Primark is one of the (many) stores that will open on 27 September, the opening day of MAR Shopping Algarve. The Irish chain will open, in the municipality of Loulé, the largest store in the country and, according to Stephen Mullen, general director for the Iberian Peninsula, «we have only received feedback positive".
In an interview with Sul Informação, the person in charge guarantees that «everyone I spoke with is excited about the arrival of Primark in this part of the Algarve», and that there is already a store of the brand in Portimão, in the Aqua shopping centre.
The construction of the IKEA complex in Loulé was not well accepted by the Algarve business associations, which arrived trying to stop the project with an injunction, situation that ended by get healed.
However, in the case of Primark, known for its low sale prices, Mullen guarantees that there was only a “welcome”. «We don't know what happened with the construction of MAR Shopping, we don't know anything, we've only received feedback positive and we just want to bring great prices and great fashion to this side of the Algarve».
Currently, the Portimão store already receives customers from all over the Algarve and Stephen Mullen believes that the region has a public for two Primark stores, which will be separated by approximately 70 kilometers.
“70 kilometers is a long way to go to go to a store. We are happy to bring our proposal to everyone who makes this trip, but also to those many people who do not travel. For us, it is important to bring our brand to the areas of Loulé, Faro, Albufeira, the whole area», he considers.
For the official, two stores in the Algarve are not too much, but what if there are three? “Right now, two are enough. Let's see how it goes with these two and let's see what happens. We have plans for more stores in Portugal», he adds.
The new store, which is «significantly larger than the one in Portimão», with 4500 square meters, «will have our latest concept. Our design evolved, let's have Wi-Fi for customers, waiting areas, where mobile phones can be charged, we will improve the merchandising visual significantly. We will have the latest generation of shopping environment», reveals Stephen Mullen.
For this store, 150 workers will be hired, and «this is a base number, at times of peak customers, we will see that number increase».
Less than a month before the store opens, there are still vacancies to fill and Stephen Mullen highlights the advantages of working in the Irish chain of stores.
“The positions we have are predominantly for sales positions because the management positions are filled internally. 67% of supervisors last year came from internal promotions. It is a great opportunity for those who work with us to progress and grow», says the responsible.
«We opened stores in the United States and we had managers from Portugal and assistants who went there to help with the opening, there were many people, from various countries, who stayed there. We encourage people to grow in the company», he adds.
For a Primark store to sell clothes, salespeople are needed, but it also requires the labor to produce them, most of them from Asian countries. The low prices charged in the Irish chain, ensures Stephen Mullen, are not achieved at the expense of exploitation and poor working conditions.
«We don't have factories, it's important to clarify. Our prices are low because we have lower margins than our competitors, we sell larger quantities, we do not advertise and we have a very efficient logistical system. In addition, we work with our suppliers, placing orders well in advance, so that they have economies of scale and produce out of season», says the person in charge.
With regard to working conditions in factories, says Mullen, “We work very closely with suppliers, we have been members of the Ethical Trading Initiative since 2011, we carry out unannounced inspections of suppliers. In the last year, we had 3000 promoted by us, and these inspections verified that the laws and working conditions are being complied with in the standards. We take this very seriously and we have teams on the ground, in those countries, just working on the ethics part».
Primark's general manager for the Iberian Peninsula gives the example of a project entitled “Cotton Connect”, which is being developed in India and which works with farmers to produce cotton in a more sustainable way.
“I was there in January and it was an extraordinary experience. I could see the work our company is doing to encourage sustainable cotton production among these women farmers. The goal is for them to produce more efficiently, using fewer chemicals and making more money in the long run. In these villages, there are more children going to school and there was one girl who was the first to go to university, within a radius of 80 kilometers», she says.
About the work that is done locally in terms of social responsibility, Stephen Mullen guarantees that, in the case of Loulé, «we are going to work with a local solidarity institution, yet to be identified. In addition, all unsold merchandise goes to the New Life Foundation. We donate the products, they recycle and this money goes to charity. I don't know if any are coming to Loulé», he concludes.
Correction at 11:25 am: The store will have 48 thousand square feet (square feet), the equivalent of 4500 square meters.
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