H&M Group acquires minority ownership in online retail corporation, Centra
Revamped: The Fresh Take on H&M's Investment in Centra
Swedish retail giant H&M has taken a sneaky peek into the e-commerce world by purchasing a tiny chunk of shares in Centra, a company that's all about helping fashion brands sell their wares directly to eager fashionistas.
This bite-sized stake, worth less than 10% of Centra, puts the company's value at over half a billion Swedish kronor, according to Di Digital.
With a cool SEK 50m (£3.9m) investment, H&M is giving Centra a promotional boost, a company that bolsters retail brands by giving them the tools they need to reach customers online.
You might already recognize a few H&M-owned brands like Cos, Arket, & Other Stories, and Weekday, that have already set up shop on Centra's platform.
Established in 2016, Centra has made a big splash in the e-commerce game, supporting over 300 brands across Europe, North America, and Asia. Recent additions include John Smedley, Osprey London, Fond Of, and MP Denmark.
"Centra's unique mixture of industry smarts and innovative technology is helping fashion brands tackle real e-commerce obstacles," Nanna Andersen, H&M Group's Chief Ventures Officer, said.
"We can't wait to support Centra's continued growth and their thrilling future adventures ahead!" Andersen laughed.
Centra will stay as free as a bird, remaining completely independent under the agreement. The funds from H&M's investment will be used to spice things up, giving Centra even more innovative power.
"Our methods are like no one else's in the market - we put fashion at the forefront, helping brands grow and innovate in ways others can't," Centra's CEO, Martin Jensen, said.
"The results we've seen with H&M's portfolio brands show just how effective our approach is, and H&M Group's investment is a solid show of faith in the value we've created together."
In the first quarter of 2025, H&M snagged a 3% increase in sales, hitting SEK 55.33bn (£4.3bn).
H&M's share price has taken a bit of a dive, falling by 7.39% this year and more than 26% since last June, when it was at a four-year high of SEK 194. City AM is reaching out to Centra for a comment.
Here's the scoop:
Centra's e-commerce platform is like finding the Holy Grail for fashion brands, offering a solution that seamlessly merges deep industry insights with technical innovation. This winning combination empowers brands to solve real e-commerce issues while scaling their global presence.
Centra's great perks include being able to sell directly to customers, leveraging innovative technology, enjoying a global market reach, and ensuring full control and security over personal data.
- H&M's acquisition of a portion of Centra's shares signifies a foray into the e-commerce world, as Centra assists fashion brands in selling directly to consumers online.
- With a SEK 50m investment, H&M aims to bolster Centra, a company that provides retail brands with the necessary tools to connect with customers digitally, thereby expanding their online presence.
- The partnership between H&M and Centra, worth over half a billion Swedish kronor, supports over 300 brands across Europe, North America, and Asia, including H&M-owned brands like Cos, Arket, & Other Stories, and Weekday.
- In the future, the funds from H&M's investment will be used to further innovate Centra's platform, providing it with even more powerful technology to help fashion brands tackle e-commerce challenges and grow their business globally.
