Online secret-sales website vente-privee.com
reported a gross turnover of £823.7 million for 2010,
representing a 15 percent year-on-year increase.
Vente-privee’s French business still contributes the majority of
sales, generating £676 million. The UK business accounts for
£6.4 million, having grown 114 percent during the year. For
2011, the company forecasts £940 million turnover, a
year-on-year increase of 14 percent. Also on the cards this year,
is launching Vente-privee into the Dutch market.
UK online sales are expected to grow by 14 percent this year,
from £44 billion to £50 billion, according to a report
commissioned by Kelkoo and carried out by the Centre for Retail
Research. Ecommerce sales now represented more than 10 percent of
total retail sales in the UK. The report also found that UK
consumers are the most prolific online shoppers in Europe. Brits
spent an average of £1,284 each online and purchased 41
items; this is appreciably higher the European average of
£908 on 25 items.
Furniture and homewares retailer Habitat has
relaunched its website and now ships to customers in France,
Germany and the Republic of Ireland as well as to the UK. The new
site has enhanced cross-selling opportunities including a
suggestion tool that recommends matching products based on what
the user has searched for.
The Guardian‘s Market Forces blog looks at how
the snow hit toy maker Hornby.
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