Department store John Lewis will use its new shop at Heathrow Airport's Terminal 2 as a springboard for its international online strategy.
The shop, which opened on June 4, will act in a similar way to flagship shops run by brands on London's Bond Street and Regent Street that act as showrooms for wealthy international visitors to London.
The 3,600 square foot John Lewis store means that passengers heading for the majority of the 33 countries where John Lewis delivers overseas will pass the shop. Those countries account for three quarters of Terminal 2 destinations.
The shop includes John Lewis own brand and designer collaborations as well as home, fashion, gifts and seasonal ranges.
Tuesday, 9 July 2013
Monday, 8 July 2013
US Flash Site Ideeli Raises $12 Million
Flash sales site Ideeli said it has raised another $12 million (£8.1 million) in funds as it seeks to expand beyond its roots.
The fund raising, from unnamed sources, takes the total raised to $112 million, according to Techcrunch. Past investors include Credit Suisse, Next World Capital, Cue Ball Capital, StarVest Partners, Constellation Growth Capital and Kodak Venture Partners.
The site said it is not clear how well the over-subscribed flash fashion sales market is performing this year. But it said Ideeli, which did not specify what the latest funding was for, had raised $30 million last year to expand beyond flash sales as other sites have done.
Techcrunch said Ideeli has about 5 million members and in 2011 brought in £77.7 million revenue.
The fund raising, from unnamed sources, takes the total raised to $112 million, according to Techcrunch. Past investors include Credit Suisse, Next World Capital, Cue Ball Capital, StarVest Partners, Constellation Growth Capital and Kodak Venture Partners.
The site said it is not clear how well the over-subscribed flash fashion sales market is performing this year. But it said Ideeli, which did not specify what the latest funding was for, had raised $30 million last year to expand beyond flash sales as other sites have done.
Techcrunch said Ideeli has about 5 million members and in 2011 brought in £77.7 million revenue.
Britain Is Most Mobile Friendly, Says Vente-Privee
Flash sales fashion site Vente-Privee has released figures that show the importance of mobile sales with the UK its biggest mobile market.
The French firm said that 37 per cent of sales in the UK so far this year are from mobile orders. It said the figure surged in the peak December trading period to 58 per cent.
Vente-Privee, which trades in France, Spain, Germany, Italy, UK, Belgium, the Netherlands and Austria, said 32 per cent of global turnover came from mobile in the first half of the year. That has increased from 26 per cent in 2012.
It said, breaking the mobile figures down, that 47 per cent of the orders came from smartphones and 53 per cent came from tablets.
The French firm said that 37 per cent of sales in the UK so far this year are from mobile orders. It said the figure surged in the peak December trading period to 58 per cent.
Vente-Privee, which trades in France, Spain, Germany, Italy, UK, Belgium, the Netherlands and Austria, said 32 per cent of global turnover came from mobile in the first half of the year. That has increased from 26 per cent in 2012.
It said, breaking the mobile figures down, that 47 per cent of the orders came from smartphones and 53 per cent came from tablets.
Marks & Spencer To Be 'Net-a-Porter For The Masses'
Marks & Spencer's online boss Laura Wade-Gery has told a private meeting of City investors she plans to turn the company's internet business into a 'Net-a-Porter for the masses'.
The executive director of multi-channel and ecommerce told the meeting, organised by broker Espirito Santo, that it was essential to tell a 'fashion story' and with a 'curated' range rather than an unedited range of clothing and accessories on the site.
She acknowledged the business had fallen behind its high street peers but was now broadly in line and with a goal to have a 'market-leading multichannel offer'.
She said the site needed to target women in their 30s but with the knowledge that 'the 50-plus woman is key' and represents the majority of the customers.
The executive director of multi-channel and ecommerce told the meeting, organised by broker Espirito Santo, that it was essential to tell a 'fashion story' and with a 'curated' range rather than an unedited range of clothing and accessories on the site.
She acknowledged the business had fallen behind its high street peers but was now broadly in line and with a goal to have a 'market-leading multichannel offer'.
She said the site needed to target women in their 30s but with the knowledge that 'the 50-plus woman is key' and represents the majority of the customers.
Sunday, 7 July 2013
£1 Million Binoculars Web Site Hits The High Street
An online telescope, binoculars and digital camera retailer that turns over £1 million has decided to open a small shop in Cleveleys near Blackpool.
Blackpool-based Simon Ramsden has transformed the Binoculars-uk.co.uk from a part-time hobby. He told the Blackpool Gazette he had gained customers in Australia and the Falkland Islands as the business grew over the past decade.
The opening of his shop in Victoria Road West, Cleveleys, comes after Blackpool was identified as one of the UK's eTowns by Google in March. The awards recognise the areas where businesses are generating the highest rates of growth through the internet.
Ramsden said: 'We’re constantly looking at how we optimise our online marketing to reach our audiences and we’re excited by the opportunity to boost our business overseas.' The report said he uses a mixture of search listings and Google adverts to win shoppers.
Blackpool-based Simon Ramsden has transformed the Binoculars-uk.co.uk from a part-time hobby. He told the Blackpool Gazette he had gained customers in Australia and the Falkland Islands as the business grew over the past decade.
The opening of his shop in Victoria Road West, Cleveleys, comes after Blackpool was identified as one of the UK's eTowns by Google in March. The awards recognise the areas where businesses are generating the highest rates of growth through the internet.
Ramsden said: 'We’re constantly looking at how we optimise our online marketing to reach our audiences and we’re excited by the opportunity to boost our business overseas.' The report said he uses a mixture of search listings and Google adverts to win shoppers.
Ocado Boss Tells Bricks And Mortar Retailers To 'Stop Moaning'
Ocado chief executive Tim Steiner says the latest British Retail Consortium push for an overhaul of the tax system is the result of 'spin' and bricks and mortar retailers should 'stop moaning'.
He said the debate surrounding Amazon and Starbucks has been used as an excuse by retailers to complain once again about business rates.
He told City AM that the fact some of the multinational firms were online businesses had prompted retailers to 'jump on the band wagon' and call for the burden of business rates to be shifted to online firms.
'We mustn't allow some struggling bricks and mortar retailers to use it in a different argument and spin it into and online-offline one,' he said.
He said the debate surrounding Amazon and Starbucks has been used as an excuse by retailers to complain once again about business rates.
He told City AM that the fact some of the multinational firms were online businesses had prompted retailers to 'jump on the band wagon' and call for the burden of business rates to be shifted to online firms.
'We mustn't allow some struggling bricks and mortar retailers to use it in a different argument and spin it into and online-offline one,' he said.
Saturday, 6 July 2013
EU Data Protection Rules 'Deeply Concerning,' Say Ecommerce Firms
A survey of ecommerce firms has raised 'deep concerns' about new European data protection laws on the horizon which they believe could severely hamper industry growth.
The UK-based IMRG and EMOTA - the European Multichannel and Online Trade Association - said a cross-industry survey of 90 firms showed the new regulations are expected to burden ecommerce retailers, curb the way they market to new or existing shoppers and restrict the manner in which data is held.
Walter Devenuto, president at EMOTA which represents 3,500 ecommerce and distance selling firms in 15 countries, said: 'We fully support a EU-wide harmonization of privacy regulations, but we urge policy-makers in Brussels to find practical solutions, which will help the European digital economy grow and compete globally, creating jobs and choice for EU citizens.'
He added: 'Businesses across the EU, small and large, are very concerned about the new data protection rules and we need to reassure them that consumer and business interests will be effectively balanced, avoiding excessive constraints in direct marketing and unnecessary administrative burdens for companies.'
The IMRG-EMOTA release lists five main areas of concern in areas understood to be under scrutiny by EU officials, highlighted below:
The UK-based IMRG and EMOTA - the European Multichannel and Online Trade Association - said a cross-industry survey of 90 firms showed the new regulations are expected to burden ecommerce retailers, curb the way they market to new or existing shoppers and restrict the manner in which data is held.
Walter Devenuto, president at EMOTA which represents 3,500 ecommerce and distance selling firms in 15 countries, said: 'We fully support a EU-wide harmonization of privacy regulations, but we urge policy-makers in Brussels to find practical solutions, which will help the European digital economy grow and compete globally, creating jobs and choice for EU citizens.'
He added: 'Businesses across the EU, small and large, are very concerned about the new data protection rules and we need to reassure them that consumer and business interests will be effectively balanced, avoiding excessive constraints in direct marketing and unnecessary administrative burdens for companies.'
The IMRG-EMOTA release lists five main areas of concern in areas understood to be under scrutiny by EU officials, highlighted below:
A Third Of Smartphone Shoppers Make Weekly Purchases
A third of smartphone shoppers are using their mobiles to make weekly purchases, according to new research.
The number of weekly smartphone shoppers has doubled in the past 12 months to 32 per cent with another 25 per cent making monthly purchases, a study by eDigitalResearch and Portaltech has found.
The research, which has been tracking online shopper behaviour and smartphone use for four years, found that smartphone owners are increasingly using them to help make purchasing decisions. It found that 68 per cent admitted to using their mobile to browse, shop or find product information while out shopping which is becoming 'standard activity'.
That compared to 36 per cent 12 months ago. A fifth of those who used their phones while out shopping said they has gone as far as making a purchase in store.
The number of weekly smartphone shoppers has doubled in the past 12 months to 32 per cent with another 25 per cent making monthly purchases, a study by eDigitalResearch and Portaltech has found.
The research, which has been tracking online shopper behaviour and smartphone use for four years, found that smartphone owners are increasingly using them to help make purchasing decisions. It found that 68 per cent admitted to using their mobile to browse, shop or find product information while out shopping which is becoming 'standard activity'.
That compared to 36 per cent 12 months ago. A fifth of those who used their phones while out shopping said they has gone as far as making a purchase in store.
Amazon Draws Up Plan To Sell Fine Art
Web giant Amazon has held talks with galleries and may begin selling fine art as soon as this month.
The strategy is part of a plan to attract more high spending consumers as Amazon sell more expensive wines and begins to trade more luxury fashions, including through subsidiary MyHabit.com.
The Wall Street Journal said it has spoken to a dozen gallery owners that had confirmed Amazon's interest ans that it had even invited some to cocktail receptions to woo them.
The firm plans to begin a new site with work from about 100 galleries charging commission of between 5 per cent and 20 per cent depending on the price of the work. It charges wine suppliers about 15 per cent WSJ sources said.
The strategy is part of a plan to attract more high spending consumers as Amazon sell more expensive wines and begins to trade more luxury fashions, including through subsidiary MyHabit.com.
The Wall Street Journal said it has spoken to a dozen gallery owners that had confirmed Amazon's interest ans that it had even invited some to cocktail receptions to woo them.
The firm plans to begin a new site with work from about 100 galleries charging commission of between 5 per cent and 20 per cent depending on the price of the work. It charges wine suppliers about 15 per cent WSJ sources said.
Friday, 5 July 2013
Asos Says Chinese Shoppers 'More Demanding' Than In Europe
Asos says its Chinese shoppers are more difficult to lure than in Europe and it is providing far more information on products to help tempt them into purchasing.
Asos chief information officer Pete Marsden said this week in an interview with Computer Weekly magazine that Chinese consumers were 'incredibly demanding' when looking for product information on its web site.
He said the firm has added three times more images of products than it provides on the UK web site and that it may replicate some of the methods it has used in the country in other territories.
He said the company is using its technology contacts to recruit a strong Chinese team ahead of its launch this Autumn. However, he admitted that it was difficult to compete at home on salaries with larger technology firms like Google, which has just opened an office 'down the road,' and must instead make Asos a 'great place to work'.
Asos chief information officer Pete Marsden said this week in an interview with Computer Weekly magazine that Chinese consumers were 'incredibly demanding' when looking for product information on its web site.
He said the firm has added three times more images of products than it provides on the UK web site and that it may replicate some of the methods it has used in the country in other territories.
He said the company is using its technology contacts to recruit a strong Chinese team ahead of its launch this Autumn. However, he admitted that it was difficult to compete at home on salaries with larger technology firms like Google, which has just opened an office 'down the road,' and must instead make Asos a 'great place to work'.
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