Primark

Primark is an apparel retailer spread across sixteen countries in Europe and the US. Founded in Ireland in 1969 under the Penneys brand, Primark aims to provide affordable fashion for everyone, from quality everyday essentials to standout style across womenswear- menswear- and kidswear as well as beauty, homeware and accessories. With a focus on creating great retail experiences in-store.. Primark continues to expand across new and existing markets with the aim of reaching five hundred and thirty stores by end- 2026.

Primark is working to make more sustainable fashion affordable for everyone. Primark Cares is its commitment to doing better every day - reducing its impact on the planet and improving the lives of its team. It has made a series of public commitments it plans to work towards and report on progress each year. These include making all its clothes from recycled or more sustainably sourced materials therefore ensuring clothing is recyclable by design- halving carbon emissions across the value chain and pursuing a living wage for workers in the supply chain.

Primark [then named Penny's] was founded in June 1969 in Dublin by Arthur Ryan for Associated British Foods. His vision of value fashion for young people led to its unprecedented success and subsequently expansion into Northern Ireland in 1971. With the philosophy of 'amazing fashion, at amazing prices' the brand expanded overseas in 1973 with a store in Derby, England. It was renamed Primark to steer clear of legal issues with US chain JC Penney which had registered the name. People often wonder how Primark could offer stylish products at low prices. Perhaps, because of minimal spend on advertising; no online shopping or delivery network; saving on hangers and price tags; buying directly from factories in Asia; buying in bulk. The turnaround happened for the brand when it acquired a portfolio of Littlewoods stores and it slowly accounted for over a third of the parent company's operating profits.

In 2006, Primark joined Ethical Trading Initiative, a collaborative firm bringing together businesses, trades unions and NGOs to work on labour rights issues in their supply chain. In 2008, London-based anti- poverty charity War On Want launched a report, Fashion Victims II, on how conditions were dismal in Bangladesh factories supplying Primark after the charity first visited them. 

Next year, a supplier was compelled by ETI to remove its branding from Primark stores and websites following an enquiry into use of illegal immigrant labour who were paid less than the legal minimum wage in the UK. BBC Trust's Editorial Standards Committee aired programme 'Primark: On the Rack' in 2008, an undercover documentary on poor working conditions in Indian factories supplying Primark. Although Primark stopped working with the supplier, ESC concluded that the footage was 'more likely than not' to have been fabricated and told BBC to apologise.

In 2009, with Primark accounting for a third of ABF estimated £300 million operating profit, Ryan stepped down as CEO and was replaced by Paul Marchant. In 2011-12, Primark achieved leadership status in Ethical Trading Initiative. Its strategy? The brand offered democratic Fashion by ensuring everyone could afford to be stylish. As per an article in The Economist, "Primark has an irresistible offer: trendy clothes at astonishingly low prices. The result is a new and even faster kind of fast fashion, which encourages consumers to buy heaps of items, discard them after a few wears and then come back for another batch of new outfits."

Monsoon sued Primark in 2004, Superdry sued in 2010 and Primark also had to pay a settlement to a British textiles firm in 2011. In April 2013, a commercial building in Bangladesh collapsed. Thought to be the most horrifying garment factory accident in history, the death toll was estimated at 1,129 people. Primark reacted fast, giving three months’ wages to affected families which was then extended for another three months.

However, there is the dark mystery of SOS Notes. In 2013, labels stitched with SOS notes were discovered in two garments purchased from a store in Swansea, Wales. The following year, a customer from Ireland found a plea for help attached to a prison identity card in the pocket of pants purchased from Primark alleging that prisoners were forced to work like oxen, making clothes for fifteen hours a day. A year and a half later, a SOS message was found in a pair of socks bought from Primark. As recently as December 2018 a human bone was found by a customer in a sock purchased from Primark's Colchester store!! The police reviewed it but said it did not appear to be a consequences of recent trauma.

Primark’s mission is to offer customers an extensive variety of high-quality fashion and lifestyle products at unbeatable prices. As a leading department store chain, it aims to provide value-driven, trend-focused apparel and essentials for men, women, and children. This includes everything from everyday basics to stylish outfits for special occasions. By maintaining a broad and diverse product range, Primark ensures that shoppers can find clothing, accessories, and home goods that cater to their unique needs and preferences, all under one roof. The emphasis on delivering amazing products at amazing prices highlights Primark’s commitment to making fashion accessible to everyone, regardless of budget.

Central to Primark’s mission is the focus on creating an exceptional shopping experience that combines affordability, variety, and quality. The company strives to consistently meet and exceed customer expectations by offering on-trend and durable products that provide great value. Primark’s stores are designed to be welcoming and convenient, allowing shoppers to explore a wide array of products that reflect current fashion trends and lifestyle demands. This mission not only drives the company’s product offerings but also influences its operational strategies, ensuring that Primark remains a preferred shopping destination for families and individuals seeking style and value.

Primark envisions providing customers with high-quality, affordable fashion for the entire family, covering a wide range of products including clothing, beauty items, homeware, and accessories. Its goal is to make stylish, everyday essentials and occasion wear accessible to everyone, reflecting the latest trends without compromising on value. 

This commitment to affordability and quality is at the heart of Primark’s retail strategy, ensuring that customers do not have to choose between fashion and affordability. Primark is focused on meeting the diverse needs of its customers, offering products that cater to various tastes and preferences while maintaining its reputation for value.

In line with its vision, Primark is dedicated to making sustainable fashion accessible to all, integrating environmentally conscious practices into its operations. The company has pledged to produce all its clothing from recycled or sustainably sourced materials, aiming for recyclability by design. This is part of a broader strategy to minimize its environmental footprint by halving carbon emissions across its value chain and advocating for fair wages within its supply chain. 

Through these efforts, Primark seeks to create a positive impact on the planet and the communities involved in its production process, demonstrating its commitment to being a responsible and forward-thinking fashion retailer.

Primark offers a diverse range of products that cater to various fashion and lifestyle needs, ensuring there is something for everyone. Its womenswear collection includes everything from casual staples like jeans, t-shirts, and activewear to more refined options such as dresses, blouses, and tailored pieces, allowing women to create versatile looks for work, leisure, and special occasions. 

The menswear range similarly spans a variety of styles, offering wardrobe essentials like shirts, trousers, and outerwear alongside trendy pieces that reflect the latest fashion trends. For children, Primark provides a wide selection of clothing that combines comfort, durability, and style, making it easy for parents to find everyday outfits, schoolwear, and seasonal items for kids of all ages.

In addition to clothing, Primark’s product lineup extends to beauty, homeware, and accessories, enhancing its appeal as a one-stop shop for customers looking to update their wardrobe or living spaces. The beauty range includes makeup, skincare, and haircare products, designed to suit different preferences and budgets, while the homeware collection offers stylish and affordable items for every room, from bedding and kitchenware to decorative accessories. 

Primark’s accessory offerings, including bags, shoes, and jewellery, complement its apparel collections, enabling customers to complete their looks with the latest trends. Overall, Primark’s diverse product portfolio emphasizes quality, affordability, and style, making it a popular choice for shoppers seeking value across multiple categories.