These branded online shops offer more than just higher margins: they provide control, flexibility, and a deeper connection with customers.

And in Europe, this trend is picking up pace.

According to Statista, the region’s fashion e-commerce market is projected to grow by $99 billion by 2029. In the US, DTC sales have tripled in the past six years and Europe is catching up fast. Brands that invest in their own e-commerce platforms now are setting themselves up for sustainable, scalable growth.

Learn how ZEOS helps brands scale their direct-to-consumer strategy and boost performance.

Why own e-commerce is gaining ground

Running a brand.com store gives fashion brands several clear advantages: 

• Higher margins by removing marketplace and retail middlemen
• Full control over pricing, branding, and customer experience
• Ownership of customer data, which powers personalisation and loyalty
• Tailored localisation to suit regional preferences
• Scalable international growth without the need for physical stores

Internal Zalando data shows that up to 70% of fashion transactions already happen via brands’ own e-commerce stores. OEC isn’t just a channel—it’s the core of future retail strategies.

Data is your unfair advantage

With OEC, brands own the full customer journey—and the data behind it. This unlocks smarter decision-making:

• Personalised promotions and product recommendations
• Customer support based on complete order histories
• Real-time demand tracking to optimise stock and reduce waste

When brands can actually see their customers, they can serve them better—and move faster than the competition.

Tech and logistics: the backbone of own e-commerce

But none of this works without the right tech and logistics. OEC success isn’t just about a nice-looking website—it’s about delivering a frictionless end-to-end experience, from click to doorstep.

Managing all this in-house—tech stack, warehousing, shipping, returns, localisation—can stretch teams too thin and slow down growth.

That’s where ZEOS, Europe’s leading e-commerce logistics and fulfilment partner for fashion and lifestyle brands, comes in.

Why ZEOS is the partner powering DTC scale in Europe

ZEOS is Europe’s go-to logistics and fulfilment partner for fashion and lifestyle brands looking to scale OEC effectively.

With ZEOS, brands get:

• One stock pool – drive better STO servicing all your channels from a single stock source

• You purchase the famous Zalando customer experience – building loyal customer base

• Easy integration, ecosystem – Shopify, SCAYLE

• Modularity – no long-term commitment needed

• Hybrid solution – we fit within your existing network

• Internationalisation – 25 markets, fashion-specific connected network

• Profitability and control – ringfencing

Brands can also integrate directly via API or plug into platforms like Tradebyte for even more flexibility.

ZEOS doesn’t just take care of logistics. It gives brands the freedom to focus on what they do best – building products, communities, and long-term customer love.

Scaling the right way

According to GME, DTC sales are forecast to grow at a CAGR of 24% by 2029. Brands face a crucial choice: Try to manage every aspect of their DTC operations internally, risking inefficiencies and slower growth, or partner with external experts who can provide the infrastructure, technology, and local knowledge needed to scale successfully and sustainably across Europe.

ZEOS provides the infrastructure, technology, and local market expertise brands need to seize this growth opportunity without the operational headaches.

Ready to optimise your own e-commerce and scale across Europe? Let’s talk!

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