1, They do not attends any fashion shows. This often; leads to reports that they are more copiers than designers. They do follow bloggers and like most retailers will purchase garments from designer ranges to adapt for the high street. These garments are sent by courier to Spain, where head office designers can work through various options.
2, They run no advertising campaigns on their products. They believe that their constantly changing stock is reason enough for loyal clients to continue to visit. Their stores are restocked twice a week and new ranges are usually in place every two weeks. Clients either buy their products when they see it or more often than not it will not be their when they go back.
This is a very different business model to the one used by other retailers, who have products brought in by the season and they can sit on the retail floor for months at a time.
3, They listen to what their clients say and request. Each day store managers advise designers of what has been requested, colours, styles etc. all of which is used as part of the design process for the next range of products in the stores. More than half of the garments that they retail are produced in factories that they own.
4, Speed. High fashion products will be produced locally and usually arrive at the stores within 2 weeks off being designed. They want to be the first high fashion retails to provide designer styles at affordable prices. Their retail selling price is low, competing with Gap although they try and create a more upmarket retail experience. They want to get their fashion to their customers as quickly as possible and have clients orders delivered to stores within 48 hours in Europe the Middle East and the USA. So a client can request a garment in their size and the warehouse will despatch it to the store usually the same day. They use international courier services that can send a parcel to Spain or any store in Europe within 24 hours of despatch.
5, Retail Space. Inditex tries to have stores in upmarket retail locations as close to high quality brands as possible such as Prada and Gucci. They have just purchased a store on Park Avenue which is the most expensive retail building ever sold in the USA. They like to have query historical buildings which add character to their ranges.
In the last five years the groups turnover has risen to over 13.8 billion euros a year and profit is almost 2 billion euros. They employ over 110,000 staff and which at a time when Spain is suffering a real estate and employment crisis they are an anomaly due to the huge prosperity and success that they are enjoying.