Inditex opens Zara online clothes store

Spanish retailer Inditex makes its second foray into online sales on Thursday by giving Zara customers across Europe the opportunity to buy garments from the fashion outlet's website.

Zara's long-awaited transactional website will begin in Spain, the UK, Portugal, Italy, Germany and France - six countries that are among the most lucrative of the company's 76 markets.

The Zara online service will later be extended to the Americas and Asia and the format will eventually be adopted by more of the company's brands.

Of Inditex's eight store brands only one - housewares retailer Zara Home - has sold directly to internet users until now.

Asked recently about the company's late arrival online, Pablo Isla, chief executive, said: "For us, now is the right time to go online."

Read a full report at the Financial Times (registration required). ·