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Vistaprint buys Bonusprint parent
Vistaprint, a provider of business cards and personalised products, is to acquire Albumprinter, a Dutch photo book specialist for up to €65 million (£57 million). In the UK, Albumprinter operates Bonusprint. 

Debenhams debuts home catalogue
Debenhams has launched a 68-page catalogue this week, selling furniture, electrical goods and homewares. The mailing will be delivered to 195,000 storecard holders and will also be available in-store. Although Debenhams had previously distributed a print catalogue featuring home goods, it was discontinued in 2003 to focus on the online offer.

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Have you booked your ECMOD conference tickets?
Speaking at the must-attend ECMOD Conference on 30th November & 1st December will be representatives from companies including Charles Tyrwhitt, Celtic Sheepskin, giffgaff, Ironmongery Direct and M and M Direct, to name a few. With this year’s event offering coverage of the widest range of topics to date, as well as an exhibition of over 50 expert suppliers, the ECMOD Show at the Business Design Centre, London has something for you. Delegates are also invited to join peers at the networking Drinks Reception on 30th November. To see the full programme visit www.ecmod360.co.uk/conference or contact Rhi Leeds on 01271 866112 rhi@ecmod.com.

Spartoo predicts growth following Rubbersole acquisition
Following its acquisition of UK footwear etailer Rubbersole earlier this year, France-based Spartoo is forecasting turnover of €100 million (£87 million) in 2011, up from €60 million in 2010. Spartoo is active in 20 countries, including France, Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and the UK, with each website localised for its target market including local language and delivery options.

Profits decline at House of Bruar as business prepares for sale
Apparel cataloguer House of Bruar saw profits fall 30 percent in the year ending January 2011, according to published reports. Pretax profits last year were £2.9 million, compared with £4.1 million in 2009-10. Turnover during the period rose from £17.5 million to £18.6 million. It is understood the company’s owners are in the process of a strategic review ahead of a potential sale of the business.

Liz Earle goes on air with online video
Skincare brand Liz Earle has launched an online TV channel featuring a series of videos on its products, its history and its people. Liz Earle is working with multichannel video agency Adjust Your Set to create videos with full click-to-buy functionality.

M and M Direct moves into discount vouchers
Complementing its discount apparel offering, cataloguer/online retailer M and M Direct has expanded into the voucher market. Using an affiliate marketing model, the retailer launched mandmvouchers.com, a site where consumers can access discount codes for retailers including Argos, Dixons, Lovefilm, Jessops and more.

Feelunique.com beats targets
Online beauty retailer Feelunique.com reported a like-for-like sales rise of 57 percent in the six months ended September, against a forecast of 50 percent. Sales reached £10.4 million during the period, leading the Guernsey-based company to revise its turnover expectations for the full year from £24 million to £26.5 million. In the last financial year, turnover was £16 million with pretax profits of £1.1 million.

The Hut’s financial director quits
Paul Meehan, the financial director at multititle etailer The Hut Group, has left the business. It is understood his departure comes after the company cancelled plans to float this year.
 
The City speculates on Boden float
Rumours are circulating that Boden is preparing for an IPO. According to the national press, the retailer/cataloguer is close to hiring Richard Bradbury, the former chief executive of River Island as a nonexecutive director as it identifies where and how it can further expand the business.
 






You still have time to prepare for Christmas
Our November/December issue is out next month, with a focus on supercharging your marketing efforts. If you can’t wait until then for tips and tricks you can use to maximise your investment in email, ecommerce or digital catalogues, click here to read how you can still tweak your Christmas marketing strategy and make 2011 the best year yet. Read more here…

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