Dive Brief:
- Adding more options to its assortment, Shein is partnering with third-party merchants and international brands to offer more product categories on its marketplace, including appliances, smart home items and home DIY products, the retailer announced Thursday.
- Shein is also introducing established brands on its marketplace, including footwear company Sketchers and mother care brand Lansinoh.
- The company recently launched its online marketplace in Brazil and the U.S. and plans to open more markets in the coming months, according to the announcement.
Dive Insight:
The addition of more product categories to its assortment is part of Shein’s plan to meet growing consumer demand and streamline order fulfillment time, according to the retailer.
The company launched its U.S. marketplace in May so third-party sellers could offer goods on a Shein-branded site alongside Shein products. For sellers the platform provides real-time data analytics, product fulfillment and marketing exposure.
“We are always committed to providing our customers with high-quality products at affordable prices, and our expansion into new categories reflects that,” Molly Miao, COO of Shein, said in a statement about its product expansion. “Through our collaborations with these curated brands, we not only highlight the distinctive value of Shein’s newly launched marketplace, but also demonstrate our dedication to customer satisfaction and our mission to make fashion and lifestyle products accessible to everyone.”
Shein has recently made some changes to its supply chain. Late last year, Shein announced plans to pour $15 million over the next three to four years to update its factories. Shein also planned to double the amount it invests annually in its responsible sourcing program, bringing total spend to $4 million
The push to upgrade its supply chain and attract more sellers comes as the company faces congressional scrutiny over its business practices. Earlier this year, Democratic Sens. Bill Cassidy, Elizabeth Warren and Sheldon Whitehouse wrote a letter to the company demanding answers regarding its alleged ties to Chinese supply chains in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
