Zara has opened a new store at Blanchardstown Centre, Dublin’s largest retail and leisure destination. Spanning 52,000sq ft in total, it is Zara’s largest store in Ireland. The retailer previously occupied a smaller, 14,000sq ft unit at the centre.
The new store features the latest technological innovations of Zara’s integrated online and physical store platforms. It is equipped with technological tools to offer customers a “unique fashion experience”. Some of the services integrated with the brand’s app include:
• Store Mode – allowing online search for items in store, available stock queries, a fitting room reservation service and the collection of online orders within two hours
• Online shopping collection point with a robotised silo where customers can go directly to collect online orders using a QR code/password received via email
• Dedicated returns area
• Self-checkout area – offering customers an experience integrated with the brand’s online platform.
The store also includes new areas for the latest product lines, such as the menswear Athleticz line (the only one in Ireland), as well as footwear and accessories in the Women’s and Men’s sections. These ’boutique’ spaces have a distinctive design and furnishings, with adjacent restocking areas for a more personalised service.
The addition of Zara follows several other recent signings at the centre – including Nike, which will open its new Nike Unite concept store next year, which will be the first in Ireland, and UK luxury fashion retailer, Flannels, which is set to open a new 45,000sq ft department store this month.
Pat Nash, managing director at Falcon AM, asset managers for Blanchardstown Centre, commented: “The new Zara store is a great addition to the line-up here at Blanchardstown and will act as a real footfall driver as we enter the Christmas shopping period.
“The signing is indicative of continued confidence across the market – and the resilience of prime physical retail in Ireland specifically. It also reflects the success of our substantial investment in the centre over the last two years, increasing its appeal for international, household names like this one.
“Zara is also a brand which really understands the importance of integrating physical and digital retail strategies – giving shoppers the best of both worlds and a seamless experience. It is exactly the type of retailer we want to attract to the centre. The addition will significantly enhance our overall offer.”
