Zalando’s Q1 Results Show that its Bet on B2C and B2B has Paid Off

Compared to the previous period, the German company posted a significant increase in adjusted earnings before interest and taxes of €28.3m. Gross merchandise volume (GMV) increased by 1.3% year-on-year to €3.3 billion. At the same time, however, sales decreased from € 2.3 billion in Q1 2023 to € 2.2 billion in Q1 2024. Zalando sees its focus on both B2C and B2B as key pillars of its success.

Within B2C, Zalando will focus on improving the lifestyle offering for end customers. The company has expanded its product range to include adaptive footwear for children with disabilities. In addition, it has launched an AI shopping assistant with body measurement capabilities. The new tool is only available in 6 markets.

In the B2B sector, Zalando uses its ZEOS operating system. This enables brands to use the company’s extensive logistics network for delivery and returns, regardless of whether the products were purchased on Zalando, in the retailer’s own e-store or on another European platform. In the first quarter, five additional ZEOS multi-channel partners were added, bringing the total number of partners to 27. In Zalando’s wholesale segment, revenue grew by 13% to € 215 million.

“B2C customers are showing increased interest in our high-quality product range, digital tools, offers and inspirational content. B2B customers are taking advantage of our unique offering. Both of our growth vectors are strong and contributing to the results, demonstrating the strength of our plans,” said Zalando’s CFO, Dr Sandra Dembeck.

The company’s complete year-on-year results can be found in the official report.