Shein notches up $100 billion valuation after fresh funding round
Fast fashion giant Shein hit a $100 billion valuation this week, making it the third most valuable startup in the world after Elon Musk’s SpaceX and ByteDance.
The Chinese firm has secured between $1 billion and $2 billion from investors including General Atlantic, Tiger Global and Sequoia Capital China.
Its valuation now tops the combined value of Zara owner Inditex and H&M, the two biggest clothing companies in the world.
So, yeah, that should give you something to think about over your Corn Flakes this morning.
Are Shein’s cutting edge marketing techniques enough?
Popular with Gen Z, Shein has received recognition for being a leader of social media advertising, but has also been criticised for its aggressive marketing tactics, which some have argued, verge on manipulative.
It has clearly chosen a ‘Close to the Wind’ path for its social media strategy, but whilst these kinds of tactics can work in the short-term, they can only take you so far, and in the longer term the age old fundamentals of commerce still apply, Justin Biddle, UK Lead at Shopware, argued in a recent comment piece for RTIH.
For brands like Shein, looking to succeed in such a crowded online marketplace, engaging and attractive marketing and social media tactics must be complemented with strong e-commerce fundamentals, he stated.
Generating traffic is only part of the process - there is also the issue of conversion. This strategy has to deliver on the promises made on social media and place the customers and their needs at the heart of what they do.
This is all the more important when targeting Gen Z, who are across multiple touchpoints and multiple paths to purchase.
The fundamentals of e-commerce
For any brand looking to sell online, there are, according to Biddle, five crucial fundamentals that drive transaction completion, and are needed to maintain loyal shoppers.
Inspiration - Attractive marketing campaigns must be complemented with an online site that delivers on the ‘Brand Promise’.
Consumers are always looking to be inspired about a purchase, and an e-commerce site that can showcase a brand's products through engaging imagery and content is going to lead to stronger sales.
This includes focussing on aspirational content that allows the customer to picture the outcome.
For example, for a furniture company, a kitchen table isn’t just a table - it is a central hub where family life happens, and from where family happiness emanates. ‘Inspiration’ also takes responsibility for ensuring that there is a ‘compelling event’ that drives a transaction.
Shein does this with timed offers and limited stock runs, which forces the customer to either buy or lose the offer or item.
Convenience - According to Sitecore, 69% of Gen Z has less patience with slow or malfunctioning websites than before the pandemic. A website must have strong UX and therefore be easy to navigate and find the products that are appropriate.
Above all, shoppers are looking for a seamless online experience that makes the path to purchase easy for them.
This includes having all the information they need on the product, pricing, sizing (crucial in clothing and fashion conversion) delivery details, as well as an easy checkout process, including a range of payment methods that give customers optimal choice. For brands selling internationally, proper localisation is a key part of delivering that convenience.
Trust - Sales conversions are fundamentally built on trust.
It is crucial that a brand or retailer communicates clearly to the customer that they will have a successful transaction – and this ‘success’ applies to the product, delivery timing, customer service, ability to return if necessary, and a range of other criteria.
Trust can be built through multiple ways, from an FAQ page that gives reassurance, to helpful chatbots that can deal with common queries, to an efficient and helpful customer services team sitting at the end of a phone.
Trust can also be built on reviews, both from authorities and from peers. They are an important deciding factor for a consumer to reassure them about the service and the product they are purchasing.
Pricing - With a plethora of options, it is easy for customers to continue to shop around if a product is not within budget. Understanding your competitors’ prices and being able to provide a competitive match is the first step.
However, this needs to be complemented with selective discounts and marketing tools to help generate a localised pricing advantage.
Effective pricing strategies can help to win shoppers over and are a key pillar in achieving successful conversion rates. Shein is highly competitive in this area, and this is a major driver of their success, especially with their primary target demographic, Gen Z, which is highly price sensitive.
Engagement - Brands and retailers must remember that every time a shopper returns to your store, they are more likely to convert and make a purchase.
The sales process isn’t about one visit, it is about understanding where your customer is in their sales journey and putting the right messaging in front of them.
For the mobile savvy Gen Z, this could be provided via a functional, user-friendly app that delivers push notification reminders to remain top of mind with shoppers.
Engagement is also the reason why retailers invest heavily in loyalty programmes - once a customer is hooked, data based on previous purchases can provide the customer with relevant recommendations on other products as well as give them exclusive discounts to further engage them later.
Shein is highly efficient in this area, using a combination of aggressive marketing and retention tools (like its app and post purchase offers) and offers a masterclass for challenger brands in how to acquire and maintain a customer base, even if it may fall foul of the more squeamish of marketeers.
Gen Z are becoming an important demographic to target. This demographic has grown up online and therefore arguably have the highest expectations when it comes to online shopping.
Retailers like Shein have developed a strong social media and marketing strategy to attract the attention of the customer and draw them to the site. However, these tactics can only go so far and retailers looking to follow in Shein’s footsteps cannot forget that marketing is just one piece of the puzzle.
Delivering a strong offering that delivers on these fundamental aspects of ‘conversion’ and that is functional and seamless for the customer is the backbone of e-commerce success, Biddle concluded.
