Marks & Spencer has launched new websites in 46 new markets, increasing its international online reach to over 100 countries.
The expansion into new territories – from Argentina to Iceland and Uzbekistan, follows reports that the retailer’s international business has recorded strong growth since the start of the pandemic. At its most recent interim results, M&S saw a 75 per cent increase in international eCommerce sales – with products like the Sienna Straight Leg Jean, for example, topping the bestseller list across multiple different nations.
The new websites will offer overseas shoppers a broad range of M&S’ clothing and home products, fulfilled through the company’s established distribution network. Giving M&S cost-effective and adaptable access to new markets, without significant upfront investment, it says.
Ten additional languages and a wider range of currencies have also been added to the international online channels to ensure a more localised online experience, which has already been found to increase sales significantly.
Among the other countries included in the rollout are Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ivory Coast, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, Jamaica, Jordan, South Korea, Kyrgyz Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Maldives, Moldova, Mongolia, Myanmar, Macedonia, Nepal, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan Region, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, and Uruguay.
Paul Friston, M&S’ international director, said: “Our international business has seen strong online growth since the start of the pandemic as increasing numbers of customers choose to shop through our range of flagship websites. Under our Never the Same Again programme we’re focused on turbocharging our online business both in the UK and internationally, and as part of this we see a real opportunity in extending the number of countries where we run an online channel further.
“Launching in an additional 46 markets means we can now reach a number of new customers who can purchase online with M&S for the first time and receive our fantastic M&S products in a few short clicks, as well as enabling us to explore underlying demand in these markets without significant upfront investment.”
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