Arcadia Group to launch 5 new iPad apps as mobile sales skyrocket

Arcadia Group, the UK’s largest privately-owned retailer, is to launch five new iPad apps for its main high street brands – Topman , Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Evans , Wallis – as sales through mobile have grown by 250% across the group.

Developed in collaboration with mobile experience specialist Red Ant, the iOS apps will be live by May, with Android versions to follow through the summer.

The apps allow users to browse the full catalogue in online and offline mode, so they can get their fashion fix even with limited or no internet connection. They can purchase products, find them in a nearby store or add them to a wish list. They can scan barcodes to find products in store and can even have products delivered into store, via Arcadia’s new collect from store service.

The iPad apps follow Arcadia’s portfolio of iPhone apps, which took more than £3million in sales over the Christmas period. Group-wide mobile and tablet revenue has grown by 250% year on year. Mobile and tablet devices now make up a third of all online visits and a quarter of online revenue across the Arcadia Group.

The apps are all rated more than four stars out of five by customers and have been downloaded a quarter of a million times. The Topman app reached number 5 in the Apple app download charts, and Wallis were featured in the App Store’s “what’s hot” section.

Henry Firth, Group Customer Experience Manager at Arcadia explains: “The Topshop iPhone app has been a huge success, delivering unique mobile experiences such as live streaming and designer exclusives during London Fashion Week. Given the huge rise in customers using different devices, developing our mobile and tablet channels is a key focus for Arcadia. As well as rolling out iPad and Android apps, we’re also working on a best-in-class mobile web experience.”

Dan Mortimer, Red Ant’s CEO, adds: “Arcadia Group [has] worked closely with [Arcadia] to offer a shopping experience without frontiers – one which allows customers to fully immerse themselves in the brand on their mobile, in-store and via their social connections. The future of digital commerce depends on retail breaking down barriers to purchase, and Arcadia is pioneering this in the UK.”