Marks & Spencer has unveiled its new French website, marking its return to the French market a decade after it pulled out.
The move, part of M&S’ strategy to become a leading international multichannel retailer, takes it back to a country where it previously had 18 stores until they closed in 2001 as part of its withdrawal from Continental Europe. M&S started delivering to France from its UK site in 2009, but this is its first venture to focus on the French market since 2001.
Independent research carried out for the retailer found more than 70% of French consumers were aware of its brand, perhaps due to that history.
Now visitors to Marksandspencer.fr can order from an inventory of more than 10,000 products for delivery as far afield as Corsica, Monaco as well as across mainland France. The site is in French, sells in Euros and has local delivery prices, starting at €4.95 for standard delivery.
Payment options include Visa and Mastercard as well as the French market-specific Visa Cartebleue.
Laura Wade-Gery, M&S’ executive director of multichannel ecommerce, said: “Our plan is to transform M&S into an international multichannel retailer and it’s absolutely right that our first international website should launch here in France, where we know there’s great awareness of M&S.
“Returning to this market with an online offer allows customers throughout the country to shop across our product range at any time, from any location and in their own currency.”
Later this autumn Marks & Spencer will also open its first French store since 2001, with a flagship outlet on Paris’ Champs-Elysées selling womenswear, lingerie and food. Other stores will subsequently be opened in “strategic locations” across the French capital.
M&S launched the new French e-commerce website assisted by Athito, Sapient and TCS.
