The Warehouse Group has launched a new e-commerce marketplace called TheMarket in New-Zealand, an online shopping platform that brings local, international and niche brands together in one place, offering Kiwis greater a new way to access and choice when shopping online. The new platform has launched with 1,500+ brands and more than one million products, including local brands like Karen Walker, WORLD, Father Rabbit, Citta and Barkers, and Australian and international brands PE Nation, Cue, Billabong, Cotton On and The Nile, and many more. Key categories include fashion, footwear, kids and baby, toys, health and beauty, home, garden, electronics, sports and outdoor.
According to The Warehouse Group Chief Executive Nick Grayston, The Market has been kept operationally separate from The Warehouse Group. Grayston says the launch of TheMarket is a part of delivering on its strategy of investing in the digital future. TheMarket launches as a sixth consumer brand for the Group, joining The Warehouse, Warehouse Stationery, Noel Leeming, 1-Day.co.nz and Torpedo7. ‘We have completed a number of Group projects to improve our digital reach for the future, including building a better supply chain, increasing our shared services competency, and improving our systems and data capability,’ says Grayston. ‘Together with TheMarket, these elements have built the foundation for our customer-facing eco-system for all Kiwis’ that will help Kiwis live their lives better.
‘Online shopping is growing exponentially every year, but New Zealanders are often compromised in terms of range, access, and ease of delivery,’ states Grayston. ‘Our brand-first proposition from TheMarket will enable capture of a greater share of this e-commerce growth.’ New Zealanders spent $4.2 billion online last year, and that figure is expected to get bigger. Currently, online spendings are about nine per cent of total retail spending, compared to the UK who are at 18 per cent. ‘There are some big opportunities here,’ highlights Grayston.
Justus Wilde, CEO TheMarketJustus Wilde, CEO of TheMarket claims that TheMarket is different to other sites. ‘It’s much more content-focused with great design and discoverability, integrated with social, and brands selected on their desirability. It’s a contemporary, brand-driven e-commerce experience that incorporates the latest trends and insights. We’ve launched TheMarket as a tactical trading platform initially, but we will be continuing to develop the site by innovating the customer experience. For example, looking at how we can improve delivery, using data to drive personalisation, and encouraging loyalty through unique member offers.’ For now, TheMarket provides all prices in New Zealand dollars, buy-now, pay-later options, tracked shipping and free returns. Customers are able to use local customer service no matter where in the world they buy from the platform.
As TheMarket is a subsidiary of The Warehouse Group, the Group will use its extensive store footprint to support TheMarket’s business model. ‘Most New Zealanders live within 30 minutes’ drive of a local Group store, so the existing omnichannel and distribution structure is a significant advantage, and might also help drive cross-brand foot traffic and sales for the Group,’ said Justus Wilde. TheMarket also partnered with Fonterra Farm Source to create MarketPoints at ten Farm Source stores. That way shoppers in rural areas can also take advantage of the site’s convenience, with more MarketPoints to be added over time.
