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Daily Newsletter

10 August 2023

Daily Newsletter

10 August 2023

Asos, H&M back Zoa software to incorporate rental on retail websites

UK fashion rental technology firm, Zoa has launched a new rental technology service that allows consumers to select and rent directly from brand and retailer websites.

Isatou Ndure August 09 2023

Zoa has introduced its integrated rental technology, which is supported by fashion brands Asos, Zalando, M&S, and H&M Group to enable customers to rent garments directly from their favourite brand's product pages.

Zoa's integrated rental technology solution claims to be the first of its kind to empower consumers to either rent or purchase items to keep while browsing through retailers' websites.

The software company states that, unlike conventional white-label rental platforms, Zoa's innovation integrates into retailers' existing websites, allowing them to offer rental options alongside traditional sales avenues.

Founder Isabella West says: “So far we have seen around 20% of rental orders convert to an in-rental sale. The Zoa model gives customers a way to experience the brand at a reduced price without relying on 'buy now, pay later' schemes.”

Zoa boasts that since its debut 70% of consumers using the company’s technology on their chosen brands' websites are newcomers to the brand.

The company explains its strategy resonates particularly well with the "try before you buy" mentality of modern consumers.

West continues: “Rental is such an exciting sector right now, and we are happy to now be offering the chance for brands to have this as an option on their website too.”

Zoa unveiled its Rental Lab back in September 2022 and described it as a next-gen circular commerce technology for fashion brands.

Asos unveiled its inaugural rental edit in partnership with UK rrental marketplace Hirestreet in May with over 180 wedding guest outfits.

Value apparel has gained appeal amid high inflation

Per latest GlobalData estimates, the global value apparel market was valued at $228.8bn in 2022, exceeding pre-pandemic levels and outperforming the other apparel price positions. This was partly due to consumers trading down to more affordable brands as they faced inflationary pressures, but also due to the rapid rise of fast fashion player Shein, which has leapt into the market leading position. Between 2022 and 2027, the global value apparel market is forecast to achieve a CAGR of 3.2%. Gen Z is a key target audience for value apparel players, due to their usually limited disposable incomes and high purchasing frequencies as a result of wanting to follow rapidly changing trends meaning they often prefer cheaper brands. As fashion is of high importance to this demographic, they are also less likely to cut back on spending on clothing and footwear amid inflationary pressures. However, value players are under pressure to reduce their environmental footprints amid changing consumer perceptions and evolving regulations regarding sustainable business practices. Supply chain disruptions and higher production costs continued to impact value brands in 2022 due in part to the outbreak of the war in Ukraine and lasting COVID-19 restrictions in China, which is highly detrimental to value players due to their already thin profit margins and their low price business models.

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