Primark facts for kids
Primark Stores Limited (pronounced pry-mark), known as Penneys in Ireland, is a big Irish company that sells trendy clothes, accessories, and home goods at low prices. It's a type of "fast fashion" store, meaning they offer new styles very quickly. Primark has stores all over Europe and in the United States.
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The original shop on Mary Street, Dublin
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Trade name
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Penneys (in Ireland) |
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 13 June 1969 in Dublin, Ireland |
| Founder | Arthur Ryan |
| Headquarters | Arthur Ryan House, 22–24 Parnell Street,
Dublin
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Ireland
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Number of locations
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439 (2023) |
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Area served
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Key people
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Paul Marchant (CEO and COO) |
| Products | |
| Revenue |  £9,008 million (2023) |
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Number of employees
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76,000 (2023) |
| Parent | Associated British Foods |
Contents
Primark's Story: How it Started and Grew
Primark started with its first store called Penneys in June 1969. It was opened by a person named Arthur Ryan in Dublin, Ireland. This first store is still open today on Mary Street.
Expanding Beyond Ireland
After opening more stores in Ireland, the company decided to expand. In 1973, they opened a store in Derby, Great Britain. They couldn't use the name "Penneys" outside of Ireland because another company, J. C. Penney, already owned that name. So, they came up with a new name: "Primark." In Ireland, the stores are still called Penneys.
Growing Across Europe and the US
Primark continued to grow a lot. In 2006, the first Primark store in mainland Europe opened in Madrid, Spain. Over the next few years, they opened stores in many other countries like the Netherlands, Portugal, Germany, Belgium, Austria, France, and Italy.
In 2015, Primark opened its first store in the United States in Boston. They then opened more stores in places like New York City and Chicago.
Big Stores and New Countries
The biggest Primark store in the world opened in Birmingham, England, in 2019. It's huge, with five floors, a beauty salon, a Disney-themed café, and even a barbershop! In 2022, it added the world's largest Greggs fast-food outlet.
Primark also kept opening stores in new countries. In 2019, they opened in Slovenia, and in 2020, they opened their first store in Poland. In 2021, they opened in the Czech Republic, and in 2022, in Romania. They plan to open their first store in Hungary in 2024.
Changes During Challenging Times
In 2020, many Primark stores had to close temporarily because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This caused the company to lose a lot of sales.
In 2022, Primark announced they would start a "click-and-collect" service online. This means you can order items online and pick them up at a store. They started this as a trial for children's products in some areas of England and Wales.
Primark continues to plan for the future, with new stores opening and many existing ones getting updated.
What Primark Sells
Primark sells a wide variety of products for everyone. You can find:
- Clothes for babies, children, women, and men.
- Accessories like bags, jewelry, and scarves.
- Shoes and other footwear.
- Beauty products, like makeup.
- Things for your home, like decorations and kitchen items.
- Even some sweets and snacks!
Primark is known for selling trendy clothes at very low prices. This is part of the "fast fashion" idea, where new styles come out quickly, and people can buy many items without spending a lot.
Eco-Friendly Efforts
In 2020, Primark launched a "Wellness collection" with products that are better for the environment. These items are made from materials like organic cotton, recycled fabrics, or other sustainable options. This is part of Primark's plan to be more responsible about its impact on the planet.
How Primark Works with Suppliers
Primark works with an organization called the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI). This group helps businesses make sure that the people who make their products are treated fairly and have good working conditions. Primark tries to follow rules based on international labor standards.
Sometimes, there have been concerns about working conditions in factories that supply clothes to Primark. Primark has worked to address these issues and has even stopped working with suppliers if problems were found. They aim to improve the lives of the workers who make their products.
Images for kids
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Interior of the Primark store at Gran Vía.
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Primark in the Former Lewis's Building in Manchester city centre, Manchester, England
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Primark in Aqua Shopping Centre, Portimão, Algarve region, Portugal
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Primark in the Ridings Centre, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England
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Primark store in The Hague, Netherlands
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See also
In Spanish: Primark para niños
