LTM 92: Zalando takes over About You! What happens now?

The news was like a shockwave: Zalando is buying About You. A
week later, it's time to take a closer look at what the takeover
means for the market, retailers and brands. Valerie and Ingrid
have brought Stefan Wenzel, an experienced fashion and
marketplace expert, into the podcast for this.


Together they shed light on how the step is to be evaluated from
Otto's point of view, what impact the merger of the number one
and two has on fashion retail and whether it helps to compete
against Shein (spoiler: rather not).


They also discuss opportunities and risks for brands and
retailers – Zalando is currently sending notices to successful
brands and delaying the onboarding of new partners – and the
rumor that Zalando could also take over Asos.


Newsflash:


-        Zalando has officially launched on
TikTokShop in the UK, partnering with 55 iconic brands including
Nike, Adidas, AllSaints, and Dr. Martens.


-        Amazon will shortly be opening its
new country website in Ireland, Country Manager will be Alison
Dunn. 


 


Note from the sponsor PlentyONE:


PlentyONE is a German e-commerce service provider offering a
complete solution for your omnichannel business – with a very
strong focus on marketplaces. It covers the entire sales process
across more than 150 sales channels and is suitable for
manufacturers and brands of all sizes worldwide. In 2023, more
than 116 million orders with a GMV of 9.8 billion euros were
processed via the platform. In the coming months, PlentyONE plans
to focus on expanding its innovative channel layer technology:
this will ensure more efficient, standardized marketplace
connections and relieve brands and retailers of complex system
processes. More at https://www.plentymarkets.com


 Note from the sponsor byrd:


byrd is a e-commerce fulfillment provider that can handle
logistics across all of Europe and is particularly good for
tricky cases in addition to standard services. For example, when
best-before dates for food or cosmetics need to be observed. Or
when strict specifications have to be adhered to when shipping
products that sport organics labels. A selection of more than 15
logistics options helps to find the best solution in each case.
Integrations with partners such as PlentyONE, ChannelEngine and
billbee make the solution particularly interesting for
marketplace sellers. And that's why brands like Refurbed,
Weareknitters, Manuka Honey, Bababoo and Friends and Lakrids by
Bülow trust byrd. More at https://www.getbyrd.com


Chapters:


01:10 Breaking News: Zalando Acquires About You


03:55 Expert Insights: The Impact of the Merger


11:35 Newsflash


17:34 Analyzing the Merger: What It Means for the Industry


24:58 The Impact of Mergers on Fashion Brands


36:07 Navigating the New Marketplace Landscape


39:55 Technical Integration and Market Dynamics


46:14 Future Prospects and Strategic Moves


50:28 Final Thoughts on Market Evolution