’s success led to the creation of Inditex, a holding company encompassing multiple retail brands. Zara remained the largest and most prominent brand within this group.
- Integrated Retail Format: Zara focused on integrating physical and digital experiences, allowing customers to seamlessly transition between both. The flagship store model consolidated physical locations in exclusive city areas, coupled with investments in enhancing the digital experience.
- Fast Fashion Emergence: Zara played a pivotal role in the rise of fast fashion, with its quick design-manufacturing-distribution cycles and just-in-time logistics, offering fashionable clothing in a variety of designs.
- Zara’s Significance in Inditex: Zara contributes significantly to Inditex’s revenues, accounting for over 70% of the group’s earnings. Inditex is a global fashion retailer with eight core brands under its umbrella, each following a similar retail format.
- Anticipating Customer Demand: Zara’s success lies in its ability to anticipate and swiftly respond to customer demands, making its products appealing to a broad customer base.
- Flagship Store Model: Zara’s recent strategy involves opening flagship stores in prime locations, which are larger and offer an integrated shopping experience. The average size of these flagship stores increased by almost 60% from 2012 to 2018.
- RFID and Integrated Experiences: Zara employs RFID technology to track customer interactions across physical and digital touchpoints, enhancing the overall shopping experience. Digital channels complement physical stores, allowing customers to check product availability, order online, and more.
- Digital Transformation Process: Zara underwent a process of digitalization to transition into an integrated store model, allowing customers to engage with the brand both online and offline seamlessly.
- Enhanced Customer Services: Zara introduced various customer-centric services, including Click&Collect, self-service checkouts, automated online order pick-up points, same-day and next-day delivery options.
- Key Elements of Zara’s Business Model: Zara’s success can be attributed to its quick product turnover, continuous variety, and the integration of technologies for a seamless shopping experience both online and offline.
- Continued Expansion: Zara’s expansion extended not only to physical stores but also online platforms, catering to customers’ evolving preferences and needs.
- Digital Transformation and Consolidation: Throughout the last decade, Zara’s agility in delivery, inventory management, and customer experience have allowed it to consolidate its position amidst digital transformation.
Business Model Cap
Element | Description |
---|---|
Value Proposition | Zara offers a range of value propositions for its customers: – Fast Fashion: Zara is known for its ability to bring the latest fashion trends to consumers quickly, offering a constant stream of new styles. – Affordable Prices: Zara provides trendy clothing and accessories at affordable prices, making fashion accessible to a wide range of consumers. – Quality and Design: Zara emphasizes quality materials and design, providing customers with stylish and well-crafted clothing. – In-Store Experience: Zara stores offer a unique in-store shopping experience, with visually appealing displays and layouts. – Online Shopping: Zara’s e-commerce platform allows customers to shop online for convenience and access to the brand’s products. – Sustainability Efforts: Zara has committed to sustainability through initiatives like the “Join Life” collection, appealing to eco-conscious consumers. |
Core Products/Services | Zara’s core products and services include: – Clothing and Accessories: Zara offers a wide range of clothing items, including dresses, tops, pants, jackets, and accessories like bags and shoes. – Fast Fashion Model: The company follows a fast fashion model, constantly introducing new collections and designs to stay on-trend. – In-House Production: Zara designs, manufactures, and distributes its products in-house, allowing for a quick turnaround from design to store shelves. – Supply Chain Efficiency: Zara’s supply chain is designed for efficiency, with the ability to restock popular items swiftly. – In-Store Shopping: Zara’s physical stores provide a unique shopping experience with well-organized displays and frequent updates. – E-commerce: Zara’s e-commerce platform allows customers to shop online, providing convenience and a broader reach. |
Customer Segments | Zara’s customer segments include: – Fashion-Forward Shoppers: Customers who seek the latest fashion trends and appreciate Zara’s quick response to style changes. – Value Shoppers: Consumers looking for stylish clothing at affordable prices without compromising on quality. – Eco-Conscious Consumers: Customers interested in sustainable fashion may be drawn to Zara’s eco-friendly “Join Life” collection. – Online Shoppers: Customers who prefer online shopping and value the convenience of browsing Zara’s products on the website or app. – Fashion Enthusiasts: Those passionate about fashion and design often turn to Zara for their clothing needs. – Global Audience: Zara has a global presence, catering to a diverse customer base across different countries. |
Revenue Streams | Zara generates revenue through several revenue streams: – Product Sales: The primary source of revenue comes from the sale of clothing and accessories through physical stores and the e-commerce platform. – Fast Fashion Model: Zara’s frequent introduction of new collections drives repeated customer visits and purchases. – Global Presence: Revenue is earned from sales in numerous countries where Zara operates its stores and online retail. – Online Sales: The company generates revenue from online sales made through its official website and mobile apps. – In-House Manufacturing: Zara’s in-house manufacturing allows for cost control and profit margin optimization. – Sustainability Collections: Sales of sustainable fashion items contribute to revenue through initiatives like the “Join Life” collection. |
Distribution Strategy | Zara’s distribution strategy focuses on agility and responsiveness: – In-House Manufacturing: Zara designs and manufactures its products in-house, allowing for quick design-to-shelf turnaround. – Frequent Store Updates: Zara stores are frequently updated with new collections and styles to keep up with fashion trends. – Global Store Network: Zara maintains a global network of physical stores, ensuring its products are accessible to customers in various regions. – E-commerce Platform: Zara’s e-commerce platform offers online shopping with a user-friendly interface and mobile app for convenience. – Supply Chain Efficiency: The company’s supply chain is optimized for efficiency and restocking popular items swiftly. – Sustainability Efforts: Zara’s sustainability initiatives, like the “Join Life” collection, align with eco-conscious consumers’ preferences. |
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