
The Impulso Podcast E21: [In-depth] The rise and strategies of SHEIN
18 snips
Aug 2, 2023 Dive into the fascinating world of Shein, the fast fashion giant that exploded onto the scene since its 2008 founding. Uncover its game-changing supply chain strategies that allow rapid trend responses and low prices. The discussion touches on Shein's massive global reach, its competitive speed compared to traditional brands like Zara, and the recent shifts in leadership. Plus, learn about the impact of TikTok on its popularity and the ongoing sustainability debates surrounding fast fashion.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Rapid Founder-Led Scaling
- Shein scaled from wedding-dress seller to a $100B-plus global fast-fashion giant by 2019 through rapid expansion and acquisitions.
- The founder Xu Yangtian and three co-founders built product, supply-chain and marketing centers that enabled hypergrowth.
13-Day Design Cycle
- Shein compresses design-to-shelf cycles to about 13 days by running small batch prototypes and rapid reorders.
- This lets them test thousands of SKUs and quickly amplify winning designs with minimal initial inventory risk.
Small Batches, Huge Variety
- Shein lists ~25,000 new SKUs monthly and prototypes at ~100 units, enabling demand-testing online before scaling.
- The small-order, quick-reorder model reduces unsold inventory while offering huge variety.



