Wibra

Wibra is a Dutch discount chain that sells low-priced clothing alongside household goods, toys and other items. It began in 1956 in Epe, in the Netherlands, and has stores in the Netherlands and Belgium.

What is Wibra?

Wibra is a Dutch variety discount retailer. Fashion for women, men, boys, girls and babies is one part of a wider assortment that also covers cleaning products, kitchen items, home decor, toys, crafts, garden products, pet supplies and snacks.

History

Johannes Wierdsma founded the business in 1956 when he took over his family-in-law's Braam store in Epe. It became the first self-service store in the Netherlands. The chain grew to 11 stores in the 1960s and joined the so-called club of nine, a group of comparable stores that divided the market. Wierdsma died in 1990 and his sons Arnoud, René and Ron continued the business. In 1998 Wibra took over Scholten and became market leader in cheap textiles, with revenue of 400 million guilders.

Business model and distribution

Wibra operates more than 280 stores with around 2,700 employees, according to the source consulted, which gives no year for the figures. The chain trades in the Netherlands and Belgium and runs Dutch and French language websites, with a store finder and online shop. The company also publishes a sustainability programme called Samen vooruit and a code of conduct for suppliers.

Why it matters

Wibra shows the breadth of the Dutch value retail market, where clothing is sold next to everyday household goods rather than in specialist fashion stores. Ownership, headquarters and current leadership could not be verified from the sources consulted, so they are not stated here.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Wibra from?

Wibra is from the Netherlands. It began in 1956 in Epe and has since expanded to Belgium.

Does Wibra sell clothes?

Yes. Wibra sells low-priced fashion for women, men and children, but also household goods, toys, crafts and many other categories.

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