Every week we’re highlighting the shortlisted retailers in the Internet Retailing Awards 2014. Today we focus on the Market Entry Award.
In a fast-maturing ecommerce and multichannel industry, it takes something special for a new brand or retailer to break through. But in the Market Entry category of the Internet Retailing Awards 2014, we celebrate traders who have done just that.
Our panel of judges whittled down an impressive list of nominated retailers into a shortlist that really packs a punch.
Retailers who sell in the UK or Europe are eligible for this award. The winner will be the retailer that best shows it’s building market share while exemplifying an entrepreneurial approach.
Ian Jindal, editor-in-chief of InternetRetailing said: “Whether a newly-founded retailer with sharp elbows creating a space, or an established retailer embracing multichannel, this award is to recognise a new market entrant who – since leaving the blocks within the last three years – has caught the eye of both customers and peers (now known as ‘competitors’!).
“This award goes to the retailer that’s not only made a splash, but who looks to be making ripples for a good while to come – perhaps into another award next year!”
The companies who won a place on the Market Entry Award shortlist are: AO.com, Lululemon and MissGuided.
From white label provider of white-goods microsite AO.com has established itself as a major retailer with a new domain, logo and shiny IPO behind it.
With 4,000 products and 20,000 orders a day, although the company was established in 2000, the customer-facing brand has established itself very recently, in particular making good use of social media as an integrated part of brand-building.
Lululemon
is new to the UK, with a London flagship store just opened, but is an established retailer/yoga brand in Canada. The company has gone about inspiring UK shoppers through a variety of innovative events, from a workout at the Royal Albert Hall to appointing yoga teachers as brand ambassadors.
MissGuided , says one of our judges in nominating the company, is “a great new brand with huge success, already in the mind of the public”. Founded in 2009, currently at £55m turnover and targeting £100m by 2015, growth is coming from international expansion as well as UK. MissGuided’s Manchester roots keep it in contact with both the supply chain and UK manufacture, allowing it to respond rapidly to new trends and offer on trend items, rapidly and the right price. Miss Guided is a confident home-grown success with a cult following of fans who look to them for inspiration as well as an easy means of shopping.
The final winner of The Market Entry Award will be named at the Internet Retailing Awards 2014, to be held at One Mayfair on June 26.
A reminder too that voting is open for the overall Internet Retailing Award 2014, sponsored by Venda. This is our readers’ award, in which a winner is chosen by you from the full awards shortlist. Vote and your name will go into the draw for a free ticket to the awards party.
Join the conversation and tell us who you want to win the Internet Retailing Award by tweeting your vote to @etail with #theawards.
Get tickets for you/your team/your clients/your friends here: www.internetretailingawards.net.
We’ll be exploring the other awards categories in the weeks to come.
