Business & Finance
Zara owner Inditex opens first UK Lefties store in Liverpool
The value fashion brand features behind-the-scenes automated sorting systems and plans two additional UK locations this year.
The short version
- Inditex launched its cut-price fashion chain Lefties in Britain on Thursday, opening its first physical UK store in Liverpool following an online launch.
- The new Liverpool location uses robotic systems behind the scenes to process hanger sorting and unwanted fitting-room garments to cut staffing costs.
- Lefties plans to open two more UK stores this year at Lakeside in Essex and Metrocentre near Newcastle, directly competing with fast-fashion retailers like Primark and Shein.
- Inditex leadership stated that future expansion beyond the initial three locations will depend on the performance of the first stores.
Key facts
- Inditex opened the first UK store of its cut-price brand Lefties in Liverpool on Thursday after launching its UK website weeks earlier.[The Guardian]
- The Liverpool store incorporates robotic automation to sort hangers via conveyor belt and handle returned fitting-room garments behind the scenes.[The Guardian]
- Lefties plans to open two additional UK stores this year at the Lakeside shopping mall in Essex and Metrocentre near Newcastle.[The Guardian]
- General director Xavier Ruz Riera confirmed the company has not set a specific total count for future UK store openings.[The Guardian]
- Lefties operates 225 stores across 20 countries globally and represents Inditex's fastest-expanding retail chain.[The Guardian]
What remains uncertain
- The exact scope and speed of Lefties's further expansion into the UK market beyond the initial three stores remain uncommitted.[The Guardian]
Sources
- Bots and bargains: Zara owner launches cut-price Lefties in UK to rival PrimarkThe Guardian - World