It may be that a little over a decade ago saying the word ” Primark ” hardly raised anything, but in recent years this has become one of the fashion and accessories firms that sells the most not only in Spain but throughout Europe and partly the world but did you know that the name of this chain of fashion stores was not originally Primark? Why is Primark called like that and what “other” name does it have?
Why is Primark called that and what “other” name does it have?
The Primark story is one of a success story that began in 1969 in Dublin, Ireland . Arthur Ryan founded his first low-cost ready-to-wear store on Mary-Street under the name Penneys . A year later, Ryan opens four more Penneys stores in Dublin City Center . By 1973, there were already 17 stores in Ireland . It was from the following year that the brand was first established in the UK, in Derby and Bristol. The number of stores thereafter continues to grow. The company gradually acquires other brands , increasingly increasing its sales areas in the United Kingdom.
Primark continues to expand and address Europe. Spain welcomed its first store in 2006 , followed by the Netherlands in 2008, Portugal, Germany and Belgium in 2009 employing more than 50,000 people in Europe.
But then why didn’t he keep the original Penneys name? Well, actually, he did it because in Ireland the firm is still called the same way , it was just that when he made the leap to the United Kingdom he had to find another name so that they would not confuse Ryan’s business with another British fashion store that had a similar name: JC Penney and also avoid being sued.
It was then that with its expansion the name of Primark was decided for all countries (with the exception of Ireland), and that is how this fashion firm is known, which currently has a total of 397 stores spread over ten countries in the world. which 51 are in Spain.
How do you pronounce the name “Primark”?
Another curiosity surrounding the name Primark has to do with knowing how to pronounce it correctly.
Some say you should say “Prai-mark”, others think it is necessary to say “Priii-mark.”
But recently, the brand finally cleared things up in the Questions and Answers section of its website , explaining that it is actually pronounced “Pr-Eye-Mark” (or “Pr-aïe-mark” for non-English speakers).