Mr Price ready to launch online store

By AGENCIES

FASHION retailer Mr Price ’s online store will be live on Monday July 30, CEO Stuart Bird confirmed on yesterday.

The retailer aims to use its venture into e-commerce to help it gain market share from rivals Foschini , Woolworths and Truworths. Competition in the clothing space has also been boosted with the arrival in South Africa of foreign groups such as Zara and Cotton-On.

"An online selling capability will enable Mr Price to further strengthen relationships with our target customers, who are tech savvy and require a convenient and secure way to get their fashion," Mr Bird said. "Customers around the country will be able to access the full range of merchandise that was previously only possible by shopping at one of the larger stores."

By global standards, e-commerce in South Africa is relatively limited, although online retail sales have shown a steady increase over the past five years as a growing number of tech-savvy consumers turn to the net for bargain hunting.

Mr Price’s online store, which will also be accessible via cellphones, will offer the full Apparel range of about 18000 fashion items. It will cost shoppers R35 per delivery anywhere in South Africa and offer several methods of payment.

The store will also be accessible via cellphones.

Mr Price Home and Mr Price Sport are expected to follow with online stores next year.

The integration of a retailer’s offline and online presence is often referred to as a "bricks and clicks" or"clicks and mortar" business model. It has been easier for traditional retailers with extensive logistics and supply chains to implement this type of model than for start-up companies.