Cath Kidston launches new website
Continues to invest in future growth following strong results and rapid expansion in 2013
Cath Kidston Ltd has launched a new e-commerce website, designed and built by BT Expedite, BT’s omnichannel experts. The site is the first to go live on the latest version of BT’s FrescaCommerce platform and marks an important step in the retailer’s 20th year.
The website, www.cathkidston.com, provides customers with all of the features they expect of a leading multichannel retailer, including online ratings and reviews, wishlists, e-vouchers, enhanced search, click and collect and a range of delivery options.
The project was completed on time and within budget, and BT Expedite also integrated the system with the Futura POS (point of sale) gift card which provides Cath Kidston’s multichannel gift card solution. Just as important as the customer experience on the website, the new e-commerce system is also integrated with the company’s call centre operation, enabling management of orders, returns and cancellations over the phone.
As well as providing a platform to support a genuine multichannel experience for customers, the new site will also enable Cath Kidston to easily expand its European customer base, with a number of multinational features, including localised payments and multilingual functionality.
Along with the main site, BT Expedite also designed and built a mobile-optimised site which will go live in the autumn.
With a scalable, reliable e-commerce engine in place, Cath Kidston can now push ahead with further language sites and localised payments. The new site currently allows purchases in three currencies – pounds, euros and dollars. The second phase will feature localised content for customers outside the UK, with the French version due to go live later this year
Amy Bastow, eCommerce director, Cath Kidston, said: “We are delighted with our new e-commerce system. The on time launch of the new site reflects the hard work put in by the teams at Cath Kidston and BT and the new site looks beautiful and is trading well. We’re looking forward to the continued growth of our online business on the new platform.”
David Grossman, CEO of BT Expedite, said: “Everyone involved worked extremely hard to ensure that phase one of the project went as smoothly as possible. And we’re now delighted to be involved in next stage of development which will utilise the international features of our platform. It’s exciting to be able to work with such a successful and rapidly expanding company.”
Notes to editors
About Cath Kidston
Cath Kidston Limited, the home of modern vintage, was founded in 1993 when designer Cath Kidston opened a single shop in London’s Holland Park. The company now offers a full range of lifestyle products across homeware, accessories, women’s and children’s fashion.
Cath Kidston Limited began to expand into international markets in 2006 with the first Japanese store opening in Tokyo. Today there are 59 Cath Kidston stores and concessions in the UK and Ireland, with an additional 71 across Spain (3), Paris (1), Japan (33), South Korea (15), Thailand (8), Taiwan (3), Hong Kong (4), China (3), and 1 in Singapore where the brand launched on 5 September 2013.
The company is majority-owned by private equity firm TA Associates and led by an experienced senior management team, including Kenny Wilson (Chief Executive). Cath Kidston remains at the centre of the company as Creative Director.
Cath Kidston Limited employs approximately 1,000 people worldwide. It announced group sales for the 12 months ending 1 April 2013 of £105 million, a 19 per cent increase on the previous year. Worldwide network sales (including wholesale sales to retail partners and their estimated sales) rose 24 per cent to £129 million for the same period.
