Zalando starts Connected Retail programme in Poland

Wpis dostępny jest także w języku: polski

Zalando, the largest player in the segment of online sales of clothing and footwear in Poland, will launch the Connected Retail program in the country from 1 July. It is a support program for brick-and-mortar stores.

Record-holder with over 6,000 orders – one day

Connected Retail offers stationary stores the possibility to sell their products via the Zalando platform. They are free to determine the products they want to sell and their prices. The only condition is that it is a brand that is already available at Zaladno. Shops can also set a maximum number of orders per day and minimum stock levels. In connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, Zalando is resigning from commissions from members for the next two months. By the end of the year, he will also settle with them on a weekly basis.

What is important is that orders do not always go to a stationary store. He will be able to deliver the product in two situations. The first option is the lack of availability of a given product in Zalando’s warehouse or a participant of its partner program. The second possibility is faster delivery from the shop than directly from Zalando.

Zalando the leader of the Polish e-commerce market?

Connected Retail was launched in 2016. Currently, about 1,800 shops in Germany and the Netherlands are connected to it. In total, they handle about 41 ,000 orders a day. The record-holder realised them 6,400 in one day (it was in May 2020). Zalando provides online content, payment services, customer service and dedicated support through its personal account manager and its own order management software. Together with Poland, from July the programme will also be launched in Spain and Sweden.

Zalando is an international company specialising in online clothing and footwear sale. The company was established in 2008 in Germany and immediately began its expansion into other European markets – currently it operates in several countries. Initially, the shop focused mainly on footwear, but over time it expanded its offer to include clothing and accessories, and from 2018 also cosmetics. Zalando is not only the largest player in the clothing and footwear segment, but one of the largest online stores in Poland in general. According to PMR’s estimates, this player has the potential to become a market leader in two or three years.

For more information on online clothing and footwear sales in Poland see PMR’s latest report: Online retail market in Poland 2020. E-commerce market analysis and development forecasts for 2020-2025.

Photo: Zalando.