Rachel Oxburgh, founder of flash-sales website Casabu, expects
a turnover of more than £5 million this year. Less than six
months after launching, Casabu is running up to 15 daily sales
through its website offering discounts of up to 70 per cent on
clothing, toys, nursery equipment and maternity wear. Casabu,
which now employs 10 staff, took its idea from the United States
where flash-sales websites are a huge online phenomenon.
A geochemist by background Rachel Oxburgh, 47, who is a mother of
two boys aged four and six says she was confident the
flash-sales concept would work as well in the UK as it does in
the States and that since launching in April has been overwhelmed
by the response from consumers and suppliers. “We are
tapping into the fact that mums, and dads, love deals, like
shopping online and don’t have time to shop around. The model has
been very successful in the US and every time I have mentioned it
to a British mum or dad, they love the idea and can’t wait to sign
up.”
She adds, “Casabu sales support rather than threaten
existing retail channels. Our brand partners tell us that traffic
and sales at their own websites increase during and after Casabu
events. This buzz creates just the uplift brands need in the
current retail climate.”
The London-based company is backed by entrepreneur John
Heseltine, who is behind retail brands Cherrygood and Love Juice.
Oxburgh has also invested in the business.
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