We can't get under the skin of these issues without your input so please take the time to do our survey’On the web
Klout versus PeerIndex
Like many social media tools, both Klout and PeerIndex have generated plenty of buzz about themselves.
10 tips on using QR codes
Alex Meisl, Chairman of mobile agency Sponge and co-chair of the Mobile Marketing Association.
www.thekooples.co.uk
A year ago, no one had even heard of French brand The Kooples in the UK. Now it seems to be everywhere – on the high street via its 18 stores, in ads on buses – and it is fast becoming a favourite with fashion editors.
www.shopatpdt.com
After recently opening its first store on Belfast’s Lisburn Road, premium womenswear indie Please Don’t Tell has launched a transactional website.
www.marni.com
Users landing on the home page of the new Marni.com website find a slightly confusing concept: the images are small compared with the white space and a lot of the content is below the fold.
On the web this week www.riverisland.com
The recently relaunched River Island website has a completely different look and feel.
www.christianlouboutin.com
Landing on the home page of the Christian Louboutin website, users can immediately see it is a site with a difference.
www.lovestretch.co.uk
Lovestretch, which relaunches this month, was founded by pilates teacher Gill Owen in 2009.
www.notjustalabel.com
The recently relaunched Not Just a Label (NJAL) site, which promotes and sells pieces from up-and-coming designers, uses new features and photography to make an impact.
www.coggles.com
As soon as you arrive on the home page at Coggles.com, the online store of York premium indie Sarah Coggles, the experience is a special one.
uniqlo.com
I love Uniqlo and think both its retail positioning and [product] offering is refreshing, but how well is this translated online?
youngbritishdesigners.com
Flying the flag for the UK, this website pulls together product from inspirational young British fashion designers.
shop.hm.com/gb
A late arrival onto the etail scene, Swedish fast-fashion retailer H&M finally launched its first UK transactional website in September.
notjustalabel.com
Not Just a Label (NJAL) describes itself as “the leading global business directory for showcasing avant-garde fashion designers of today, nurturing the upcoming talents of tomorrow”.
yoursclothing.co.uk
Leon Bailey-Green Managing director of fashion website consultancy The Online Fashion Agency.
www.mariagrachvogel.com
Womenswear designer Maria Grachvogel’s eponymous label aims to bring the personal touch to online retailing.
www.lkbennett.com
Relaunched in January this year, the LK Bennett website achieved an 100% increase in sales year on year in its first five weeks. Looking at the site, it is easy to see why.
www.selfridges.com
The first thing you notice when going to the home page of Selfridges’ much-anticipated transactional website is the lack of product or model shots.
eu.wranger.com/bluebell
Pushing creativity and innovation to the limit, Wrangler has launched a new Flash-based website for its spring 10 premium Blue Bell range.
www.marni.com
Marni is a premium Italian fashion brand that is slowly entering high streets around the world with its own stores.
Five tips on using touch-screen technology
Advice from Kalyna Stiles Store, business consulting director at retail technology firm NCR
www.houseoffraser.co.uk
As much as House of Fraser is a very well-known retailer, I believe the customer value proposition could be made more obvious on its website.
www.asos.com
Asos is an online phenomenon, which other etailers often look to for best practice tips. But could it do more to enhance the customer experience it currently provides?
www.jcrew.com
J Crew ‘launched’ its website in the UK recently (although most of the site is a re-skin of its US version).
www.imaginefashion.com
Imagine Fashion describes itself as a “must-visit interactive fashion film destination”.
www.bouxavenue.com
Launched by retail entrepreneur Theo Paphitis, lingerie retailer Boux Avenue has had a strong online focus from day one.
www.independentboutique.com
Launched to support small businesses, Independent Boutique sells products from a number of brands and designers on one site.
Primark
With more than 200 stores worldwide, Primark is one of the UK’s largest high street retailers, dominating its segment in what is a crowded retail market.
wolfandbadger.com
Wolf & Badger is a Notting Hill boutique that enables high-end independent designers to showcase and sell their work in the store and online at www.wolfandbadger.com.
orlakiely.com
Orla Kiely is a unique and exciting designer. Brand devotees, whether they are buying a notebook or one of her trademark bags, are buying a little piece of Orla herself.
frenchconnection.com
Landing on the home page of the French Connection site, Frenchconnection.com, customers are immediately greeted with the retailer’s latest advertising campaign, ‘You are man? You are woman?’.
pret-a-rever.com
Pret-a-rever.com, meaning ready to dream, is a site built from an enthusiasm for trends and a desire to “inspire people with fashion”.
riverisland.com
In the past the River Island website has been criticised for a number of reasons (predominately its use of Flash, which prevented some shoppers from being able to access it), so its relaunched version came as a welcome relief and will ensure it reaches a larger audience.
ralphlauren.co.uk
Premium lifestyle brand and retailer Ralph Lauren has finally launched online in the UK, and judging by the website’s home page it is planning to make an impact.
topman.com
Joris Beckers Chief executive officer at search and merchandising software specialist Fredhopper
zara.com
Zara.com has finally made it to the UK, but the new transactional site for the Inditex-owned fast-fashion chain has had a number of launching errors that don’t appear to have been rectified.
www.gap.eu
Casualwear retailer Gap has finally made it online with a transactional website launch last month.
digdeep.com
Launched earlier this year, men’s streetwear site Digdeep.com mixes the appeal of sports fashion with streetwear.
girlmeetsdress.com
Launched in 2009 and winner of Best Etail Innovation at the Drapers Etail Awards 2010, Girl Meets Dress brings a new idea to ecommerce - borrowing designer dresses.
Redlabelfashion.com
Women’s young fashion etailer Red Label recently relaunched its site, Redlabelfashion.com.
pretaportobello.com
Pretaportobello.com invites users to browse the virtual stalls of the capital’s finest markets, including Portobello, Camden and Spitalfields.
www.hm.com/gb
Although H&M’s website is not yet transactional, there is still plenty to keep visitors interested.
www.fashionablemaven.co.uk
Fashionable Maven is an information site aimed at the 40-plus market and uses affiliate marketing in an effective way.
www.republic.co.uk
Vaughan Watson head of marketing communications at ecommerce consultancy 20:20 Technology
www.prettygreen.com
Fabio De BernardiDirector of business development Europe at wish list site Wishpot
www.apc.fr
Premium French denim label APC is known for its clean, basic but on-trend men’s and women’s clothing and accessories, and since its launch in the late 1980s has become a popular label among UK independents.
www.joulesclothing
At first glance this website looks fun and vibrant - all the things Joules stands for.
www.drunknmunky.eu
Relaunched in December, this site is an interactive experience rather than an average fashion site. Designed by Strange Corporation, the design is based on the concept of “Broken Britain”.
