Q&A: Does Bershka Franchise in the UK?

Alice Tuffery, writer

Published at 05/07/2019, Updated on 04/05/2022 , Reading time: 6 min

Q&A: Does Bershka Franchise in the UK? — Photo © bershka-logo.jpg

If you’d like to start your own clothing store business, you might be interested in operating under the Bershka brand. But does Bershka franchise and how can you get involved? We find out.

Bershka is a retail clothing chain with stores across the world. In the UK, you’ll find locations in Bristol, Brighton, Stratford, London and Cardiff, but the brand also reaches markets in Europe, Asia, the Americas and Africa. Elsewhere, customers can buy Bershka products online.

The youth-oriented fashion business operates under the Spanish parent company, Inditex. This is the biggest apparel retailer in the world, as it also owns Zara, Pull&Bear, Massimo Dutti, and Oysho. As a result, Bershka benefits from a level of security in the clothing market, allowing it to target young consumers who like to keep up with the latest trends. Chic style, modernity, vibrant colours and striking graphics characterise Bershka stores, which reveals their distinctive brand identity through screens, music, contemporary furniture and lighting.

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History of Bershka

Berskha was launched in 1998 and after just two years it had firmly established itself in the marketplace by opening 100 stores. It now has over 1,000 operating across more than 70 markets, and its sales make up nine percent of Inditex’s total revenue.

Keen to always stay up to date with the latest trends, Bershka uses its adaptable business model to reflect the fashion and retail trends that come and go. Its design team is made up of over 60 experts who are constantly observing innovation and changes in the industry. By extensively evaluating the wants and needs of customers, Bershka can offer more than 4,000 different items every year.

Does Bershka franchise?

Unfortunately, there are no Bershka franchise opportunities, as all stores are company-run.

How to get involved with Bershka

Bershka franchises don’t exist, but some of Inditex’s stores are run as franchises in certain countries. If you’re interested in joining Inditex as a franchisee, you should get in touch with the parent company directly.

The fashion retail market in the UK

Here in the UK, we spend an average of £1,042 a year adding to our wardrobes. The women’s clothing market is particularly lucrative, and that’s not about to change. According to Mintel, womenswear sales will grow by 14 percent between 2018 and 2022. This means the women’s clothing sector will be worth £33 billion. Clearly, despite uncertainties surrounding Brexit and increasing consumer awareness of sustainability, high street chains are still thriving.

The market is undoubtedly challenging and more competitive than ever before, but those with a real understanding of what their customers want will continue to succeed. – Samantha Dover, Senior Fashion Analyst at Mintel.

Bershka is in a particularly good position, as it’s worked to reduce its impact on the environment by saving energy, reducing waste and encouraging an eco-efficient shopping experience. It also aims to reduce its energy consumption by 20 percent and recycle store furniture, decorations, packaging, hangers and alarms.

In addition, the retail franchise uses campaigns and training programmes to encourage staff to make more sustainable life choices, such as using eco-friendly transport and following measures implemented in the workplace.

In its product lines, Bershka supports organic farming, and some of its 100 percent cotton garments are made without chemicals, bleaches or pesticides. These pieces have a different label to differentiate them. On top of this, all products containing animal products, such as leather and fur, come from farms raising animals for food – never from animals killed specifically for their skin.

Similar franchise opportunities

At the moment, we have one fashion franchise on our books, Noa Noa. Let’s explore the retail franchise in more detail, before taking a look at a couple of other franchise opportunities on the market.

1.Noa Noa

Bring the spirit of the Bohemian woman to your local high street with a Noa Noa franchise. This sustainable fashion franchise retails clothes that are made with the intention of representing strong women and allowing customers to feel like their true selves. In a world of fast fashion, Noa Noa prides itself on offering a collection that will stand the test of time.

All clothing collections are designed in Denmark and produced across the world, making Noa Noa a brand with the potential to go global. It’s a proud member of the Business Social Compliance Initiative, which makes sure it operates ethically. Since it was founded in 1981, Noa Noa has opened more than 90 concept stores and can be found in over 350 multi-brand stores across the globe.

Becoming a Noa Noa franchisee: Noa Noa is looking for people with previous experience in the fashion industry to help expand the business. So, whether you’ve run your own company or worked in a managerial role in another store, Noa Noa wants to hear from you. To learn more and sign up, click here.
How much you need to invest: You’ll need to be prepared to invest at least £40,000 to get your store up and running.
What you get for your investment: Franchisees will also be able to access guidance and support whenever they need it. As part of the initial set-up process, store designer Christian Baumann will spend three days at each new location to ensure everything goes to plan. And, to make sure your unit is dressed to impress, visual merchandiser Satijana Blazeska will create stunning displays ready for your grand opening. What’s more, you’ll also have support with marketing and staff training.

2.French Connection

Since 1972, French Connection has been supplying quality fashion and homeware to men, women and children across the world. Through its main distribution channels – retail stores, e-commerce, wholesale and licensing – the brand delivers its products to customers in more than 50 countries in Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East. This high street shop offers a range of different brands available in-store and online, which include TOAST (beautifully crafted clothing and distinctive homeware), Great Plains (a fashion basics range) and YMC (modern, edgy fashion).

Becoming a French Connection franchisee: With around 100 brand-owned stores and 200 franchised and licensed outlets, the company has a strong presence both nationally and internationally. Now, it’s looking for investors to increase its coverage even further. When joining the brand, you will apply to open and run a franchise store in Europe, the Middle East, Asia or Australia.
How much you need to invest: French Connection hasn’t revealed how much it could cost to become a franchisee, but you can find out more by contacting the company.
What you get for your investment: Again, the fashion franchise doesn’t provide details about the franchise process, but if you’re interested in the opportunity, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the business itself. Or, click here to read more.

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3.Debenhams

While Debenhams is a household name in the UK, with a swathe of stores in major cities and towns, the brand is constantly working to increase the number of outlets it operates on foreign soils. Since opening its first international store in Bahrain in 1997, Debenhams has worked on establishing its global presence.

Becoming a Debenhams franchisee: Debenhams currently operates 240 stores in 22 countries. However, with an international web platform, the department store sells to more than 60 countries online. You can become part of this network by joining the business as a franchisee.
How much you need to invest: Debenhams hasn’t published information about the financial requirements of becoming a franchisee, but you can find out more by getting in touch with the company via its website.
What you get for your investment: Debenhams takes a proactive approach to maximise sales across its franchised stores. Working closely with franchisees, the team helps to finalise the optimum product selection on offer for each market.

Launch your retail franchise today

Sadly, you can’t open a Bershka franchise unit at the moment, but there are many other options in the sector. Alternatively, if a clothing franchise isn’t quite right for you, take a look at our range of franchises in the retail sector. You’ll find everything from sweet shops to e-cigarette stores, kitchen installation companies to clothing alteration outlets.