While the main Zara store at Westfield Stratford City is closed for refurbishment, the brand has opened a pop up store which has been designed mainly to assist with click and collect orders. The pop up store, which will be open until May, will also allow customers to buy items online while they are actually inside the Zara store. All of the shop assistant will have devices to help customers choose when they want to collect their order. Their click and collect operation will be extremely fast with customers who place an online order before 2pm being able to collect their order on the same day.
Customers will be able to scan items of clothing that they like using information screens that are embedded into the mirrors in the store. The screen will then pull up information about the item including available sizes and will also recommend other items that would co-ordinate with it. The pop up store will offer customers a selection of ways to pay for items including by mobile phone, through the Zara app or by using a self-checkout machine.
The chairman of Inditex, the owners of Zara, has said that he views this click and collect concept as another step towards integrating the Zara online presence with their physical stores. Pablo Isla went onto to add that this integration will define the brand's business identity.
Following its refurbishment, the Zara flagship store in Westfield Stratford City is expected to reopen in May 2018. It is expected to incorporate many of the innovative ideas that are featured in the current pop up store and will include an area specifically to deal with click and collect orders.
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