Professional Documents
Culture Documents
- ZARA
Company Overview
• ZARA is a Spanish clothing and accessories retailer based in Arteixo,
Galicia
• ZARA needs just two weeks to develop a new product and get it to
stores, compared to the six-month industry average, and launches
around 10,000 new designs each year.
• ZARA has continually maintain its mission to provide fast and
affordable fashionable items.
• ZARA’s approach to design is closely linked to their customers.
Problems
• 1) What advantage does Zara gain against the Competition by having
a very responsive supply Chain?
• 2) Why has Inditex chosen both In-house and outsourced mfg.? Why
mfg. both in Europe and Asia?
• 3) Why does Zara source products with uncertain demand from local
mfg. and predictable from Asian mfg.?
• 4) What advantage form replenishing stores multiple times a week?
How does it affect design of its distribution system.
• 5) Responsive replenishment structure better for online or Retail
Sales?
1) What advantage does Zara gain against the
Competition by having a very responsive supply
Chain?
• They can introduce new design every week and thus change 75%
display every 3-4 weeks.
• Reduce inventory overhead and forecast errors.
• Sell most products at full price and only half the markdowns in stores
compared to competition.
• Multiple weekly shipments allow close match to demand.
1) What advantage does Zara gain against the Competition
by having a very responsive supply Chain?
More
Low Profits
Inventory
Match and Higher
Demand Price
Introduce
New Fast
2a) Why has Inditex chosen both In-house and
outsourced manufacturing?
Quick Cheap
• The frequency of replenishment has made ZARA increase the size and
also centralize its distribution design by handling its global operations
through 8 Distribution canters based in Spain.
• This centralized structure means that products can be distributed
rapidly from in house manufacturing in order to meet worldwide
demands in as little time as possible.
5), Do you think Zara’s responsive replenishment
infrastructure is better suited for online
sales or retail sales?
• Whilst its quick distribution system allows ZARA to respond to trends
very quickly its lack of decentralized distribution means that it is
better suited to retail as online sales tend to have more a diverse
product demand and customers expect quicker delivery times.
• Companies such as Amazon are able to respond quicker to online
sales due to the fact that they have distribution centers all around the
world and can offer same day delivery. ZARA’s 24 hour delivery times
from Spain to outlets all around the world may not be as efficient
with online sales as it is with retail sales.
• Reiterating it in the online sales will be extremely challenging as the
Point-of-Sale is different