Catalogues Catalogues Newsletter - Issue 319

N Brown launches Julipa

N Brown is launching yet another brand: Julipa, which it describes as “offering stylish fashion for the mature woman who wants to look good”. In addition to its website, which has already gone live, Julipa will sell via a print catalogue scheduled to mail in time for the autumn selling season. In terms of target market and product offering, Julipa overlaps with several other N Brown brands, including Heather Valley, whose apparel range is prominently featured on the Julipa site.

Government indecision on Royal Mail future

Volume mailers are infuriated with the government for its failure to reach a decision on how Royal Mail is to move forward. With significant mail accounts having been cherry-picked by competitors, and volumes falling, Royal Mail needs major investment which can, watchers believe, only be realised if Royal Mail remains in the public sector. Ministers have rejected a compromise plan that would have seen Royal Mail become a not-for-profit company whilst some 100 labour MPs are poised to vote against part-privatisation.

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Other news

Kitbag signs exclusive deal with Everton FC

Everton FC has signed a 10-year deal with sports gear etailer Kitbag to have the latter handle all of the club’s retail, online, and mail order operations. The partners expect to generate more than £30 million in revenue.

SofaSofa starts year off strong

Furniture cataloguer SofaSofa increased its sales 17.5 percent for the four-month period from 1st January to 24th April, from £6.8 million last year to £8.0 million. The company credits the rise in part to greater demand for British-made goods.

Argos accused of “fleecing” Irish consumers

Argos is charging customers in Ireland up to 40 percent more for goods than it charges UK customers, according to the Consumers’ Association of Ireland (CAI). Argos responded by saying it needs to take multiple factors, including transport costs, taxes, and local market conditions, into account when setting prices for non-UK catalogues; the CAI countered that it was “fleecing Irish consumers”.

M&S tops list of effective ecommerce sites

Marks & Spencer topped the list of eDigitalResearch’s eRetail Benchmark Study of the most effective ecommerce sites. Making up the rest of the top five: Play.com, Amazon, John Lewis, and Asos. M&S was also judged to have the most effective on-site search. John Lewis came in number one for brand advocacy/word of mouth, with Play.com deemed to offer the best first impression. Speciality womenswear cataloguer/retailer Long Tall Sally had the best online shopping basket, supermarket Sainsbury’s had the best checkout process, and Next offered the best delivery experience. In terms of email responsiveness, Euroffice came in on top.

Jaeger’s ecommerce site goes international

Upscale fashion brand Jaeger has launched online in the US and a number of EU countries, including France, Ireland, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain.

Catalogue Exchange Summit close to sell out

Just a dozen out of the 170 places offered for the Catalogue Exchange Annual Summit on June 3rd remain available. The day which takes place in the Council Chamber of Kensington Town Hall is head lined by US strategist Don Libey and will encourage member debate on current market conditions and how best to trade through them. Call 01271- 855545 for further information.

Don’t miss out!

In the May issue of Catalogue e-business magazine: making off-the-page advertising work, the facts about the impending 3D Secure deadline, profitable uses for user-generated content, five rules for expanding into Continental Europe, and much more. If you haven’t received your issue, be sure to subscribe today by calling 01271 866112 & call Jill Thorne on the same number if you are interested in advertising in this newsletter or our monthly print magazine.