Affordability key to Pep&Co growth in childrenswear market, says GlobalData

Pep&Co has decided to pilot a wider range of its value children’s clothing in 50 stores, a move that will appeal greatly to consumers. According to a survey conducted by leading data and analytics company GlobalData, 52 pc of UK childrenswear shoppers in 2019 cited price as being important to them when buying childrenswear, making it the leading purchase driver for this sector.
Pippa Stephens, Associate Retail Analyst at GlobalData comments: “While economic uncertainty is a major factor causing shoppers to trade down, the short lifespan of childrenswear, due to children’s rapid growth and their tendency to easily ruin clothes, also makes parents hesitant to pay midmarket prices.”
The increased availability of childrenswear in Pep&Co’s stores will provide the retailer with greater opportunity to capitalise from consumers’ desire for value clothing. With prices starting at just £1, and 95 percent of the range at £10 or under, Pep&Co is extremely competitive against other value childrenswear players, such as Tesco and Primark, which will help it to build upon its UK childrenswear market share, forecast at 0.6% for 2020. It must ensure that it remains more affordable than its rivals by consistently price checking on core product areas, like basic t-shirts and underwear.
Stephens adds: “Pep&Co must make sure that while maintaining its low price points, other key product attributes are not compromised – in particular, comfort, durability and fit, which were cited as important purchase drivers by over a third of UK childrenswear shoppers in 2019. Pep&Co has also stated that it is backing the UK government’s bill to keep the cost of school uniforms down by minimising compulsory branded items, and if this bill is passed, Pep&Co will benefit thanks to its strong range of value schoolwear.
“Aldi and Lidl are two of Pep&Co’s biggest rivals for cheap school uniforms, as they often undercut on price, However, their instore clothing offer is inconsistent, which often makes it hard for shoppers to find items. Pep&Co’s clothing areas are much more comprehensive, so it must generate top of mind appeal amongst consumers through specific ‘Back to School’ marketing and promotional events.”
Although 44.8 percent of UK childrenswear shoppers in the GlobalData 2019 clothing survey had purchased children’s clothing online over the past 12 months, Pep&Co is unable to benefit from this as it lacks a transactional website, meaning it must focus on driving footfall. To attract shoppers, Pep&Co must highlight its childrenswear ranges through window displays, social media and TV advertisements. It should also leverage its existing relationships with reality stars Mario Falcone and Ferne McCann, by featuring them alongside their children in marketing campaigns, and collaborating with them for social media advertisements, to help raise greater awareness of its offer.