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Retail Week
Asos launches US site
The online fashion retailerAsos’ site went live today, with further launches expected in France and Germany expected before the end of the year. The site has the same look and feel as its UK counterpart and for the time-being at least, all customers are being offered free shipping on orders. Asos now delivers to more than 167 markets worldwide.
Waitrose makes its first foray into the US
Waitroseis to make its first entry into the US market following discussions about selling its Duchy Originals range through retailers in the country. The range is due to launch in Spring 2011 and will include ‘quintessentially British’ products. While the move may fuel speculation as to the retailer’s full entry into the US, sources suggest that this is not the case.
Kingfisher aiming for emerging markets growth
The DIY groupKingfisheris aiming to grow through international expansion over the next five to ten years, increasing international sales from 17% to 24% as a proportion of total sales. Ian Cheshire, Group CEO, said that “there is a long list of options” which included India, Brazil and Eastern Europe. After a difficult time in Poland over the past year, the retailer aims to increase its number of stores from 56 to “well over 100″.
The Grocer
Marmite Chocolate - love it or hate it
Marmiteis moving into the world of chocolate with the Very Peculiar Chocolate Bar. Described by creator Kimm & Miller as “a perplexing treat that bewilders the taste buds”, the milk chocolate bar has a hint of the yeasty spread. The bar will be part of Marmite’s Christmas range.
Green & Black is still UK’s coolest brand
For the fourth consecutive year,Green & Blackshas been named the coolest brand. The brand has in particular been credited for its ability to combine ethical credentials and style, innovation, desirability and originality. Other CoolBrand winners included Jack Daniel’s and Aston Martin.
Tesco enters babycare
Tesco is taking onMothercarewith the planned opening of a series of standalone baby stores. A trial 6000 sq ft section is due to open shortly in a Manchester store, and if successful will be rolled out in a standalone format. The stores will “give first time mums the experience of a dedicated baby store”, with competitively priced products and specialist advisors on hand.
Marketing Week
Tesco gives birth to new baby store
Retail giant Tesco has launched a bid to rivalMothercareby unveiling plans to open a series of standalone baby stores. The supermarket made the decision on the back of a “baby boom” earlier this year where its baby products saw significant growth - with cot sales in particular up 52% on the previous year. Tesco is trialling a 6,000 sq ft “Baby World” section in its Walkden store in Manchester and will roll out more standalone shops under the same banner if it is successful.
Unilever to buy Alberto Culver brands
Unileveris to buy personal care group Alberto Culver which owns the TRESemmé, VO5, and Simple brands in a $3.7bn (£2.3bn) deal that extends its hair and skin care portfolio. Unilever says that the new brands will allow it to offer hair and skincare products that “cover more price points across categories” and claims that the deal makes it “the world’s leading company in hair conditioning, the second largest in shampoo and the third largest in styling”.
M&S attracts over 1.2m m-commerce users
Marks & Spencer’smobile commerce site has generated over 1.2m unique users and taken single purchase orders exceeding £3,000 since its launch in May this year. The retailer claimed the mobile site has exceeded the initial performance objectives it set pre-launch by taking over 13,000 orders and generating over 10m page views since launch.The site is mostly used by iPhone users although users of Android devices are the second most common visitors to the site.
