Zara’s new store in Madrid is chock full of innovation

19.09.2022

A retail space with countless features awaits you. The new store of Spanish fashion brand Zara on Madrid’s Plaza de España not only entices shoppers with its beautiful and appealing design but also addresses topics that modern consumers continue to embrace: returns management, sustainability, and innovative checkout systems. How does the brand integrate these aspects into the new store concept?

The new Zara store from the outside; Copyright: DOMO FOTOGRAFIA S.L

Occupying over 7,700 square meters - including 3,815 square meters dedicated to retail space - and spanning four floors, the new store features a light-colored, airy, and minimalist design to highlight the fashion brand’s women's, men's, and children's fashion collections.

Large, clean and neutral interior; Copyright: DOMO FOTOGRAFIA S.L

The interior space was designed as a large, clean, and neutral container with colorful textiles and furniture to showcase the fashion on display.

Special area with new products; Copyright: DOMO FOTOGRAFIA S.L

A unique feature: special sections present the new products from Zara’s Lingerie collection – until now only available online -, the Athleticz sports equipment collection and the Zara Beauty cosmetics line. All three sections also house a Footwear and Accessories area. Thanks to integrated storage options, inventory can be restocked as needed.

Omnichannel integration in the new Zara store; Copyright: DOMO FOTOGRAFIA S.L

Omnichannel: Zara uses its own online platform in the store, enabling customers to also browse the online store and track product availability.

Pieces purchased online can be picked up; Copyright: DOMO FOTOGRAFIA S.L

Items purchased online can be collected at a dedicated pickup point. An in-store warehouse robot is on site and offers a capacity of up to 1,500 orders for increased efficiency.

Reservable changing rooms; Copyright: DOMO FOTOGRAFIA S.L

Highly efficient technologies make shopping easier: Customers can make fitting room reservations in-store or via the Zara app.

Pay&Go-Service; Copyright: DOMO FOTOGRAFIA S.L

The Pay&Go Service enables customers to purchase the selected garments by scanning them on their smartphone.

Additional cash registers for returns; Copyright: DOMO FOTOGRAFIA S.L

Returns – always a big issue in retail, and especially in the fashion realm. To simplify the process for customers, Zara has registers dedicated just for refunds.

Sustainable systems in the store; Copyright: DOMO FOTOGRAFIA S.L

Sustainability is another issue any modern retailer must address. In keeping with Zara's commitment to sustainability, Zara Plaza de España includes some of the most advanced eco-efficient systems, thus meeting requirements for the BREEAM seal, the European certificate for sustainable construction.

Efficient heating and cooling systems to save energy; Copyright: DOMO FOTOGRAFIA S.L

The sustainable measures taken in the new store are also reflected in the efficiency of its temperature control and energy systems, its LED lighting in efforts to save even more energy, and its use of more environmentally friendly materials in the construction of the space. The store is also connected to an internal “Inergy” platform that monitors the efficient consumption of the store's air conditioning and electronic installations.

Recycling station for customer cartons; Copyright: DOMO FOTOGRAFIA S.L

Besides building management, Zara also meets customer demands for sustainability and offers a recycling area where shoppers can drop off their boxes and other packaging materials from their collected orders.