Inditex’s for&from stores see profits surge by 55% in 2016

Inditex’s for&from stores, a project to help integrate people with disabilities into the workplace and run in partnership with non-profit organisations, increased net profits by 55% in 2016 as revenue jumped by 33% on the previous year.

The stores generated net profits of 731,000 euros ($794,000) in the year, while revenue grew to 7.1 million euros ($7.7 million). The profits have been donated to the partner non-profit organisations to fund social projects.

The stores are part of Inditex’s for&from programme, which aims to offer innovative and sustainable solutions within its business model in an effort to give back to the community.

The scheme includes 12 retail stores, including a new Tempe for&from store in Madrid, which provides employment for 16 people.

With this launch, Inditex’ social integration programme provides stable employment for 110 people with physical and mental disabilities across its network of shops in Cataluña, Galicia, Valencia and Madrid.

The programme’s manager and member of Inditex’ CSR department Carlos Piñeiro, said at the store opening in Madrid that the results show “the clear evidence of the model’s economic success which can be compared to other Inditex stores with similar selling space and products.”

To measure the impact of the programme, Inditex commissioned an independent analysis from Ecodes, the results of which reveal an improvement in the quality of life of people with special needs who work at for&from stores.

The programme's great impact is creating opportunities for disabled persons to enter the labour market, normally a very challenging issue for this group of individuals. In fact, more than 83% of the employees surveyed said they were very happy with the stability the scheme offers them.

Across the network of for&from stores, 61% of employees have severe mental disorders, 24% are workers with intellectual disabilities and the remaining 15% has physical disabilities. Their wages are “above average and comparable to the rest of the group’s chains,” said Piñeiro.

In addition to employing people with special needs, the programme provides beneficiaries with valuable experience so they can integrate into normal stores. Piñeiro said that Bershka and Massimo Dutti stores have already welcomed former for&from staff.

Each for&from store is initially funded by the clothing group and donated to a non-profit organisation specialised in the employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

At the same time, Inditex is responsible for the supply of products, which are provided at reduced prices.
Tempe for&from Madrid will be managed by Prodis, a Madrid-based organisation founded 17 years ago. Its president Soledad Herreros de Tejada said these stores are “a great platform for showing the abilities of people independently of their situation.”

Herreros de Tejada also called on other business groups to adopt a similar model and help disabled people receive an equal opportunity to live independently.