Autumn 2009

Peacocks, the long-established fashion value retailer, has embarked on a programme to ramp up its online activities. It is to roll out a new web store early next year, supported by the latest e-commerce web technology and enhanced fulfilment, order processing and call centre services.

All the new technology is being provided by GSI Commerce, Peacocks' existing outsourced fulfilment contractor, under a new eight-year contract. 'We considered other providers, but GSI was the obvious fit for us,' says managing director Tim Bettley.

He adds: 'Our existing web store has been very successful, but in order to take our offering to the next level, we recognised that we needed a partner with expertise, resources, enterprise technology and operational capability.'

According to Bettley, one of the features of the GSI service that appealed was its 'per cent of sales' business model, which he says has already improved the company's profitability while avoiding costly capital expenses.

 

Peacocks operates 460 stores nationwide and has 46 overseas franchises. It is part of The Peacock Group, which also owns bonmarche. GSI's UK operation was formerly known as Zendor.