
rue21 x Klarna
An on-trend sales increase:
How rue21 connected with tech-savvy shoppers and upped its average order values by 73%.
As a popular retailer of trendy and affordable clothing for Gen Z and Millennials, rue21 was looking for a modern way to connect with its younger, tech-savvy audience in order to drive sales and increase conversions.
The challenge.
Even before the pandemic, the typical mall experience had been fading into the background. rue21 was looking for a way to keep up with a new generation of fashion lovers who do the majority of their shopping in the fast-paced digital world. These unique customers, aged 18-25, use credit cards far less than their predecessors and have little patience for long, clucky, or antiquated checkout experiences, whether they are shopping online or in-store.
Furthermore, with so many small-ticket items available online, lifting the average order volume was an ongoing challenge for rue21.
“We were actively seeking ways to put more purchasing power into our customers’ hands by offering quick and easy alternative payment methods that are available everywhere they shop, without slowing down.”
Robert Brous, rue21’s VP of Ecommerce & Digital
The results.
Since going live with Klarna, rue21 has seen a significant rise in sales with 26% of their sales represented by Klarna.

AOV lift
73% higher AOV of rue21 shoppers using Klarna

Purchase frequency increase
6% higher purchasing frequency

In-store improvement
With Klarna’s messaging during the 2020 holidays from November to December, Klarna's usage in stores doubled.

“We saw a big lift in sales and AOV once we introduced Klarna as an option at checkout. Our younger audience, in particular, is really responding to it, which has helped us with both customer satisfaction and retention. We’re looking forward to growing our audience together with Klarna as a partner.”
Lauren Pearson, rue21’s Sr. Manager, CRM & Loyalty