Primark to sell ‘last years’ stock

[Brogues]

Genius move to save them money and repair their fast fashion/poor sustainability image or will it backfire?

Article on the bbc about it www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/business-56182085 and I thought it was worth a discussion.

I think it's a really good idea. We have all at points been caught out needing a jumper in August when the weather is rubbish and it's good that it will avoid landfill. I also quite admire their refusal to go online, they have a very large customer base and when the shops reopened last year I was one of the many who was happy to go there.

At the prices they charge, people will choose to go back whether it's old stock or not. The queues for Primark at Meadowhall last summer were huge...

People haven’t seen the stock so I think it’ll be ok. Fashion has been quite stalled because no one has been wearing proper clothes so we will want new clothes but probably only within styles and fashions that we’re already comfortable with.

I expect next year and thereafter will see demand for very new styles as a kind of rebirth as we enter the world again.

Sounds like a good idea to me

In any shop's fashion range there will be basics that don't really change style year on year, and more ephemeral clothes that quickly go out of date. I imagine at the basics end, they only normally restock for the sake of it. I doubt there's any noticeable difference between this year's t-shirts and last year's.

The alternative is landfill?

The only clothes we've physically seen for months have been whatever is in our local supermarket and for those of us in Wales we've had periods of the govt telling us they are not essential purchases, so we had to gaze at them longingly on our way to the cat food aisle! At this point I'm really not fussy about having 'new' stock

@BreakfastAtSquiffanys

The alternative is landfill?

They say they normally give them to charity.

I’m pleased everyone so far sees it as a positive. I was worried people would turn their noses up before they’ve even seen it just because it is last years. I agree about the queues after lockdown 1 will be replicated and then some!

I suppose some people may have already bought (online) this years Shacket or Borg fleece so their might be less appetite for another one come autumn? Will ASOS and the like deliberately try and change their stock to the next fashion items to grab the money next season?

Although Primark gets slated for “fast fashion” most people go their for t-shirts, leggings, PJs, socks and underwear and kid’s clothes, most of which don’t change from year to year anyway, so I doubt there’ll be much of an issue with that.

telling us they are not essential purchases, so we had to gaze at them longingly on our way to the cat food aisle!

When you know you've been locked down too long - you get excited by George at Asda .

Glad I am not the only one seeing the local supermarket as a veritable cornucopia of delights!

Great idea. I'll be there, I'm old enough not to care about the newest fashion, and I can't wait to get back into shops again. I haven't bought a single thing online.

I really don't care, as long as it's stretchy.

I was worried people would turn their noses up before they’ve even seen it just because it is last years.

I am possibly not the target demographic because I doubt I'd notice if it was unsold stock from 2010, never mind 2020 .

But definitely a good idea on Primark's behalf.

Absolutely they should do this. So should all the other fashion retailers, it would be a shameful waste not to.

I wonder if other retailers (and hence fashion) will be a bit subdued and traditional just in case they are left with a load of ‘fashion’ stock again next winter if further lockdowns occur. That idea flies in the face of the media predicting flamboyance and excess at the jubilation of being free though...

I can't imagine being able to tell whether something was last year's stock or this years, or imagine caring even if I did know!

@Brogues

I wonder if other retailers (and hence fashion) will be a bit subdued and traditional just in case they are left with a load of ‘fashion’ stock again next winter if further lockdowns occur. That idea flies in the face of the media predicting flamboyance and excess at the jubilation of being free though...

I was thinking about this more generally and wondering if we would have a kind of 'summer of love' with a hippy, alternative sort of feel to fashion. I'm not a sociable person so I won't really be part of it but it will be interesting to watch from the sidelines.

I dont mind at all what year the clothes are. As PP said we go for their basics - t shirts, PJs , underwear. I might pick up a dress or a jacket on the through the store but I dont intentionally go for those.
The only clothes Ive seen have been in asda and I have not been tempted by any of it this year. The big puffy sleeves, huge collars, peplums, frills - No No No and No.
I just want easy to wear clothes and Im usually happy with what Primark have to offer.

Having seen some adverts from supermarkets for this years spring fashion they are just as hideous as last year. Silly puffy sleeves, dress so short you will be constantly flashing your pants. Cardigans come up to your belly button.

I buy basic underwear, pjs, leggings, normally looking tops and cardigans from primark so unlikely be affected by trends.

and so they should. I work in retail, was thinking about this. Obviously next winter's stock has already been ordered. The store was full of winter stock before we closed. I think there maybe some good sales coming up. Shops don't have the space to store last seasons stock that didn't sell. Lots of work to get prepared for the spring summer clothing that will have already been received, waiting to be unboxed.

Quite frankly I am so excited about the thought of going shopping I really don't mind what they have. I guarantee I'll still come out with a few bag fulls!

When they opened again in summer half of it was already the previous year’s stock. However, one of the nicest outfits my 16 month old has ever had was from Primark last summer, so if I can buy it again in this year’s size I will be absolutely delighted!

Brilliant idea. Every retailer should be doing this. We don't need to throw away clothes because they are "last years" stock. I have trousers that are 20 years old, why on earth would i throw them out unless they had a hole on them ?

I was shocked to read that old seasons clothes get burned or landfill.

I am also embarrassed that I have missed Primark but they do good basic tshirts, bras, leggings, nightwear. The closest I found was Next and the price was double.