M&S is expanding its online service to the Republic of Ireland.
The multichannel retailer will sell online through a dedicated website, www.marksandspencer.ie, from this spring, although an exact launch date has not yet been announced. Customers visiting the site can currently sign up to get news of the launch from the M&S Newsletter.
Jonathan Glenister, head of Marks & Spencer Ireland, said: “We’re proud that over the last 30 years customers across Ireland have grown to know and love M&S. The website has been long awaited and it’s great news that customers will soon be able to enjoy the convenience of shopping with M&S at anytime and anywhere.”
M&S already has 21 stores in Ireland, and the site will broaden the choice to some 10,000 products including online fashion exclusives. While customers can already order from the UK website for overseas delivery, the launch of the dedicated site will offer local delivery prices at faster speeds. That means standard delivery of three to five working days for €4.95, while express delivery takes one to two working days for €9.95.
The news comes four months after the launch of M&S’ French ecommerce site and fits with its declared intention to become a leading international multichannel retailer. The company said in November 2010 that it planned to turn over £1bn from multichannel sales by 2013/14, and that international sales would be key to growth.
