No growth at ‘mature’ Zalando

Despite an increase in customer numbers, Zalando was unable to raise its sales last year. The boom that e-commerce knew during the pandemic is over, and waking up to that reality is hard, says co-CEO Robert Gentz.

“Ready for headwinds”

Despite an “incredibly difficult year”, Zalando looks back on 2022 with pride. Gentz says his company “has matured” and can now handle future headwinds. The strategy to make the retailer into a platform is bearing fruit: 36 % of all sales now come from brand partners (compared to 30 % a year earlier), while 58 % of fulfilment is done by Zalando. Since October, fashion brands can have all their logistics done by Zalando, even for their own shops or for competing platforms. Pepe Jeans, among others, uses the service.