In a move set to transform the fashion e-commerce landscape in Europe, Zalando and ABOUT YOU have announced plans to join forces. Zalando, already a major player in the fashion and lifestyle retail sector, will acquire up to 100% of ABOUT YOU’s share capital, creating an e-commerce powerhouse. This merger will combine the strengths of both brands, positioning them to dominate the European fashion market.
Zalando currently serves over 50 million active customers across 25 countries, and with the addition of ABOUT YOU’s 12 million active customers, the merged entity will have a larger reach. The two companies aim to capture a significant share of the 450-billion-euro European fashion market in the long term.
Despite the merger, each brand will maintain its unique identity. The companies plan to leverage their combined resources in logistics, payment infrastructure, and commercial collaboration. This approach will allow them to provide personalized shopping experiences that cater to the distinct needs and preferences of their customers.
The Power Zof B2B Operations
While the merger itself is significant, the most impactful part of the deal lies in the combined B2B operations of Zalando and ABOUT YOU. Zalando’s e-commerce operating system, ZEOS, allows brands and retailers to manage their multi-channel businesses across Europe through one unified platform. This includes logistics, software, and services, regardless of whether transactions occur on the Zalando platform or other online marketplaces.
In the B2B space, Zalando’s infrastructure and software capabilities help brands and retailers sell products across various marketplaces, including Zalando’s own platform. At the ChannelX World conference this year, Alexander Otto from Zalando’s Tradebyte software unit highlighted the success of their B2B offering, citing clients such as Lyle & Scott.
With the acquisition of ABOUT YOU, Zalando will also gain SCAYLE, a tailored solution designed to support brands’ and retailers’ webshops and apps—often the most important sales channels for multi-channel businesses. SCAYLE currently serves major clients like Harrods, Manchester United, Deichmann, Fielmann, and FC Bayern.
Together, Zalando and ABOUT YOU will offer a comprehensive suite of services, including B2C selling, marketplace management, and customized solutions for brands’ websites and apps. This powerful combination of B2B offerings will significantly enhance the companies’ presence in the fashion and lifestyle industries, shaping the future of e-commerce in Europe.
In the B2C space, the merger will allow for richer, more personalized shopping experiences. In the B2B space, the integration of Tradebyte and SCAYLE will create an even more advanced e-commerce ecosystem, enabling brands and retailers to manage their multi-channel operations seamlessly across Europe and beyond.
Related topics:
