Primark's Fast-Fashion Crown Slips With Shoppers Lured to Shein
Decision looms on mooted spinoff against backdrop of mounting competition.
Primark’s Oxford Street store in London.
Photographer: Jason Alden/BloombergInaaya Khan is surrounded by choice at the Westfield London shopping mall. It’s a Thursday lunchtime, and the 20-year-old student has emerged from Primark clutching one of its trademark brown paper shopping bags — and now the budget clothing retailer’s rivals are catching her eye.
“The price has definitely gone up,” said Khan, whose Primark purchase was matching pajamas with her friend, Klea. “Stuff that I buy now is about £20, before it would have been £12 or £13.” Her spending habits have shifted as a result. For the cheapest prices, Khan goes online to Shein; for something higher quality, a jump to H&M or Zara now doesn’t feel so big, she said.