UK Brands Selling On Zalando.de
Category
Marketplaces
Published by
Tom Emmanuel
Read Time
6 Minutes
Germany is Zalando's biggest market and a natural first step into Europe for UK fashion brands. Since Brexit, a UK brand selling there is a non-EU seller, and Zalando's onboarding reflects that. Here is what to have in place before you apply and once you are live.
Tom Emmanuel
Founder, Furnace Commerce
Before you apply
An EU VAT set-up
Zalando asks every partner for valid tax details. If your stock is held in Germany, expect to register for VAT there and use the EU One Stop Shop to report sales into other EU countries. Many UK brands use an EU entity or an EU partner to keep this simple.
Packaging EPR in Germany
Zalando requires every partner selling in Germany to be registered for packaging extended producer responsibility. Batteries and electrical products need their own registrations as well.
Product safety and an EU contact
Products must meet the EU General Product Safety Regulation, including an EU-based responsible person named in the product information. CE marking is needed wherever it applies.
Clean product data
Every product needs a valid 13-digit EAN, complete attributes and professional imagery. Listings for German shoppers should be written in German, not machine-translated from English.
Zalando checks these during onboarding, so gaps here delay your launch rather than simply creating a risk for later.
Trading once you are live
Keep stock in the EU
Shipping each order from the UK adds customs checks, duty and slow delivery. Hold stock in the EU, either with Zalando Fulfillment Solutions or with an approved European logistics partner.
Plan for fashion returns
Fashion return rates are high. Zalando requires at least a 30-day return policy in Germany, and you need an EU returns address and a fast process to get returned stock back on sale.
Meet the service targets
Zalando measures delivery speed, cancellations and customer experience. Falling below its targets reduces visibility, so review them weekly from the first day.
Connect it properly
Zalando partners usually connect through an integrator or a channel management platform such as ChannelEngine, which keeps stock, prices and orders in sync with your other channels.
Let's work together
Planning a Zalando Germany launch?
Tell us about your brand and we will map the VAT, compliance and logistics set-up you need.