Between them, online giants Amazon and Play.com will create up to
5,200 new jobs in the UK over the next two years. On a smaller
scale, new store openings for Charles Tyrwhitt and
Oakfurnitureland show multichannel retailers are investing in
bricks, as well as clicks.
On the day it opened its eighth UK fulfilment centre, in Hemel
Hempstead, Amazon announced that a further three distribution
centres are planned for the UK by the end of 2014. In addition to
2,000 permanent jobs, Amazon’s new centres will create up to
3,000 temporary jobs during the Christmas peak period.
Entertainment products etailer Play.com is also creating UK jobs
by bringing its contact centre back to Britain. The move comes as
part of a wider drive by parent company Rakuten to implement the
Japanese spirit of service Omotenashi, designed to deliver
exceptional and personal experiences.
The new approach is already proving successful says Adam Stewart,
Play’s director of marketing. In just three months since
“on-shoring”, Play’s metrics “show an
improvement of 10 per cent in customer satisfaction, helpfulness
and outcome of the query”. Stewart adds that initial customer
feedback is that “they’re receiving a much happier and more
personalised experience”.
As well as the 55 full-time jobs in the Wirral, where its
customer management partner the Contact Company is based, Play
plans to add a further 150 to 200 jobs in the run-up to
Christmas.
Also bringing operations back to the UK is electronics
distributor Premier Farnell. It agreed a deal with Sony UK
Technology Centre to manufacture the Raspberry Pi computer in the
UK. Currently, the credit-card sized device is produced in China,
but thanks to this partnership, 30 jobs will be created at Sony’s
technology centre in Pencoed, Wales.
Scotland was the target for two more retailers. Following the
success of its Edinburgh store, shirtmaker Charles Tyrwhitt is
opening its second outlet in Scotland next month. Marking the
opening of its 20th store overall, the new Glasgow shop will be
on Glasgow’s Buchanan Street and will create around a dozen new
jobs.
Some 20 jobs are expected in Livingston, West Lothian, when
Oakfurnitureland opens its 23rd showroom-and fourth Scottish
store-in late September. The hardwood specialist opened a store
in Stockton on 8th September, which also created 20 jobs. By the
end of the year, Oakfurnitureland has its sights on opening seven
more showrooms-potentially creating a further 140
positions.
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