The Warehouse CDO: ‘Our online sales now outgrow NZ market’

Craig Jordan, The Warehouse Group CDO: ‘The group will continue to innovate in the online space.’

The Warehouse Groupsays its NZ online sales were at $52.8 million for Q2, up 24.1 per cent compared to the same quarter last year.

This is ahead of domestic levels and in line with international market growth, the Warehouse Group says in a statement.

“Strong online sales through the Christmas trading period reflects the traction we’re getting with customers around our digital offer,” says Craig Jordan, chief digital officer, The Warehouse Group.

“Not only are our The Warehouse, Noel Leeming and Torpedo7 brands growing their online sales faster than the rest of the NZ market, but we’re also seeing evidence that the integration of online and physical stores is increasingly attractive to customers”.

Jordan says the group will continue to innovate in the online space.

“Work is currently underway to upgrade websites with responsive design to meet our customers’ mobile usage needs, the trial of our The Warehouse’s Auckland Click and Collect store has been extended, mobile point of sale technology has been installed in our The Warehouse pop-up stores around the country, and in store, apps are improving productivity for team members and store managers,” he states.

The group reports Torpedo7 has grown its online sales at a rate of 47 per cent, Noel Leeming at 65 per cent and The Warehouse at 30 per cent, faster than the rest of the NZ market.

Forty percent of Noel Leeming’s online sales are now fulfilled via click and collect, while The Warehouse continues to see more than 15 per cent of online sales generated in store where customers place an online order at checkout (for delivery at home).

It says over one million unique visitors consistently utilise the Group’s websites each month.

Deloitte has named ‘click and collect’ as among the top technology, media and telecommunications trends that will be making the greatest impact this year. New Zealand retailers are also predicted to expand through ‘click and collect’, according to a report Deloitte presented at the recent Minter Ellison Rudd Watts’ Technology, Media and Telecommunications Summit in Auckland.

The trend, says Deloitte, is driven by the convenience of shopping online. The report states an estimated $3 billion is spent annually by New Zealand consumers in online purchases. ‘Click and collect’ will likely become an increasingly fundamental part of e-commerce offerings, says Deloitte.

Send news tips and comments to divina_paredes@idg.co.nz

Follow Divina Paredes on Twitter: @divinap

Follow CIO New Zealand on Twitter:@cio_nz

Clickhereto read digital editions of CIO New Zealand

Sign up for CIO newsletters for regular updates on CIO news, views and events.

Join us on Facebook.

Join the CIO New Zealand group on LinkedIn. The group is open to CIOs, IT Directors, CDOs, COOs, CTOs and senior IT managers.