Marks & Spencer on Wednesday announced it will enter four new European markets with the launch in mid November of localised customer websites in Germany, Spain, Austria and Belgium.
The move, which is part of M&S' strategy to regain a place in the leading international retailer list marks progress against plans outlined last May to trade online. The company aims at being active in ten international markets this financial year. The new European openings follow the launch of websites in France and Ireland.
M&S will launch with a fully localised offer for each of these European markets. The sites will trade in Euros and offer the preferred local language, payment and delivery options.
“In all four countries M&S products are already in demand with online shoppers using its international delivery service,” the British brand said in a press release, “which sees products delivered to over 80 countries via the UK website.”
The four markets are amongst the most popular delivery destinations and localising the offer would help M&S grow business volume and take its customer engagement in these markets to a higher level.
Marc Bolland, Chief Executive of Marks & Spencer, said that “this is […] our plan to transform M&S from traditional British retailer to a leading international, multi-channel retailer. M&S is a brand that's synonymous with British quality, style and value.”
“Since 2008 we've been in dialogue with the customers who already use our international delivery service and we've learnt much from them,” explained Laura Wade-Gery, executive director of e-commerce multi-channel at Marks & Spencer.
The new websites will provide customers with access to a range of over 15,000 M&S products.
