“Consumer demand has increased across the industry in the third quarter, with a strong start to the fall/winter season, compared to last year's slow beginning. Our new ecosystem strategy, empowering us to cover a larger share of the fashion and lifestyle e-commerce market, positions us very well to capture growth opportunities”, commented Robert Gentz, Zalando’s co-Chief Executive Officer, on the company’s preliminary third quarter results.

The company, which has now more than 50 million active customers, has reported a 7.8% increase in gross merchandise volume (GMV), and a 5.0% increase in revenue, as compared to the same period last year. The positive results reflect Zalando’s ability to tap into rising consumer demand, particularly with the strong start to the fall/winter season.

Zalando’s ecosystem strategy focuses on expanding its fashion and lifestyle e-commerce presence. By enhancing quality and inspiration and opening up its business-to-business capabilities, the company has strengthened its offering to consumers and brands alike. Preliminary figures for the third quarter show a significant increase in adjusted EBIT, which grew from 23 million euros in the third quarter of 2023 to 93 million euros in the same period in 2024, demonstrating the company’s improved operational efficiency.

As a result of this success, Zalando has revised its guidance for the full year 2024. The company now expects GMV to grow between 3% and 5%, up from a previous forecast of 0% to 5%. Revenue growth has also been upgraded to a range of 2% to 5%. At the same time, adjusted EBIT is anticipated to reach between 440 million euros and 480 million euros, reflecting the company’s continued momentum. Zalando also revised its capital expenditure plans, lowering its target to around 200 million euros for the full year.

Looking ahead, Zalando remains confident in its ability to continue to capture growth opportunities. The new ecosystem strategy, together with initiatives that drive consumer loyalty and further strengthen the company’s European logistics network, is essential to sustain Zalando’s expansion.

The company will report its audited third quarter results on the 5^th of  November 2024.