Zara responds to demand with gift card launch

Fashion retailer Zara is to launch electronic gift cards in stores this month.

The initiative is in response to customer demand for gift vouchers. Electronic chip cards to the value of£25,£40 and£60 will be available to shoppers in all Zara UK stores, and a Massimo Dutti gift card will also be introduced.

Zara UK managing director Mike Shearwood said shoppers had been frustrated by the lack of a gift voucher option. 'We are responding to customer demand and doing it with a gift card improves security,' he said.

- Zara's parent, Inditex, reported a 4 per cent decline in third-quarter like-for-like sales on Tuesday.