H&M Basic Info

H&M offers fashion and quality at the best price

H&Ms first store was opened in Vasteras, Sweden in 1947 by Earling Persson

H&M is in around 2000 stores spread over 37 countries

H&M offers fashion for women, men, teenagers and children

The collections are created centrally by around 100 in-house designers together with buyers and pattern makers

H&M also sells own-brand cosmetics, accessories and footwear

The stores are refreshed daily with new fashion items

In Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Germany and Austria H&M offers fashion by internet and catalogue sales

H&M employs about 76,000 people

The turnover in 2009 was SEK 118,697 million

To offer the latest fashions, H&M has a design and buying department that creates clothing collections; H&Ms own designers interpret fashion trends and create fashions that are accessible to all

H&M ensure the best price by having few middlemen, buying large volumes, having a broad, in-depth knowledge of design, fashion and textiles, buying the right products from the right market, being cost-conscious at every stage and having efficient distribution 

H&M does not own any production factories. Production of goods is outsourced to 700 independent suppliers, primarily in Asia and Europe, through H&Ms local production offices.

H&M does not own any of its stores. Instead H&M rents store space from international and local landlords.

H&M creates and plans its collections centrally.

Important to understand what customers want from the idea, through the creation of a new product to the customer buying it. 

H&Ms designers, pattern makers and buyers agree on the trends that will inspire H&Ms fashion in the coming season and try to find a good balance between modern basic, current fashions and high fashion.

H&M outsources the production of the items to independent suppliers, mainly in Asia and Europe. 

Millions of items are involved...