To reaffirm Inditex’s commitment to the China—a market that plays an increasingly significant part in the Spanish fashion retailer’s business—Pablo Isla, chairman and CEO travelled to China this week and met Zhong Shan, China International Trade Representative (Ministerial Level) and Wang Ashun, Mayor of Beijing.
In his meeting with Zhong Shan, Isla shared Inditex’s plans to roll out its integrated online and store model throughout China. The group’s store footprint has now reached 500 in Greater China with a presence in over 60 cities. Online sales in China continue to grow and are supported through Inditex’s alliance with Alibaba group’s online sales platform Tmall.
Similarly, in his meeting with Wang Ashun, Isla discussed the opportunities for expanding Inditex’s commercial presence in Beijing. The Inditex Group currently operates 40 stores representing several of its chains in Beijing, whose administrative area is home to 17 million people.
Inditex’s top executive emphasised the importance of implementing the Group’s eco-efficient store model, which delivers energy consumption and associated emission savings of over 30 per cent compared to conventional stores. Inditex’s green stores are kitted out with the latest lighting, climate control and water consumption systems and all the materials used (flooring, wood, paper, plastics, etc.) in them are certified and fully recyclable.
Inditex entered Greater China in 2004, when it opened a Zara store in Hong Kong, followed by other Zara stores in Shanghai (2006) and Beijing (2007). Today the Group has stores in more than 60 Chinese cities; by the end of the third quarter there were 469 of the group’s stores in this market, of which 157 were Zara stores.
Of the Group’s 40 stores in Beijing, 16 are Zara stores. Pull&Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho and Zara Home have also established a foothold in the city. (RKS)
