Inditex’s results for the first nine months of the year showed that the Spanish retail giant continues to shrug off the retail malaise, as far as sales are concerned, with a 7.5 per cent increase in the period to the end of October. Sales reached €19.8 bn in the first nine months and it reported an 8 per cent rise in gross profit for a gross margin of 58.2 per cent, as well as its highest-ever net cash position (up 17 per cent) and a 12 per cent leap in net profit to €2.72bn. Inditex is one of the world's largest fashion retailers, with eight brands selling in 202 markets through its online platform or its over 7,000 stores in 96 markets.

The company continuing to roll out new stores, to accelerate its digital expansion and to tie them both neatly together to make sure it’s reaching the customer where the customer wants to be reached.

That was clear from Q3 with the firm having launched Zara online in South Africa, Ukraine, the Philippines and Colombia, while Massimo Dutti’s and Zara Home’s online platforms went live in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Morocco. Stradivarius, Oysho and Uterqüe also launched their online platforms in the US. And all group brands are now operating worldwide online stores since the launch of bershka.com/ww. These reach more than 200 markets across the globe. 

And on the physical stores front, importantly, the company opened its first for&from location outside Spain, in Como, Italy. The chain has an ethical focus and gives jobs to disabled workers.