Low-cost businesses

Abi | Mar 11, 2026Mar 11, 2026

LESSON OVERVIEW

The main objectives of this lesson are to:

• engage in talking about low-cost businesses and their impact;
• read about and reflect on low-cost brands;
• watch and discuss a video excerpt on a fast-fashion company.

In this lesson, students talk about low-cost businesses, compare low-cost companies to traditional ones and discuss real examples. They analyse experiences and perceptions of low-cost brands, discuss opinions on the low-cost business model and watch part of a video (from 01:01 to 04:09) about a fast-fashion company. Students talk about on-demand productions, read short texts about established companies and predict shifts in brand competition. They can also do an extra vocabulary task to review useful phrases (e.g. sustainable, tempted by, trade-offs).

WARM-UP AND DISCUSSION

Before this lesson begins, students can do an extra vocabulary task. They read sentences and match words and phrases for talking about low-cost businesses (e.g. cut down on, rip off, streamline operations) with their definitions. Then, students choose three topics (e.g. online shopping, luxury brands, AI integration) and create a sentence about each, using the target vocabulary. After that, they do a warm-up exercise. Students read the definition of ‘low-cost business’ and elaborate on it by adding more details. Moving on, they look at different categories (e.g. accommodation, food, cosmetics) and discuss situations in which low-cost companies outperform traditional ones and vice versa. Students use real company examples if possible. They then discuss questions about experiences and perceptions of low-cost brands.

VIDEO AND MORE DISCUSSION

In this part of the lesson, students read comments about low-cost businesses (e.g. Low-cost businesses reduce inequality.) and explain why someone might think this way. Afterwards, they say which statement they think is definitely true and which is not. Students give details. Following that, they engage in talking about low-cost businesses and watch a video about Shein, a fast-fashion company. Students say what they expect to see in the video. They then watch it and talk about surprises, expectations and any points they felt were missing. Moving on, students discuss questions about Shein’s on-demand business model. After that, they read information about two low-cost companies (Ryanair and IKEA). Students do tasks where they compare and evaluate low-cost business strategies. Finally, they read predictions about the future of the low-cost market. Students say why each one is likely or unlikely to happen in the future and explain why.

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