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The strategy of Zara and her Inditex sisters

 https://www.cascade.app/studies/how-zara-strategy-queen-fast-fashion Despite Zara’s success (or because of it), Amancio Ortega created – or bought – multiple other brands that he included in the Inditex group, each one with a specific purpose. Zara  was targeting middle-class women. Pull&Bear  was targeting young people under twenty-five years old with casual clothing. Bershka  was targeting rebel teens, especially girls, with hip-hop-style clothing. Massimo Dutti  was targeting both sexes with more affluence. Stradivarius  was competing with Bershka, giving Inditex two major brands in the teenage market. Oysho  was concentrating on women's lingerie. Zara Home manufactures home textiles and decor. Pull&Bear  was initially targeting young males between the ages of 14 and 28. Later it extended to young females of the same age and focused on selling leisure and sports clothing. It has the slowest stock turnaround time in the group. Bershka’s  target group was girls bet

ZARA Strategy

 https://www.cascade.app/studies/how-zara-strategy-queen-fast-fashion Humble beginnings: How did Zara start? Most people date Zara’s birth to 1975, when Amancio Ortega and Rosalia Mera, his then-wife, opened the first shop. But, it’s impossible to study the company’s first steps, its initial competitive advantage, and strategic approach by starting at that point in time. When the first Zara shop opened, Amancio Ortega already had 22 years of industry experience, ten years as a clever and hard-working employee, and 12 years as a business owner. Rosalia Mera also had 20 years of industry experience. As an employee , Ortega worked in the clothing industry, first as a gofer and then as a delivery boy. He quickly demonstrated great talent for recognizing fabrics, understanding and serving customers, and making sound business suggestions. Soon, he decided to use his insights to develop his own business instead of his boss’s. As a business owner , he started  GOA Confecciones  in

How Ekadashi Fasting creates a path to holistic well-being

https://bhaktimarga.ie/ekadashi-fasting/ The realm of spirituality is as diverse as it is intriguing. Across the globe, a myriad of practices transcending time and space have been devised to cultivate inner peace, mindfulness, and connection with the divine. Among these age-old traditions, Ekadashi fasting – a significant ritual in Hinduism – stands as a testament to spiritual discipline and well-being. Unravelling the Ekadashi tradition The term ‘Ekadashi’ originates from Sanskrit, where ‘Eka’ means one and ‘dashi’ means ten, collectively translating to ‘eleven’. As such, Ekadashi refers to the 11th day of each half of the lunar month in the Hindu calendar, which is observed twice a month. The tradition’s origins can be traced back to ancient Hindu scriptures – the Puranas – which contain the first recorded instructions for observing Ekadashi fasts. It’s believed that Ekadashi was the day when Lord Vishnu, one of the primary deities in Hinduism, awoke after a long

Chapter 2 of the Bhagavad Gita – Practical tips for life

https://bhaktimarga.ie/chapter-2-of-the-bhagavad-gita-practical-tips-for-life/ Chapter 2 of the Bhagavad Gita is one of the opening chapters in the Bhagavad Gita, a 700-verse scripture, holds a revered position in Indian philosophy and spirituality. A part of the Indian epic Mahabharata, this sacred text captures the conversation between Prince Arjuna and Lord Krishna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. As the Pandava and Kaurava armies stand ready for war, Arjuna finds himself in a moral quandary, torn between his duty and his familial bonds. The Bhagavad Gita, spanning 18 chapters, delves into various aspects of life, spirituality, and the human condition. In this blog post, we will explore the second chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, known as “Sankhya Yoga” or “The Yoga of Knowledge.” We will outline the main teachings of this chapter and provide practical tips for applying these teachings in our daily lives. Main Teachings of Chapter 2 of the Bhagavad Gita: Sankhya Y

3-2-1: How to build a business, the paradoxes of life, and finding happiness nearby

  Lawyer Julie Yip-Williams, who was born blind, on the paradoxes of life: "I do not have the answer to the question of why, at least not now and not in this life. But I do know that there is incredible value in pain and suffering, if you allow yourself to experience it, to cry, to feel sorrow and grief, to hurt. Walk through the fire and you will emerge on the other end, whole and stronger. I promise. You will ultimately find truth and beauty and wisdom and peace. You will understand that nothing lasts forever, not pain, or joy. You will understand that joy cannot exist without sadness. Relief cannot exist without pain. Compassion cannot exist without cruelty. Courage cannot exist without fear. Hope cannot exist without despair. Wisdom cannot exist without suffering. Gratitude cannot exist without deprivation. Paradoxes abound in this life. Living is an exercise in navigating within them. I was deprived of sight. And yet, that single unfortunate physical conditio

How to stay focused when you have to pay attention to multiple things at once

The lecturer has you spellbound. Their topic is highly relevant, their slides compelling, and their presentation style mesmerizing. You’re hanging on their every word, closely following their line of reasoning, frantically scribbling down each salient point in your notebook, when suddenly . . . squirrel! Your mind flits away, zigzagging near and far until you notice the other attendees gathering up their notebooks and tablets as they head for the door. The lecture is over, and you’ve missed out on much of the wisdom that held you momentarily entranced. In our age of handheld devices and communicable ADHD, human beings are more distracted than ever . No matter how determined our efforts to keep focused, our eyes and our minds seem equally determined to ricochet hither and thither, drawn to any target that will eclipse what should be the object of our attention. It may be comforting to learn that, by design, rapid eye movement extends beyond the realm of sleeping and dreamin

10 Tips for Running a Successful B2B Wholesale Distribution Business

No matter what products you sell, much of what it takes to run a successful wholesale distribution business today is the same across industries. From hiring and cash flow management, to sales and inventory planning, here are some tips to succeed in wholesale distribution. 10 Tips for Running a Successful B2B Wholesale Distribution Business 1. Hire the right people. While it may seem like an obvious tip, to many businesses often fail to put enough effort into the hiring process. Hiring decisions are some of the most important decisions you’ll ever make for your business. Make sure that you’re properly benchmarking each new position and evaluating each candidate against that benchmark, rather than each other. Also avoid general questions that “guide” the candidate to the right answer, and instead focus on behavioral questions using phrases like, “Think of a time when…” These will give you a clearer idea of how the candidate will handle certain situations. For m