Marks and Spencer announces international online expansion
M&S has launched 46 flagship websites in new markets, expanding its online reach to over 100 countries.
The launch is part of the retailer’s Never the Same Again transformation programme, and nearly doubles the number of international markets where it has a pureplay presence.
At its most recent interim results, M&S, whose bricks and mortar popularity has fallen sharply in recent years, reported a 75% increase in international e-commerce sales.
It says that the expansion has been achieved using a low cost approach which combines an adaptable website platform specifically designed for its international business and customers, with orders from these websites fulfilled through M&S’ established distribution network.
M&S’ international online channels are now also available in ten additional languages and a wider range of currencies.
Paul Friston, International Director, says: “Our international business has seen strong online growth since the start of the pandemic as increasing numbers of customers choose to shop through our range of flagship websites.”
“Under our Never the Same Again programme we’re focused on turbocharging our online business both in the UK and internationally, and as part of this we see a real opportunity in extending the number of countries where we run an online channel further.”
He concludes: “Launching in an additional 46 markets means we can now reach a number of new customers who can purchase online with M&S for the first time and receive our fantastic products in a few short clicks, as well as enabling us to explore underlying demand in these markets without significant upfront investment.”
The full list of aforementioned countries:
Argentina
Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria
Cambodia, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ivory Coast, Croatia
Dominican Republic
Ecuador, Estonia
Fiji
Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala
Iceland
Jamaica, Jordan
South Korea
Kyrgyz Republic
Latvia, Lithuania
Maldives, Moldova, Mongolia, Myanmar, Macedonia
Nepal
Pakistan, Panama, Peru
Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Sri Lanka
Taiwan Region, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia
Uruguay, Uzbekistan
