El Corte Inglés stores are characterised by the large premises they occupy with free parking. They are stores where you can find everything you might need: fashion, accessories, stationery, books, music, sportswear and equipment, home wares,etc.
It is famous for its returns policy and customer service, as well as loyalty card, finance options, after sales service, wedding lists and gift cards, home delivery service and ticket sales for shows and cultural events. Its guarantee of "Satisfaction or your money back" is the company's after sales service mantra. A policy that has won it many loyal clients both nationally and internationally.
It also has branches, some of a reduced size, offering a particular theme or specialising in particular items. In this case it is fashion and you can find clothes and shoes for men, women, young people and children, with a wide range of well known labels. You'll also find all sorts of accessories such as bags, jewellery, watches, costume jewellery, perfume, cosmetics, etc.
El Corte Inglés takes its name from a small tailoring business founded in 1890 and situated between calle Preciados, calle Carmen and calle Rompelanzas in Madrid. In 1935 Ramón Areces Rodríguez, backed by his uncle César Rodríguez, bought the tailors and began his business adventure.
From the end of the 60s through to the mid 90s, the El Corte Inglés group experienced a period of enormous growth, with expansion into other provincial capitals and diversification of its commercial activities, marking the beginning of a presence in other areas of business.
In 1995 it bought out its main competitor in the Spanish market, Galerías Preciados and in 2001 the company acquired the nine stores of the British group Marks & Spencer when the latter ceased trading in Spain.
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