Online and catalogue retailer Boden has appointed former advertising executive Penny Herriman to be its first global brand director.
Boden said Herriman will join the six-strong executive board this Autumn with responsibility for all aspects of the Boden brand and 60 staff. It said she would help create a 'truly international brand'.
Herriman spent over ten years at Bartle Bogle Hegarty working with clients including Unilever, Levi's, Barnardo's and Vodafone. She most recently worked at digital and creative marketing agency Isobar as chief executive.
'I am delighted to have this opportunity to help take Boden to the next level. This is a wonderfully ambitious and creative business, a British success story that has exported its success and subsequently already generates more than half its sales outside the UK. That is a great platform on which to build,' she said.
Last year Boden sales increased 6 per cent to £245.9 million. Online sales accounted for 80 per cent of the business. Boden said German sales increased 21 per cent in the year and US sales grew 9 per cent.
Friday, 19 July 2013
Online Spending In The UK Rises 18.3% As Fashion And Food Surge
Online spending increased 18.3 per cent in June as UK consumers spend more of their income on grocery deliveries and clothes shopping.
Spending on the internet accounted for 9.7 per cent of all sales or £586.9 million on average each week during the month, according to the Office of National Statistics. The number excludes fuel spending which is included in the total ONS retail spending figure.
Online food sales increased 17.5 per cent and accounted for 3.3 per cent of food market sales while textile, clothing and footwear increased 20.1 per cent and making up 9.3 per cent of that market.
The survey of 5,000 retailers reveal that spending rose 3.8 per cent in June compared to a year earlier taking the total rise over three months to 3 per cent. The increase has been seen as a firm sign that economic recovery is underway.
But spending has been encouraged by heavy discounting and PwC said 85 per cent of high street retailers were on sale or advertising promotions in their shop window in June.
Spending on the internet accounted for 9.7 per cent of all sales or £586.9 million on average each week during the month, according to the Office of National Statistics. The number excludes fuel spending which is included in the total ONS retail spending figure.
Online food sales increased 17.5 per cent and accounted for 3.3 per cent of food market sales while textile, clothing and footwear increased 20.1 per cent and making up 9.3 per cent of that market.
The survey of 5,000 retailers reveal that spending rose 3.8 per cent in June compared to a year earlier taking the total rise over three months to 3 per cent. The increase has been seen as a firm sign that economic recovery is underway.
But spending has been encouraged by heavy discounting and PwC said 85 per cent of high street retailers were on sale or advertising promotions in their shop window in June.
Thursday, 18 July 2013
Sports Direct Web Sales Rise 52%
Sports clothing and equipment retailer Sports Direct said today sales through its website have increased 52.1 per cent over the past year to £264.6 million.
Online now accounts for 15 per cent of its Sports Retail division, from 11.6 per cent last year. The chain's online sales include all sales via its web business which ships to the UK and overseas - separate to its main international division.
The retailer increased the size of its Sportsdirect.com catalogue during the year to 1,092 pages, an increase of 50 per cent on the year before. It distributed 2 million copies in store and with online orders.
Total sales in the year to April at its Sports Retail division, which excludes wholesale and international stores, increased 17.3 per cent to £1.57 billion. Total revenue at the group rose 22.9 per cent to £2.19 billion.
Underlying profit before tax increased 40 per cent to £207.2 million.
Online now accounts for 15 per cent of its Sports Retail division, from 11.6 per cent last year. The chain's online sales include all sales via its web business which ships to the UK and overseas - separate to its main international division.
The retailer increased the size of its Sportsdirect.com catalogue during the year to 1,092 pages, an increase of 50 per cent on the year before. It distributed 2 million copies in store and with online orders.
Total sales in the year to April at its Sports Retail division, which excludes wholesale and international stores, increased 17.3 per cent to £1.57 billion. Total revenue at the group rose 22.9 per cent to £2.19 billion.
Underlying profit before tax increased 40 per cent to £207.2 million.
Iceland Food Chain Lines Up Electricals Website
The Iceland food chain is preparing to sell kitchen appliances such as fridges, freezers, washing machines and cookers on its web site.
The site will form part of its main food delivery site which was part-launched in May and is currency being tested in parts of the country. The white goods offer, which will be fulfilled by online delivery firm Appliances Online, is expected to launch later this summer as part of the trial.
The chain previously sold electricals goods in some stores but the business was ditched in favour of additional groceries when founder Malcolm Walker returned to overhaul the chain, Iceland director of delivered sales John Mackie told to Retail Week.
However, the firm sees the launch of its website in May as a way to explore new opportunities in non-food categories and is understood to be in talks with suppliers of other general merchandise categories. The appliances service is expected to offer next day delivery.
The site will form part of its main food delivery site which was part-launched in May and is currency being tested in parts of the country. The white goods offer, which will be fulfilled by online delivery firm Appliances Online, is expected to launch later this summer as part of the trial.
The chain previously sold electricals goods in some stores but the business was ditched in favour of additional groceries when founder Malcolm Walker returned to overhaul the chain, Iceland director of delivered sales John Mackie told to Retail Week.
However, the firm sees the launch of its website in May as a way to explore new opportunities in non-food categories and is understood to be in talks with suppliers of other general merchandise categories. The appliances service is expected to offer next day delivery.
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| Iceland plans to sell kitchen appliances on its website |
Online Wine Retailer Slurp.co.uk Rescued
Online wine retailer Slurp.co.uk has been rescued by family owned wine merchants SH Jones.
The website was bought for an undisclosed amount after it collapsed into administration through lack of funds.
Slurp.co.uk managing director Jeremy Howard told Decanter magazine that despite 'dramatic sales growth' between 2009 and 2013 the site failed to make a consistent profit and that rapid expansion proved a drain on cash.
SH Jones, established in Banbury in 1848, also has three high street shops and one cellar store and plans to combine 'cutting-edge online retail and the more traditional hand-sell high street model,' it said in a release on the Slurp.co.uk web site.
Slurp.co.uk launched nine years ago and has been developing an international business in recent years. It is the second acquisition by SH Jones this year after the purchase of Hawkshead Wines in January. The main proportion of the SH Jones business is supplying pubs, hotels and restaurants.
The website was bought for an undisclosed amount after it collapsed into administration through lack of funds.
Slurp.co.uk managing director Jeremy Howard told Decanter magazine that despite 'dramatic sales growth' between 2009 and 2013 the site failed to make a consistent profit and that rapid expansion proved a drain on cash.
SH Jones, established in Banbury in 1848, also has three high street shops and one cellar store and plans to combine 'cutting-edge online retail and the more traditional hand-sell high street model,' it said in a release on the Slurp.co.uk web site.
Slurp.co.uk launched nine years ago and has been developing an international business in recent years. It is the second acquisition by SH Jones this year after the purchase of Hawkshead Wines in January. The main proportion of the SH Jones business is supplying pubs, hotels and restaurants.
Wednesday, 17 July 2013
Shock As Kate Bostock Leaves Asos With Immediate Effect
Asos executive director of product and trading Kate Bostock has left the company with immediate effect.
Asos chief executive Nick Robertson and Bostock released a statement broadly suggesting that her departure was by mutual consent and that there were no ill feelings.
However, the explanation that Asos 'is not the right platform for her talent'. But, perhaps revealingly, that her role 'will be fulfilled by existing members of the team until it decides 'whether there is a need to seek a replacement for Kate'..
One newspaper described the explanation as 'woolly' and was 'crafted to be obscure'. One analyst described the situation as 'embarrassing for both parties'.
Asos chief executive Nick Robertson and Bostock released a statement broadly suggesting that her departure was by mutual consent and that there were no ill feelings.
However, the explanation that Asos 'is not the right platform for her talent'. But, perhaps revealingly, that her role 'will be fulfilled by existing members of the team until it decides 'whether there is a need to seek a replacement for Kate'..
One newspaper described the explanation as 'woolly' and was 'crafted to be obscure'. One analyst described the situation as 'embarrassing for both parties'.
House of Fraser Launches 'Ground Breaking' Next Evening Delivery Service
Department store House of Fraser plans another overhaul of its online service next month that will allow customers to receive deliveries the following evening.
The service will enable customers to order as late as midnight and receive goods 'guaranteed' between 6pm and 10pm the next day.
The latest overhaul of the House of Fraser strategy will implement a 7-day service that will also let customers order before 11 am and collect in store the same day after 5pm any day of the week.
The department store said the service will allow it to deliver ‘the best customer service in the market’ It has already extended a 3pm cut-off for 'pre-noon' next day collection, launched in 2010, to 10pm earlier this year.
The service will enable customers to order as late as midnight and receive goods 'guaranteed' between 6pm and 10pm the next day.
The latest overhaul of the House of Fraser strategy will implement a 7-day service that will also let customers order before 11 am and collect in store the same day after 5pm any day of the week.
The department store said the service will allow it to deliver ‘the best customer service in the market’ It has already extended a 3pm cut-off for 'pre-noon' next day collection, launched in 2010, to 10pm earlier this year.
Tuesday, 16 July 2013
Online Tax Debate Flares Up Once More Despite British Retail Consortium's Calls For Cool Heads
A second major supermarket has called for the imposition of an online tax despite calls from the industry's trade association to bosses for less conflict.
Morrisons chief executive Dalton Philips, who has just signed a 25-year deal with Ocado to establish an online grocery business, told the Daily Telegraph that the high street is at a 'massive disadvantage' to internet retailers and said 'we've all got to contribute'.
'We're moving into the online space so we'll have to pay our contribution. I'm not into intervention for intervention's sake but you've got to have a level playing field. As more and more sales migrate online it seems to me intuitive that you would tax the online channels as well. It's an issue we're going to have to face,' he told the newspaper.
He said there was no longer any logic in business rates going 'up and up' and town centre shops could not cope.
Morrisons chief executive Dalton Philips, who has just signed a 25-year deal with Ocado to establish an online grocery business, told the Daily Telegraph that the high street is at a 'massive disadvantage' to internet retailers and said 'we've all got to contribute'.
'We're moving into the online space so we'll have to pay our contribution. I'm not into intervention for intervention's sake but you've got to have a level playing field. As more and more sales migrate online it seems to me intuitive that you would tax the online channels as well. It's an issue we're going to have to face,' he told the newspaper.
He said there was no longer any logic in business rates going 'up and up' and town centre shops could not cope.
Thorntons Reveals Online Sales Fall As It Restructures
Chocolate retailer Thorntons has dismissed an sudden drop in online sales as part of a strategic shift to rely more on wholesale custom.
The retailer has been closing stores to reduce costs and growing its commercial division which sells products via other retailers. But it has also been developing online strategies including testing kiosks in stores.
Sales through Thorntons Direct, its online business, fell from £0.9 million to £0.8 million - more than 10 per cent - in the 10 weeks to June 29 compared with a year earlier. The quarter is the retailer's quietest. Online sales in the Christmas quarter were five times that size.
Retail sales fell 2.8 per cent in the period as the chain closed 34 stores. Like-for-like store sales increased 0.5 per cent. Total company sales increased 5.6 per cent as commercial sales increased 11.8 per cent to 9.2 million.
Thorntons chief executive Jonathan Hart said the firm had shown 'further encouraging progress' and that profit before one-off costs would be ahead of expectations in the full year as the retailer predicted in a statement two weeks ago. He expects the wholesale business to exceed the retail division and aims to have a chain of about 180 to 200 shops.
The retailer has been closing stores to reduce costs and growing its commercial division which sells products via other retailers. But it has also been developing online strategies including testing kiosks in stores.
Sales through Thorntons Direct, its online business, fell from £0.9 million to £0.8 million - more than 10 per cent - in the 10 weeks to June 29 compared with a year earlier. The quarter is the retailer's quietest. Online sales in the Christmas quarter were five times that size.
Retail sales fell 2.8 per cent in the period as the chain closed 34 stores. Like-for-like store sales increased 0.5 per cent. Total company sales increased 5.6 per cent as commercial sales increased 11.8 per cent to 9.2 million.
Thorntons chief executive Jonathan Hart said the firm had shown 'further encouraging progress' and that profit before one-off costs would be ahead of expectations in the full year as the retailer predicted in a statement two weeks ago. He expects the wholesale business to exceed the retail division and aims to have a chain of about 180 to 200 shops.
Chemist Direct Reports Massive Hike In Affiliate Revenue
Chemist Direct has reported a 350 per cent increase in revenue it receives from affiliate marketing firms.
It appointed Optimus Performance Marketing in February to help improve communication with affiliate sites that recommend and review its products. The step has significantly increased traffic via the third party sites, it said.
Innovations included a weekly newsletter sent to affiliates to highlighting overs and discount codes and direct communication between Optimus Performance and affiliates to raise the firm's profile.
'The increased and regular communication with Optimus has helped our affiliates become more familiar with the Chemist Direct brand, gain us more visibility and exposure as well as help grow revenue for the long tail affiliates,' said Chemist Direct marketing manager Harvey Bahia.
It appointed Optimus Performance Marketing in February to help improve communication with affiliate sites that recommend and review its products. The step has significantly increased traffic via the third party sites, it said.
Innovations included a weekly newsletter sent to affiliates to highlighting overs and discount codes and direct communication between Optimus Performance and affiliates to raise the firm's profile.
'The increased and regular communication with Optimus has helped our affiliates become more familiar with the Chemist Direct brand, gain us more visibility and exposure as well as help grow revenue for the long tail affiliates,' said Chemist Direct marketing manager Harvey Bahia.
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