Connected Retail: Local Stores in Switzerland Can Now Reach Millions of Zalando Customers Online

June 1, 2021
Convenience
  • The launch of Zalando’s Connected Retail model in Switzerland offers a local solution for brick-and-mortar stores 
  • Retailers will benefit from lowered commissions and weekly payouts until the end of the year
  • Swiss customers will soon be able to use a filter option to search for items that are shipped directly from stores in their region

BERLIN, JUNE 1, 2021 // Zalando, Europe’s leading online platform for fashion and lifestyle, is launching its Connected Retail program in Switzerland. As of today, Swiss retailers can connect their local stores to the Zalando platform and sell their products to millions of Zalando customers online. Lowered commission fees and weekly payout cycles apply until the end of the year to support a steady cash flow for physical retailers. The Swiss Post will partner up with local retailers to support them with the seamless handling of deliveries and returns of parcels.

Connected Retail is a key part of Zalando’s platform strategy. The program allows physical retailers to grow their sales by up to 60 percent per square meter. Stores can easily connect their stock to the platform: Zalando provides the software to connect, provide online content, payment services, customer care, and dedicated support through a personal account manager and many other services. The launch of Connected Retail in Switzerland will help Zalando build even stronger relationships with Swiss customers. The offer will include inspiring, seasonal fashion as well as a wide assortment of locally relevant brands. Zalando’s customers will also be able to support their local stores by choosing “delivery from a store” in the future.

Zalando Connected Retail Carsten Keller

“Switzerland is one of our most important markets. We are delighted to be able to start working with Swiss retailers through Connected Retail as of now. This allows them to sell directly to millions of Zalando customers online”, says Carsten Keller, VP Direct to Consumer at Zalando and Managing Director of Connected Retail GmbH. “This makes the way into the online world for retailers easy, fast, and profitable. By connecting the local assortments of Swiss retail partners to the Zalando platform, we are also increasing our 'swissness' and together we are creating an even more relevant experience for our Swiss customers."

“Connected Retail puts more emphasis on shopping locally as customers can choose to order directly from local stores nearby. Connected stores benefit from Zalando’s large customer base and can increase their sales and revenues by accessing both more regional and international customers on the platform. As an accelerator of offline to online integration, the Connected Retail program will create new opportunities for retailers who have been struggling to grow in the past”, says Patrick Kessler, Managing Director of Handelsverband.swiss.

Zalando will invest 50 Million Euros into Connected Retail across all active markets and connect over 6,000 stores to the program by the end of the year. The Connected Retail network currently includes over 4,000 active stores in eleven European markets.

Retailers interested in Zalando’s offer can find more information here.

Zalando SE Boiler Plate EN

About Zalando

Founded in Berlin in 2008, Zalando is building the leading pan-European ecosystem for fashion and lifestyle e-commerce around two growth vectors: Business-to-Consumer (B2C) and Business-to-Business (B2B). In B2C, we offer an inspiring and quality multi-brand shopping experience for fashion and lifestyle products to about 50 million active customers in 25 markets. In B2B, we are using our logistic infrastructure, software and service capabilities to help brands and retailers run and scale their entire e-commerce business, on or off Zalando. As an ecosystem, Zalando aims to enable positive change for the fashion and lifestyle industry.