Farfetch
With merchandise from over 700 boutiques and brands from around the world, Farfetch is a company that is on the cutting edge of the luxury fashion retail platform. What started in 2007 under the direction of Portuguese entrepreneur Jose Neves, continues all the way to the present with the recent launch of in-house fashion brand There Was One. Headquartered in London with main branches in Porto, Braga, Guimaraes, New York, Lisbon, Los Angeles, Shanghai, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Sao Paulo, and Dubai, this e-commerce giant operates local-language websites in a wide variety of languages including French, Spanish, Japanese, Arabic, Korean, German, and Russian. This means that the high-caliber merchandise from every corner of the globe can be enjoyed and appreciated far and wide. With offices in 14 cities and a staff of more than 4,500 people, Farfetch has worked hard to be an online luxury fashion retail platform of note and growth throughout the entire world.
Hard work and tenacity helped the company to grow throughout the years, as they made smart decisions to expand the business. In May of 2015, they acquired the London boutique retailer Browns, and also in 2015 they created Farfetch Black and White and Store of the Future. 2017 brought another big move for Farfetch when JD.com Inc. purchased a stake in the company for $397 million. This became the biggest overseas expansion and investment from the Chinese e-commerce company. Farfetch went public in September 2018, and continues to expand, launching its in-house fashion brand in October 2021.
From the first click into the e-commerce world of the Farfetch website, it is obvious that the company is dynamic, as well as on the cutting edge of fashion. The web site is set up and clearly marked with sections for Men, Women, and Children. The website is further delineated according to several other categories that make shopping quite simple. Website guests can shop by designer, or by type of product, such as clothes, shoes, accessories, or jewelry. Another perk of the website is that there is a pre-owned section for customers who want the designer look that is slightly less taxing on the wallet.
Farfetch takes their social responsibility seriously, with a policy for sustainability and human slavery. They don’t want any of their actions to cause the world or its people to suffer. The information for sustainability and care for the world is easily found on the website, and perfect for those shoppers who want to be more socially conscious.
They also take care of their customers, with many programs that benefit the people who shop with them. For instance, they have a Customer Loyalty Programme and discounts for Friend Referrals, Youth, and Essential Workers. Although they offer top of the line merchandise, they want it to be more within economic reach for the average person, and offer several ways for this to happen.
They make shopping easier with their app, available for iOS and Android, and it has a visual search image that can help customers find the item of their dreams faster, and special promotions just for the app.
Farfetch operates with a wide variety of currencies and languages, and many regions allow customers to pick up the merchandise rather than have it mailed to them. There is a generous return policy, and a Global Customer Service area to help with any glitches.
According to the company’s website, “FARFETCH exists for the love of fashion. We believe in empowering individuality. Our mission is to be the global platform for luxury fashion, connecting creators, curators and consumers.”