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Next posts resilient results, plans ecommerce entry into China
Homewares and apparel retailer/cataloguer Next reported sales of £1.57 billion in the first half of the year—a rise of 3.6 percent. Pretax profits were up 8.5 percent to £228 million in the six months ended July 2011. Sales in Next’s online and mail order arm Next Directory were up 15.1 percent to £486.7 million, with profit up 11.3 percent to £112.8 million. International sales rocketed during the period and Next expects full-year online sales outside the UK to reach £32 million, up from £10 million last year. Sales were particularly strong in Germany, USA, Ireland, Australia and Poland. Next now plans to set up online stores for Russia, China and Japan within the next six months.

Record profits at Boden 
Apparel cataloguer Boden reported record profits of £32.5 million in the year to 31st December 2010. Total turnover rose 15 percent to £232.2 million, with strong growth coming from Boden’s overseas markets. Managing director Julian Granville said in a statement that following Boden’s launch in France this month, the company will extend its European reach into more markets.

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Profits slide at John Lewis
Operating profit at John Lewis more than halved in the half year ended 30th July. While sales inched up 2.5 percent at the department-store chain, to £1.42 billion, operating profit plummeted £18.9 million to £15.8 million. The slump reflects the tough trading conditions on the high street, plus John Lewis’s investment in systems, supply chain and new store openings.

Aurora trials iPad-enabled checkouts in-store
Customers of Aurora Fashions brands Coast, Oasis, Warehouse and Karen Millen are now able to shop for out-of-stock items in-store using an iPad-enabled point-of-sale system. The system, provided by BT Expedite, allows sales assistants to access each of the brands' websites from the store, check product availability and place orders. Customers can pay on the spot using mobile payments, reducing queues at the tills. The system is being trialled in eight Aurora Fashion stores in London and Oxford.

Asos unveils iPhone app
Asos has launched an iPhone app allowing customers to shop the Asos range, save items for later and manage their accounts. Asos’s ecommerce director James Hart said an Android app will follow.

Sales and profits rise at Laura Ashley 
Apparel and homewares retailer Laura Ashley reported a 28 percent increase in interim pretax profit and a UK like-for-like sales growth of 3.5 percent. The company attributes the success to its “strong product offering, distinctive brand and continued focus on providing an attractive retail experience for customers”.

… And at Farnell
Group sales at electronic components distributor Premier Farnell grew 4.8 percent in the first half of the year. Operating profit was up 7.4 percent during the period. The group saw double-digit sales growth for the UK in the first half, with turnover up 11.4 percent, for the period ended 31st July.

… But decline at Argos and Homebase 
At Home Retail Group, the parent of Homebase and Argos, the news was not as positive. Total sales at Argos slumped 7.1 percent, to £859 million, in the second quarter. While at Homebase, sales started well, but the quarter saw an overall decline of 3.8 percent to £382 million.

Net-a-Porter adds augmented reality technology to its ad campaigns 
Net-a-Porter is using augmented reality technology to allow users to interact directly with its print advertising. Customers can download an app onto their smartphone or iPad featuring exclusive video content taken from interviews with the models featured. The Aurasma image-recognition technology uses the app’s camera functionality to recognise photos and overlay an image so that it tracks as the camera is moved.

Supplier Awards Networking Party 
Enjoy an informal drink and canapes and share news and experiences with more than 500 executives from the direct commerce sector. The evening's special event, the awards presentation, will take place on 30th November at the Business Design Centre, before the assembled crowd. Tickets start from £20+vat per person. To book or for further info click here, or contact Rhi Leeds on +44 (0)1271 866112 / rhi@ecmod.com. To thank your suppliers for their second-to-none service, nominate them by completing this form.

Print Master Class 
To learn more about maximising your print ROI and how to perform your own print purchasing audit, book your place to attend the Print Master Class. Led by print procurement consultants Blue Buffalo, the event has an option of 6 dates, the next one being on 5th October. Rates start at £295 per person, with discounts for members of CatEx DCA. Contact Jenny Squire for more details on how to book on 01271 866112 or email jenny@ecmod.com.



Comply or die
By May 2012, all UK-based websites will need to make sure that they are compliant with the Information Commissioner Office’s (ICO) legislation on cookies and data collection. Failure to comply can lead to hefty fines of up to £500,000, which could be devastating to the UK economy, as well as cause irreparable damage to websites’ reputations. Click here for some best-practice tips on optimising visitors’ experiences while avoiding the pitfalls.

Here, there, and everywhere
Because Direct Commerce covers multichannel business, it only seems right that you should be able to access us via multiple channels. In addition to the monthly print magazine (the September issue is out now), there’s the Direct Commerce website at www.catalog-biz.com.

We also have:

 




Click here to nominate your suppliers 

 

 
Marketing & eCommerce Director
London – Multi-Channel Fashion business
Six figure salary + bonus + benefits

While other businesses are suffering our retained client is enjoying steading growth. This niche business is now seeking a dynamic and accomplished individual for this outstanding management board position which reports to the Chief Executive.

With full P&L responsibility for direct channels, currently accounting for 65 per cent of sales, the remit spans brand, retail store, direct catalogue and web marketing, for the UK and international markets. Together with ownership of all ecommerce development activity and management of a 15 strong team. An indisputable ability to deliver profitable business growth and get the very best from the entire marketing team and its external suppliers is essential. Applicants will have extensive experience in all channels to market, ideally gained in the fashion sector, and will most specifically be able to demonstrate ability to optimise ecommerce performance.

Full CVs only please with covering note and week day/weekend contact details in full confidence to jane@expertregister.net
Closing date 16th September 2011.

Expert register is a trading division of Synergy Partnership Ltd. 

Are you looking for a new challenge? Advertise in CataloguesCatalogues Talent Shop and you will reach the desktops of thousands of potential employers in the catalogue and home shopping sector. The service is completely free of charge and includes a free confidential reply email address if required.

To place your own advert in Talent Shop, email your 30 word profile to info@ecmod.com and it will appear in the next available issue.

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