Shoppers from Moscow Circle Kaliningrad for Secondhand Branded Goods
Muscovites increasingly travel to Kaliningrad in search of secondhand stores offering branded clothing. This trend has been reported by KP.ru. The movement is tied to the presence of popular brands available at lower prices in the region, attracting buyers who want to stretch their budgets while still purchasing recognizable labels.
Local stores in Kaliningrad reportedly receive a significant stream of items from chain stores that carry well-known labels. Goods from Polo, Diesel, Tommy Hilfiger, and Zara have been cited as moving through secondhand channels. Prices for these branded pieces in Kaliningrad are said to be 20 to 30 percent lower, and in some cases even three times cheaper than in Moscow retail locations.
Earlier reports indicated that Fashion And More Management DMCC, a Dubai-based company that took over Zara operations in Russia and owns retail brands such as Maag, Dub, Vilet, and Ecru, planned to close many Russia stores due to weaker revenue. This context helps explain shifts in supply and store strategy observed in the market.
Comparisons were made about daily earnings, noting that Zara could generate from two to four million rubles per day, with stronger weekend figures, while the Maag brand reportedly earned around 300 to 400 thousand rubles daily. These figures illustrate a broader gap in profitability between the major fast fashion players and emerging or relocated brand entities in the region.
Industry observers also highlighted shifts in labor patterns within the retail networks. Some stores in the chain reportedly employed staff on short 4 to 5 hour shifts several days a week, contrasting with Inditex in the broader market which has traditionally operated longer shifts on a 4/3 or 4/2 schedule. These observations provide a sense of how cost controls and scheduling practices are evolving in response to market conditions.
Earlier reporting from Socialbites.ca referenced strong demand in the Russian market for large pickup trucks, noting a notable consumer segment and the broader economic environment that influences purchasing choices. This context helps explain the mixed retail dynamics observed across time and regions. Attribution: KP.ru and Socialbites.ca.