Ahead of InternetRetailing Expo (2017) and sister event eDelivery Expo we’re running a series of previews and interviews looking ahead to the event. Today we hear from Michael Kliger president of Mytheresa.com.
InternetRetailing: At InternetRetailing Expo (IRX 2017) you are speaking on taking luxury fashion etail global. Tell us a little about Mytheresa.com and your plans for international expansion.
Michael Kliger, president of Mytheresa.com: (pictured left) Mytheresa.com was set up 10 years ago in the backroom of the famous THERESA store in Munich. Ever since we have experienced fantastic growth. Early on we decided to focus on a small customer group but on a global basis. Today we have websites in German, English, French, Italian, Arabic and Mandarin. Soon we will launch another language. We have a globally appealing product portfolio and approach our operations solely on a cross-border basis. But we work hard to adjust language, payments, social, delivery and many other aspects to the local lifestyles of our customers.
IR: What has been one significant challenge you’ve experienced in doing that, and what solution did you find?
MK: The biggest challenge is to really understand the way our customers engage, shop and live locally. We are a customer-driven company, we offer a unique edit of the leading luxury fashion brands in the world but we need to understand her dreams and needs. The only solution is to hire the right people and to constantly engage and learn from our customers.
IR: What has been one, perhaps unexpected, benefit?
MK: The world is becoming a smaller place and our customers travel the globe. So by being present in markets like Asia or the Middle East we can also learn and improve our offer for markets like the UK or Germany.
Michael Kliger is giving the keynote presentation in the Going Global Conference on April 5. His presentation, Going global with luxury fashion etail, is at 10.30am. The conference is part of the InternetRetailing Expo, which runs from April 5 to 6 at the NEC in Birmingham. To learn more about IRX 2017, its sister conference eDelivery Expo and to register for free, visit www.internetretailingexpo.com and www.edeliveryexpo.com.
Attendees can also get a 25% discount on their train fare to the NEC when they book through the IRX or EDX visitor information website.
