Inside HUGE new Zara at the Trafford Centre which includes big change for shoppers

There’s a big change for shoppers heading to the huge new Zara concept store – and it may mean no more queuing at the tills…The design-led new interior of Zara at the Trafford Centre(Image: Zara)

A huge new Zara store has opened at the Trafford Centre boasting a host of UK firsts from the international fashion brand.

The retailer has relocated from its existing upper and lower unit on Peel Avenue to an expanded store in a transformed section of the mall next to John Lewis.

The new store spans over 3,000 square metres of commercial floor space on a single level and showcases an extensive range of fashion collections for women, men, and children.

It also includes new dedicated spaces for fragrances and special collections such as Zara Origins and Zara Athleticz.

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And new parents will also be excited to learn there’s a dedicated “baby boutique” at the heart featuring all of Zara’s newborn and babywear.

The baby boutique inside the new Zara(Image: Manchester Evening News)

There’s also a stylish new shoe and handbag lounge area – with comfy seating to relax in while you try on a range of shoes.

The giant new store features FOUR new entrances – each one guiding the shopper through to a particular section in the store.

Inside, shoppers can expect a real designer feel for the high street brand – with a new “interior archiecture where each space takes on its own identity.”

The launch follows Zara’s newest concept for global flagship stores, with a refreshed image and new product display areas, also equipped with the most advanced technology for a “seamless customer experience”.

The new Zara is on Lower Peel Avenue near John Lewis(Image: Manchester Evening News)

Bosses say the interior is designed to create a “welcoming, intimate atmosphere, guiding customers through different spaces which have been individually curated”.

And in another UK first, the new Zara has opened without ANY traditional tills in the payment areas.

In what is a big change for shoppers at the new concept store, there are futuristic desks with computers where shoppers will head to checkout.

Bosses stress it is not a self-checkout but rather “assisted checkout” as shoppers will be guided by shop assistants through the process.

No traditional tills – there are “assisted checkouts” instead at the new Zara(Image: Zara)

Bosses say the new system should limit any potential queues (which Zara Trafford Centre shoppers may have previously done) – because in the new store customers will head to one of 20 checkout desks in the new payment areas to use a screen to pay for their goods.

There’s still the option of cash payments though – in a separate area in the assisted checkouts.

There are also dedicated areas for shop returns and online returns.

Also new at Zara Trafford is a new system behind the scenes for the huge changing rooms.

An automated clothes sorting and movement system will take all the clothes people don’t want after trying on, which will allow store staff more time to focus on delivering “exceptional customer service”, say bosses.

The new Zara concept store at the Trafford Centre(Image: Zara)

In addition, the store features a cardboard collection point to invite customers to recycle online packaging, and a used clothing collection container too for donations to charity.

Zara is part of the Inditex Group, a global fashion company that also includes Pull&Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho, and Zara Home.

The move of Zara to its new location at The Trafford Centre comes amid a major investment by Inditex into the former M&S units on Peel Avenue.

Inditex also opened on Thursday its new Bershka store, which is now the biggest in the UK, while a new look Pull&Bear will also open alongside them later this year.

Stylish new look at the new Zara store(Image: Zara)

The opening of the new Zara has created 75 new jobs, with some 270 staff now working across the site.

Since making its UK debut in 1998 with a store on London’s Regent Street, Zara has steadily expanded its footprint across the country.

Today, it operates 57 stores nationally and employs around 4,500 people.

The new Zara is now open at the Trafford Centre(Image: Zara)

The company was first founded in May 1975 when founder Amancio Ortega opened the first-ever Zara store in A Coruña, Spain.

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