Zalando enters the profit zone

The Berlin-based online retailer for footwear, sporting goods and lifestyle products improved its total sales by 29.5 percent to €1 ,047 million in the 1st 6 months of the existing year over last year’s period. Revenues in the German-speaking countries increased by 21.2 percent to €594 million.

For the very first time, Zalando achieved an operating profit. Earnings before interests and taxes (Ebit) had a margin of 1.2 percent of sales when compared with an operating loss margin of 8.9 % in the 1st half of 2013. In Germany, Austria and Switzerland alone, the Ebit margin was 4.6 % within this year’s first 6 months. The profit came from optimized expenditures in purchasing, logistics and marketing. The number of active clients improved to 11.6 million in total, up from 13.7 million.