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Clothing Stores in China - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

IBISWorld IBISWorld Beijing, China Last Updated: May 2024 6532

Revenue

$28.4bn

2024

$29.3bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

817k

Businesses

47,208

Wages

$X.Xbn

Clothing Stores in China industry analysis

Revenue for the Clothing Stores industry in China is expected to rise an annualized 2.6% over the five years through 2023. Slower growth since 2012 has been mainly due to the weaker performance of the Chinese economy and a high level of inventory limiting product prices. However, this decline is primarily due to a revenue fall in 2020 due to economic weakness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Industry revenue is set to increase 3.4% in the current year, to total $28.4 billion.Overall, industry growth has been strong over the past decade due to the opening of the market in accordance with China's World Trade Organization commitments. After 2001, foreign capital entered the market, bringing experienced management and systems. As the Chinese economy developed, living standards improved and demand for fashion products grew. Competition is increasing in the industry, due to the entry of more foreign players and a large increase in the number of domestic firms. Industry retailer numbers are expected to rise at an annualized 0.4% over the five years through 2023, to total an estimated 47,208 enterprises.The trend of clothing manufacturers establishing their own retailing operations will boost industry growth over the next five years, but it will also increase competition. For example, Septwolves, a prominent manufacturer of men's clothing, is expected to enter the retail market with the advantage of being a well-known brand. External competition will also come from online clothing retailers, such as VANCL, which have lower intermediate costs and are able to offer lower final prices. Industry revenue is forecast to grow at an annualized 2.8% over the five years through 2028, to $32.6 billion. Number of participants in the Clothing Stores industry will also grow by an annualized rate of 1.1% through five years to 2028. Enterprises are expected to total 49,762.

Trends and Insights

  • Revenue for the Clothing Stores industry in China is expected to fall. Industry growth has been driven by the strong performance of the Chinese economy and improving living standards.
  • Women's clothing stores are the largest product segment. Women have a higher demand for fashion in clothing.
  • The geographic spread of this industry is highly related to local economic development. Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong generate the largest industry revenue.
  • Many of the industry's major retailers are focusing on establishing franchising operations. This will increase their sales and market share

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 2.6 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $28.4bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Information spreading has promoted consumption for clothing products

  • Since China's accession to the World Trade Organization in 2001, foreign retailers have begun to enter the Chinese market, putting downward pressure on retail prices for clothing. However, consumers in China have also become more sophisticated, focusing less on low-end and more on mid-range clothing.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Clothing Stores in China
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Picking up economy and growing population will support industry's development

  • Lingering fallout from the global recession is anticipated to be minimal over the five-year period, and increased demand will likely result in strong growth. By 2028, ACMR-IBISWorld projects that 49,762 enterprises will be operating in the industry, with total employment over 867,705.

Biggest companies in the Clothing Stores in China

Company
Market Share (%)
2023
Revenue ($short_0)
2023

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Clothing Stores in China industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

Clothing Stores in China
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Women's clothing stores, Men's clothing stores and Children 's clothing stores. Women's clothing stores is the largest segment of the Clothing Stores in China.

Trends and Insights

Women's clothing stores are the largest product segment

  • Women's clothing stores are retailers sell women's clothes. Women have a higher demand for fashion in clothing, with a higher frequency of clothing purchases and higher overall consumer spending, resulting in a larger market size.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The Clothing Store industry is part of the retail sector in China. Operators in this industry retail clothing for men, women, and children, as well as clothing accessories such as scarves, socks, belts and ties. The major sites for retailing operations are clothing specialty stores, franchised stores, and independent outlets.

What's included in this industry?

Men's clothing retailingWomen's clothing retailingChildren's clothing retailingSports and leisure clothingstores retailingSpecial clothing and other clothing retailing

Companies

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID)POINT-OF-SALE (POS) PLAYWEAR

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Revenue for the Clothing Stores industry in China is expected to fall. Industry growth has been driven by the strong performance of the Chinese economy and improving living s...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Women's clothing stores are the largest product segment. Women have a higher demand for fashion in clothing.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The geographic spread of this industry is highly related to local economic development. Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong generate the largest industry revenue.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Many of the industry's major retailers are focusing on establishing franchising operations. This will increase their sales and market share

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Industry concentration within the Clothing Store industry in 2023 is low. The top four firms accounting for an estimated 18.3% of industry revenue.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024

Detailed analysis

    External Environment

    Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

    Analyst insights

    Chinese government is finding subtler ways to promote the development of local retailing companies. Policy-oriented loans and subsidies are being made available to selected l...

    In this chapter

    • External Drivers
    • Regulation & Policy
    • Assistance

    Key metrics

    • Regulation & policy level and trend
    • Assistance level and trend

    Charts

    • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
    • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

    Detailed analysis

    • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
    • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
    • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

    Financial Benchmarks

    View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

    Analyst insights

    Purchases are the largest cost for the Clothing Stores industry. This category makes up the largest component of the industry's cost structure at 66.13%.

    In this chapter

    • Cost Structure
    • Financial Ratios
    • Key Ratios

    Key metrics

    • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
    • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
    • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
    • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

    Charts

    • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
    • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
    • Investment vs. share of economy

    Data tables

    • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
    • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
    • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
    • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • Average Wage (2014-2029)
    • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
    • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
    • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
    • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
    • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

    Detailed analysis

    • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

    Key Statistics

    Industry Data

    Data Tables

    Including values and annual change:

    • Revenue (2014-2029)
    • IVA (2014-2029)
    • Establishments (2014-2029)
    • Enterprises (2014-2029)
    • Employment (2014-2029)
    • Exports (2014-2029)
    • Imports (2014-2029)
    • Wages (2014-2029)

    Top Questions Answered

    Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

    What is the market size of the Clothing Stores industry in China in 2024?

    The market size of the Clothing Stores industry in China is $28.4bn in 2024.

    How many businesses are there in the Clothing Stores in China industry in 2024?

    There are 47,208 businesses in the Clothing Stores industry in China, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

    Has the Clothing Stores industry in China grown or declined over the past 5 years?

    The market size of the Clothing Stores industry in China has been declining at a CAGR of 2.6 % between 2019 and 2024.

    What is the forecast growth of the Clothing Stores industry in China over the next 5 years?

    Over the next five years, the Clothing Stores industry in China is expected to grow.

    What does the Clothing Stores in China include?

    Men's clothing retailing and Women's clothing retailing are part of the Clothing Stores industry.

    How competitive is the Clothing Stores industry in China?

    The level of competition is high and increasing in the Clothing Stores industry in China.

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    Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

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    Methodology

    How are IBISWorld reports created?

    IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

    Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

    IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

    What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

    Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

    Key data sources in China include:

    • National Bureau of Statistics China
    • General Administration of Customs
    • People’s Bank of China

    Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

    These sources include:

    • Industry and trade associations
    • Industry federations or regulators
    • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

    Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

    How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

    IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

    IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

    Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.