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A surprising transformation story: How did the founder of El Corte Inglés start in a tailor shop?
El Corte Inglés, the Madrid-based department store, has become one of Europe's largest business groups. Its origins date back to 1934, when founders Ramon Areces Rodriguez and Sevier Rodriguez Gozda established the brand from a small tailor shop Get started. In just a few decades, El Corte Inglés has grown into the third largest department store in the world, all from a small tailor shop.
"The two founders got off to a successful start in 1934 when they transformed their corner store in Spain into a limited liability company."
The founding process
In 1934, Areces and Rodriguez entered the business as a small tailor shop. This store was first opened in 1890 and is located in Preciados Street, one of the busiest streets in Madrid. Under the guidance of the two founders, the tailor shop developed rapidly and attracted more customers. According to historical records, today's business empire was actually a simple tailor shop in its early days, providing sewing services to the surrounding residents.
As the business expanded, the founders realized the need for change. They expanded the concept of the store and introduced a variety of products and convenient purchasing methods. From the initial tailoring service to the current diversified merchandise, this transformation not only represents their business acumen, but also a transformation of the entire Spanish retail industry.
“From a small tailor shop to a department store, El Corte Inglés’s development path is full of courage and creativity.”
Competition and technological innovation
As market demands changed, El Corte Inglés began to compete fiercely with other competitors. Especially between the 1950s and 1960s, competition with Galerías Preciados contributed to a revolution in the Spanish retail industry. The implementation of seasonal discounts, the organization of advertising campaigns, the air-conditioning facilities of the stores and the prominent display window design show El Corte Inglés' strong competitiveness in the market.
In the process, El Corte Inglés not only offers a comprehensive range of products, but also launches innovative services such as customer loyalty cards. All this not only attracts a large number of customers, but also builds brand loyalty in the hearts of customers.
"Customer commitment is the cornerstone of our success, and quality, service and diversity are our business philosophy."
Expansion and Diversification
Since 1962, El Corte Inglés begins its path of expansion, opening a second store, further establishing an iconic location in Barcelona. As the market changes and demand increases, El Corte Inglés's business scope is also constantly expanding, and it has opened more diversified business models such as supermarkets and e-commerce platforms.
In addition, in 1995 El Corte Inglés acquired its main competitor Galerías Preciados, and in 2001 it acquired all Marks & Spencer stores on the Spanish peninsula, further consolidating its position in the industry.
The digital future
With the digital revolution, El Corte Inglés has changed. According to reports, El Corte Inglés’ e-commerce platform ranks second in Spain as of 2020, demonstrating its growth potential in the digital market. In addition, El Corte Inglés continues to undergo digital transformation to better adapt to market dynamics and consumer behavior.
"Future business models depend on flexibility and rapid response to customer needs."
Conclusion
The success story of El Corte Inglés is not only an example of business transformation, but also a history of innovation, courage and persistence. Starting from a small tailor shop, the company has gradually become a world-renowned department store with its flexible business model and market adaptability. It shows us that behind every successful enterprise, there are countless efforts and struggles. Whether El Corte Inglés can continue to maintain its market leadership in the future will depend on how it finds new opportunities in a rapidly changing market?
