Zara

Zara

Zara is a Spanish clothing and accessories retailer based in Galicia, Spain. The company was founded in 1975 by Amancio Ortega and Rosalia Mera, it has become the main brand of the Inditex group (the worlds largest apparel retailer). Who also own brands like, Massimo Dutti, Pull and Bear and Zara Home. As of 2017 Zara managed up to 20 clothing collections a year.

Zara was originally named ‘Zorba’ after a film Zorba the Greek, but was then changed to Zara after learning there was a bar named the same thing that was very close by. The first store featured low-priced lookalike products of popular, high-end clothing lines. Additional stores where then opened throughout Spain and continued to grow. In 1988, the company started its international expansion through to Portugal. In 1989 it came to the United States and then France in 1990.

Zara stores have women’s and men’s clothing and well as Zara kids. Zara’s products are supplied, based on consumer trends. All of the clothing is processed through the distribution centre in Spain. Zara produces over 450 million items per year.

There are over 2,100 Zara stores located across 88 countries. Zara usually selects the best located and most expensive real estate locations in the word.

Zara have profiled themselves as a very high end brand, state their target market as people from a high class. “Zara is always striving to meet the needs of its customers at the same time as helping to inform their ideas, trends and tastes. The idea is to share responsible passion for passion across a broad spectrum of people, cultures and ages.”

Top 5 Picks

Oversized Text T-Shirt

Flower Printed Top

T-shirt with exposed shoulders

Skort with slits

Suede Effect Dress

Boots UK

Boots UK

Boots UK started out as a pharmacy chain in the United Kingdom and Ireland, with stores in most high streets, shopping centres and airports. The company operates over 2,500 stores across Great Britain ranging from local pharmacies to large health and beauty stores. Some people would say they are now known a lot better for selling beauty and hair products rather than medical. Boots have also branched out into opticians and hearing care services. It was founded in 1849, by John Boot but since then has had many different owners.

Boots really like to push that the business is very customer based with very open planned stores with staff from each department constantly offering help. ‘Customers and patient are at the heart of our business, and we are committed to providing exceptional care to them. We want to be the first choice for their health and beauty needs.’ To this day, Boots still believe in the philosophy of the brand, ‘employing experts in our shops worldwide to provide the very best advice to our customers.’

Something that has become very popular from Boots, is their Advantage Card which allows you to collect points every time you shop! You are able to use the advantage card online and in store. For every £1 you spend you get 4 points back on your card, and with one point equal to one penny you will be able to find something very quickly! By using this card, Boots are able to send personalised offers based on what you have recently been buying so they can learn more about you and what you like.

The company M.H Alshaya is a leading international franchise operator for over 55 of the world most popular store, including Boots. Alshaya Co. first introduced Boots in the Middle East in 2006, and now in 2017 they operate 90 Boots stores across its markets.

Top 5 Picks

These top 5 will look at some of Boots most popular brands and products!

NYX Professional Makeup Highlight & Contour Pro Palette

This is such a great dupe for the Anastasia Beverly Hill Contour Palette, and is such great quality considering the difference in price

Real Techniques Core Collection

The real techniques brushes are some of the best ones out there and are such great high street value!

Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation

I have been using this foundation since I began wearing makeup really so I am maybe a little bit biased, but I love it! I don't think I could change what I use now

Benefit Hoola Bronzer

This is a slightly more expensive product, but it is well worth it! Benefit are now one of the top brands out there and have really up'd there game!

Smashbox Be Ledgendary

This is one of my favourite colours of lipsticks, it really stands out and is a little bit different from the rest of my favourites!

Topshop

Topshop

Topshop is a British retailer of clothing, shoes, makeup and accessories. It was founded in Sheffield in 1964 by Peter Robinson who originally sold fashion by young and upcoming British designers. Topshop made a name for itself by selling it as, ‘high fashion for the young and different generation’.

Topshop has around 510 shops, which includes the stores that are franchised and the 300 stores that are located in the UK. It operates across 37 countries, including online and in a number of markets.

Topshop have had some of the biggest store openings in the UK and around the world. One of the more memorable was the opening in Oxford Circle, London. The store is five floors and is able to attract an average of 28,000 customers each day. Topshop opened on Fifth Avenue in New York in 2014, because of where the store is it attracts a lot of attention.

Topshop can get a lot of criticism because of the size of their models used to show the clothes and also how skinny the mannequins are in store. Now, other high-street stores are producing plus size lines to be able to meet their target market and to let their market expand. However, Topshop still do not do a plus size range, and has received very negative comments because of this.

This quote can be found on the Topshop website –

‘Topshop is an emporium of fashion, a design-led brand, and leader of trends. Breadth and diversity is demonstrated across covetable ranges which include Topshop Unique and Topshop Boutique. Housing over 400 new stylish must-have mainline clothing and accessories which launch weekly.’

‘Where other follow, Topman dares to take the lead. From emerging trends to menswear staples, we create innovative and distinctive men’s fashion that’s sold around the globe.’

Top 5 Pick’s

MOTO Elbow Rip Oversized Jacket

This jacket really stood out to me for a casual summer look. With it being oversized it is so easy to use if you want to dress an outfit down.

Tokyo Tiger T-Shirt

I love a casual T-Shirt with a small slogan or image, it is so easy to just pair with jeans and a pair of trainers or maybe even a denim skirt.

MOTO Rip Stud Denim Skirt

A denim skirt is something that you are able to keep in your wardrobe all year round. You could wear this with tights on the cold days or without on the rare sunny days!

Jersey Boyfriend Blazer

This jackets would be great if you are looking for one of those casual/dressy looks. You can instantly make your outfit look better by just putting this on top of a plain top.

NATIONAL Studded Showboots

I love clothes/items that you can wear with more than one thing! These would defiantly look great with the skirt shown above and also a pair of jeans.

Look out for next weeks post were I will be looking at the makeup section in Boots!