Following the path of big retailers like Walmart, JCPenny, Target and Macy’s, fast-fashion retailer Zara has also announced to turn its store across different countries, to fulfil online orders, in a bid to eliminate the ‘out of stock’ issue on e-commerce platforms.
As per a report published in the Wall Street Journal, Amazon is rapidly seizing the apparel market share. To compete against the speed and convenience of the leading e-retailer, Zara too will now provide same day delivery in places where it’s operating through physical stores.
Markedly, the fast-fashion retailer is eyeing to convert about 2,000 stores across 48 countries, including the U.S., making it one of the largest-scale attempts by an apparel company to differently use its shops to help fulfil online orders.
Pablo Isla, Inditex Chairman & Chief Executive said on the development that this idea of full integration between store and online stockrooms is very strategic for the company. “The ability to cater to a shopper’s demands quickly, increases the likelihood of a full-price sale,” said the CEO.
The new ship-from-store option will work when a product is unavailable online but is available in a store near the shopper’s residence, then that store will deliver the product at the online shopper’s registered address.
Reportedly, mismanaged inventory cost the retailers nearly US $ 1.4 trillion in lost sales in last year and to tackle this major issue, Zara is betting big on the ship-from-store initiative.
