Competitive Analysis
Overview of Fashion Industry
The fashion industry is a product of the modern age. Prior to the mid-19th century, virtually all clothing was handmade specifically for individuals, either at home or commissioned from dressmakers and tailors. By the beginning of the 20th century – with the rise of new technologies such as the sewing machine, the rise of global capitalism, the development of the factory production line, and the proliferation of retail outlets such as department stores – clothing had progressively come to be mass-produced in standard sizes and sold at fixed prices.
Although the fashion industry developed first in Europe and America, today it is highly globalized, with garments often designed in one country, manufactured in another, and sold in a third. For example, an American fashion house might source fabric in China and have the clothes manufactured in Taiwan, finished in France, and shipped to a warehouse in the United States for distribution to retail outlets around the world. The industry inarguably accounts for a significant share of world economic output.
Marketing Strategy – Zara
Product Strategy
• Zara is known as the Coca-Cola of fashion.
• One of the major strength of the company is that it is able to respond very quickly to the changing needs of the customers.
• Zara does not source its manufacturing process, making it fully in control of the products.
• In most cases, new styles are normally available in the stores
Fundamentals of Fashion And Their Reflection In “The Next Black” Aaliya Gujral Unquestionably clothes are a prominent part of our lives. They help us express who we are and often represent our sex, occupation, age and social standing. Clothing has been used by humans for thousands of years, and comes in a variety of forms. It has evolved throughout the course of history to include more fabrics, patterns, styles and designs.
I. Strengths of TARGET Corporation Target Corporation is one of the largest and oldest public discount retailing company operate in the United States. The company founded in 1902’s by George Dayton (as also known as Dayton Dry Goods in 1962’s). Target store has a huge store footprint and enjoys considerable brand recognition. Target’s portfolio of owned and exclusive brands is also its strength, which allow retailer to a valuable differentiating lover in high competitive retail environment.
The evolution of fashion industry should be in trend with the technology developments. Technology is the driver of transformation supported by government incentives. The options could be as below • Fabrics used should be new high-tech. Some examples could be nano-tech fabrics and programmable clothing, use of biodegradable non toxic spray-on clothing • Clothes for each could be designed using 3D body scanners which will allow people to “try on” clothes in virtual mirrors and interactive screens • Switching to a “low-carbon” economy based on renewable
The film “The True Cost” directed by Andrew Morgan, goes into great detail on the global world of fast fashion, and how it affects the global apparel industry. The countries in which the clothes are produced, there are significant issues with labour regulations, all to accommodate North America’s demand for fast fashion consumerism. The global North consumers demand for fast fashion have effects globally, leaving workers underpaid and exploited. Through management methods and outsourcing, firms search for the lowest costs for the consumer, without concern about the consequences for workers. Relocating the garment industry to the global South can arguably be the downfall of workers as they are sacrificing their lives for their job.
Zara provides fashion apparels for men, women and kids of all ages . Zara 's target business is youthful, cost cognizant, and exceptionally delicate to the most recent design patterns. They section their product offering in such a way that ladies account for 60%, men 's 25% and kids 15% accounts for division . Reason for choosing Zara for analysis in spite of being U.K. based company is that, it operates largely in U.K. Zara 's and its parent organization, Inditex, maybe taken as the course reading for how to do retail store network right . Zara has turned into a most loved of design fans, including industry insiders.
3.0 Industry and Competitor Analysis The fashion industry in the UK, Europe and the US has several players who compete for the rich market niche. Compare to its competitors in the clothing and accessories industry, Ted Baker performs very well as evidence by its improved financial ratios e.g the EPS over the past five years. 3.1 Industry Overview The high-street fashion industry is dominated by several firms but Ted Baker is continually winning attention in that industry.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Zara can be identified as one of the largest international fast-fashion organizations which is owned by the fashion group Inditex. Their first store was opened in 1975 and from that point of time, they have had an unstoppable growth throughout the years as up to now. After 42 years of operations, today Zara has been able to expand themselves with 2169 stored over 82 countries all over the world. Rather than they were a high fashion brand in the country, Zara has focused themselves as a fast fashion brand where they will change their fashions at a great pace where no one can reach them. Also, the most attractive thing is that all those latest fashion designs are introduced to the public at an affordable price.
Zara is vertically integrated and takes care of designing, manufacturing and distributing its products. This gives it an immense hold on the market as most of the operational inefficiencies are eliminated by the company’s on employees who identify with the larger goal and value proposition of the brand (The New York Times, 2012). Zara works along with the consumers to understand them more closely rather than imposing its own predictions on them. Zara creates an environment of artificial scarcity in its stores for every design it manufactures so that consumers get a feel of exclusivity rather than stock pile up (Johnson, 2012). This gives them a sense of pride to buy a limited edition of products which they find at Zara stores only.
In terms of differentiation, ZARA’s “fast fashion” philosophy is unique, which create demands and lead the trend in the garment market. They respond very quickly to the demands of target customers and focus on young fashion. In production, they design quickly, production quickly and update quickly.
One advantage of this globalization is the possibility of creating international fashion chains accompanying consumers wherever they are. Inditex took advantage very well that factor. • MICRO: It is formed by forces close to the company that affect its ability to satisfy customers, the business, consumer markets, marketing channels used, competitors and public. Zara 's main competitors are: Sfera, H & M, GAP, Mango, Pull & Bear and Stradivarius. In the graph we see as Zara drink market both national and European business.
As quoted in Coco Chanel: a woman of her own (Axel Madsen, p124), ‘’ fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening. ’’ (Refer to appendix 1) Fashion is everywhere nowadays and is having more and more impact in our daily life. Fashion existed in different forms.
(BARNAT, "Concurrent Control") As fashion trends tend to change every now and then, Zara could use this control to work on latest trends and future trends. This to ensure that employee work activities produce the correct results without any major wastage and unacceptable services. This also allows Zara to be up to date with its fashion knowledge and also sustain its position in the
On the other hand the fact that Zara produces the remaining 40% internally, is a strong asset, providing better control, and short lead-times. Finally the fact that Zara owns 450 workshops were garments are to be sewed is a major asset ensuring quality. Another important asset in terms of production, is the technologies involved, for instance the cutting machines, to minimize waste (Ferdows & co. 2014 p9), used in combination with the last-final hand-made sewing. The ease of the connection between the production center and the distribution center is also an important time-saver element, and therefore
With the GDP growing up, China’s market will soon enter into high-quality consumer market and clothing consumer not only for basic need, but also for psychological need and self-gratification. Especially for some people who are becomes middle class. ZARA is a special company that can satisfy their demands. More and more people seek to higher quality of life. ZARA is one of the biggest fashion companies that can help people get their high quality of life.
These days, fast fashion become very diverse and almost all countries have fast fashion shops. Put simply, the fast fashion is cheap, easy to buy, and fashionable products. In Japan, there are a lot of native fast fashion brands such as Uniqlo, and Shimamura. However, recently, there are not originally from Japan brands too, for example, H&M, Zara, and Forever21. These fast fashion brands became great social phenomenons, and its sale is increasing rapidly.