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'''Primark''' (or Penneys) is a clothing retailer, operating in [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], the [[United Kingdom]], the [[Netherlands]], [[Germany]], [[Spain]] and [[Portugal]]. It operates a total of 188 stores with 34 in Ireland, 125 in the UK, 8 in Spain and 1 in the Netherlands, Germany and in Portugal. Whilst the company's main headquarters are based in Ireland where it trades as '''Penneys''', the chain is a subsidiary of [[Associated British Foods plc]] (ABF), and is ultimately controlled by the [[Weston family]] through [[Wittington Investments]]. The company positions itself as marketing fashionable clothing at competitive prices.
'''Primark''' (or Penneys) is a clothing retailer, whose name stands for Pre Market Price, operating in [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], the [[United Kingdom]], the [[Netherlands]], [[Germany]], [[Spain]] and [[Portugal]]. It operates a total of 188 stores with 34 in Ireland, 125 in the UK, 8 in Spain and 1 in the Netherlands, Germany and in Portugal. Whilst the company's main headquarters are based in Ireland where it trades as '''Penneys''', the chain is a subsidiary of [[Associated British Foods plc]] (ABF), and is ultimately controlled by the [[Weston family]] through [[Wittington Investments]]. The company positions itself as marketing fashionable clothing at competitive prices.


In England the name is generally {{pron-en|ˈpraɪmɑrk}} {{respell|PRY|mark}}. However, in [[Wales]], [[Northern Ireland]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], and [[Scotland]] it is usually pronounced {{IPA|/ˈpriːmɑrk/}} ''{{sm|pree}}-mark.''{{Citation needed|date=December 2008}} While some believe the store to have originally been pronounced ''{{sm|pry}}-mark,'' and it is pronounced that way on a Primark corporate video,<ref name="PrimarkVideo">{{cite video |title= Primark - In Our Own Words |url= http://www.abf.co.uk/about/videos.asp |medium= Corporate Video |publisher= Associated British Foods plc |accessdate=2008-06-02 }}</ref> the company had an intensive annual advertising campaign each Christmas during the 1980s in which the store was referred to on several occasions (throughout the song/jingle) as ''{{sm|pree}}-mark,'' although in Ireland this lyric was dubbed over as 'Penneys'.
In England the name is generally {{pron-en|ˈpraɪmɑrk}} {{respell|PRY|mark}}. However, in [[Wales]], [[Northern Ireland]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], and [[Scotland]] it is usually pronounced {{IPA|/ˈpriːmɑrk/}} ''{{sm|pree}}-mark.''{{Citation needed|date=December 2008}} While some believe the store to have originally been pronounced ''{{sm|pry}}-mark,'' and it is pronounced that way on a Primark corporate video,<ref name="PrimarkVideo">{{cite video |title= Primark - In Our Own Words |url= http://www.abf.co.uk/about/videos.asp |medium= Corporate Video |publisher= Associated British Foods plc |accessdate=2008-06-02 }}</ref> the company had an intensive annual advertising campaign each Christmas during the 1980s in which the store was referred to on several occasions (throughout the song/jingle) as ''{{sm|pree}}-mark,'' although in Ireland this lyric was dubbed over as 'Penneys'.

Revision as of 20:18, 9 November 2009

"Penneys" redirects here. For the American retailer, see J.C. Penney.
Primark Stores Limited
Company typeSubsidiary of Associated British Foods (ABF) plc
IndustryRetailer
Founded1969
HeadquartersDublin, Ireland
Number of locations
191[1]
Key people
Arthur Ryan, chairman and managing director[2],
Seamus M. Halford, Deputy Managing Director,
Patrick Prior, Finance Director,
Breege O'Donoghue, Human Resources Director
ProductsClothes, Linen also Household Goods
Revenue£1,933m (2008) [1]
£233m (2007)
Number of employees
27,500

Primark (or Penneys) is a clothing retailer, whose name stands for Pre Market Price, operating in Ireland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain and Portugal. It operates a total of 188 stores with 34 in Ireland, 125 in the UK, 8 in Spain and 1 in the Netherlands, Germany and in Portugal. Whilst the company's main headquarters are based in Ireland where it trades as Penneys, the chain is a subsidiary of Associated British Foods plc (ABF), and is ultimately controlled by the Weston family through Wittington Investments. The company positions itself as marketing fashionable clothing at competitive prices.

In England the name is generally Template:Pron-en PRY-mark. However, in Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland, and Scotland it is usually pronounced /ˈpriːmɑrk/ pree-mark.[citation needed] While some believe the store to have originally been pronounced pry-mark, and it is pronounced that way on a Primark corporate video,[3] the company had an intensive annual advertising campaign each Christmas during the 1980s in which the store was referred to on several occasions (throughout the song/jingle) as pree-mark, although in Ireland this lyric was dubbed over as 'Penneys'.

Liverpool's five story 84,000 sq ft Primark was the world's largest, but has now been superseded by the Primark in Bristol at 82-92 The Horsefair Bristol with 100,000 sq ft.

Market position

Primark on The Headrow in Leeds city centre, occupying the former Odeon cinema there.

Primark is known for selling clothes at the budget end of the market. The company's success is based on sourcing supply cheaply, making clothes with simple designs and fabrics, only making them in the most popular sizes, buying stock in huge bulks and varieties and not advertising.

Primark's own brands

All of the company's merchandise is made specifically for the company and as such Primark has its own brand names:

  • Active — sporting boyswear
  • Atmosphere — womenswear and accessories and footwear
  • Butler & Webb — formal menswear
  • Cedarwood State — casual menswear
  • Denim Co. — womenswear, casual men's and childrenswear
  • Early Days — babywear
  • Girl 2 Girl — young girlswear
  • Opia - accessories
  • Rebel Active — older boyswear
  • Rebel Junior — younger boyswear
  • Young Dimension (YD) — older girlswear
  • Primark Beauty - Cosmetics
  • Primark Home — home items
  • Secret Possessions — lingerie, women's nightwear
  • Essentials - Basic Cheaper Items

Departments

Primark is split internally into numbered sections.

  • 1 - Accessories
  • 2 - Hosiery
  • 4 - Underwear & Nightwear
  • 5 - Childrenswear
  • 6 - Menswear
  • 7 - Footwear
  • 8 - Womenswear
  • 11 - Homeware
  • 23 - Health & Beauty
  • 24 - Christmas Products & Giftwear
  • 26 - Brand Name Sports Wear

Criticism

Working practices

In 2005, Primark scored the lowest of all leading clothing chains in the UK - at just 3.5 out of 20 - on an ethical index that ranks criteria such as workers' rights and whether they do business with oppressive regimes. The figure was contested by Primark and Ethical Consumer released a statement indicating that marks had been skewed due to its position in a wider company group.

In 2006, Primark joined the Ethical Trading Initiative, a collaborative organization bringing together businesses, trades unions and NGOs to work on labour rights issues in their supply chains.[4] ETI members commit to working towards the implementation of a code of conduct based on the International Labour Organisation's core conventions.

In 2008, poor working conditions in Indian factories supplying Primark were the subject of an undercover investigative documentary by the BBC's Panorama. Primark subsequently stopped doing business with the Indian supplier.

In December 2008, the UK charity War on Want launched a new report, Fashion Victims II, that showed terms and conditions had not improved in Bangladeshi factories supplying Primark, two years after the charity first visited them.[5]

On 9 January 2009, a supplier was forced by ETI to remove its branding from Primark stores and websites following a BBC/The Observer investigation into the employment practices. The investigation alleged use of illegal immigrant labour which was paid less than the UK legal minimum wage.[6]

Child labour

On 23 June 2008, the BBC broadcast a Panorama programme that showed manufacturing practices which it considered to be unethical in Primark's supply chain. Undercover reporters exposed child labour in three of India's garment factories sub-contracted by Primark.[7] The BBC alerted Primark to their findings, to which Primark replied: "Under no circumstances would Primark ever knowingly permit such activities". Primark has since halted business with the mentioned suppliers, although this action was criticised by child protection groups as being irresponsible and likely to cause additional hardship to the labourers, arguing it would have been better to ensure working practices were turned around.[citation needed]

Stores

Country Number of Stores
Republic of Ireland Ireland 38 (trading as 'Penneys')
United Kingdom United Kingdom 136
Spain Spain 14
Netherlands Netherlands 1
Portugal Portugal 1
Germany Germany 1

The company is planning to open a store in Liège, Belgium [2]. There are rumours of openings in Switzerland and Austria [3]. A second German store is due to open in Frankfurt in November 2009.

References

  1. ^ http://www.primark.co.uk/page.aspx?pointerid=eb44df4565934edca627dac6ec12145a
  2. ^ Primark oldie’s golden touch, The Times, April 22, 2007. Retrieved January 28, 2008.
  3. ^ Primark - In Our Own Words (Corporate Video). Associated British Foods plc. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
  4. ^ Primark joins Ethical Trading Initiative - Press Release - ETI
  5. ^ http://www.waronwant.org/campaigns/supermarkets/fashion-victims/inform/16360-fashion-victims-ii
  6. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/jan/11/primark-ethical-business-living
  7. ^ BBC NEWS | Business | Ministers pressed on child labour
  • Alam, Khorshed; M. Hearson (2006-12-08). Fashion Victims (pdf), War on Want, Retrieved on 2006-12-10.
  • Kehoe, Ian. "The very private Ryan", Sunday Business Post, 2006-08-01. Retrieved on 2006-12-10.
  • Primark Stores Ltd, www.primark.co.uk
  • The Independent Newspaper, UK, Dec 2005/ July 2007
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