Woolworths have now moved exclusively onlinein the UK after their business went belly up earlier this year. All the high street shops have been closed or sold off, and they have now re launched their web site. This is similar to what littlewoods have done, except they did not go bust, they simply chose to move to the internet. Woolworths will stand a much better chance of succeeding on their internet than they will on the high street. There are lower overheads and operating costs involved, as well as less people to employ and pay wages. The only consideration they need to make is that they operate in a very very competitive market, so they either have to find a niche that no one else has tapped into, or try to focus on cheap prices or quality items. Based on what woolworths have been known for, it will have to be cheap prices on toys and electrical goods.
The site has the same red and white colour scheme that you instantly associate with the woolworths brand, so they have kept some form of continuity going to the internet. The departments focus on kids toys, electrical items like televisions and dvd players, a range of home essentials like curtains, furniture, kitchen appliances and so on. The choice is very good in all these departments, so it looks like woolworths catalogue have retained their list of suppliers from the past.
The home essentials section is new to woolworths so there are some good bargains contained in the pages and many items to look at. You can buy anything from a mirror to a wall clock. They also have an entertainment section full of dvd's and chart cd's as well as games for the popular consoles and ipod accessories. There is also a good selection of cheap dvd's to be had, so it is worth a look. You will find that woolworths is now a part of the massive shop direct group, so this is yet another catalogue that will benefit from their resources. They have already been advertising on national tv, and this will be the best thing for woolworths going forward. The choice of goods and services will grow very quickly no doubt, and help to bring the brand name back to where it once was.
Monday, 30 November 2009
Tuesday, 24 November 2009
Argos Superstore
The argos superstores are where argos sell most of their products on the high street. The smaller stores are still around, but there are now more and more superstores dominating the retail parks across the country. Argos built these stores to create more space for their huge stock levels, and also for the customers. The small shops get really busy at peak times, and everyone hates to queue for ages in a cramped environment. The profits made from the argos store card are what pays for the cost of building new stores, so you get some idea of just how much money they make on this card.
The expansion has certainly slowed down in the past year as the credit crunch hits home. However, argos uk are one of the few catalogue companies that still operate on the high street as well as on the internet. They introduced the check and reserve system that everyone else has copied. This system works for argos because they have so many high street shop around the country. Customers can order online and pick up at their local store for no extra cost. Local usually means on a retail park because it costs less to build them there than in the city centres. It also gives people free parking when they shop, and is the main reason for their success.
The argos superstores are very modern and much better laid out than the small stores. The new system is more efficient and less time consuming for their customers, and the quick ordering and payment points are welcomed. You still have to wait at the collection barrier for your order to be brought to you from the stock warehouse. However, the larger argos extra stores contain virtually everything that you will find in the catalogue, so you will have more of a chance of your items being in stock and ready for you.
Some of the argos shops have closed down in the last year, due to the tough economic trading times, but also from the competition from the likes of tesco and asda. These are like two giants waiting to knock argos off their perch, and it will be challenging times ahead no doubt. Argos do have vast resources, but even these cannot compete with the supermarket buying power, which is all powerful at the moment. The superstores will continue to be around for the foreseeable future, and if anything it is the small shops that will go first. Whilst the internet continues to grow, and online sales do keep getting better, they are still dwarfed by the high street sales, and argos has a big advantage over most of the others by keeping a strong presence there.
The expansion has certainly slowed down in the past year as the credit crunch hits home. However, argos uk are one of the few catalogue companies that still operate on the high street as well as on the internet. They introduced the check and reserve system that everyone else has copied. This system works for argos because they have so many high street shop around the country. Customers can order online and pick up at their local store for no extra cost. Local usually means on a retail park because it costs less to build them there than in the city centres. It also gives people free parking when they shop, and is the main reason for their success.
The argos superstores are very modern and much better laid out than the small stores. The new system is more efficient and less time consuming for their customers, and the quick ordering and payment points are welcomed. You still have to wait at the collection barrier for your order to be brought to you from the stock warehouse. However, the larger argos extra stores contain virtually everything that you will find in the catalogue, so you will have more of a chance of your items being in stock and ready for you.
Some of the argos shops have closed down in the last year, due to the tough economic trading times, but also from the competition from the likes of tesco and asda. These are like two giants waiting to knock argos off their perch, and it will be challenging times ahead no doubt. Argos do have vast resources, but even these cannot compete with the supermarket buying power, which is all powerful at the moment. The superstores will continue to be around for the foreseeable future, and if anything it is the small shops that will go first. Whilst the internet continues to grow, and online sales do keep getting better, they are still dwarfed by the high street sales, and argos has a big advantage over most of the others by keeping a strong presence there.
Sunday, 15 November 2009
Simply Be Catalogue
The Simply Be online catalogue is part of the JD Williams group, and as such it focuses on womens clothing and fashion items. The set up of the web site is very similar to JD Williams, with the same layout, same search functions, and similar stock levels. The shopping categories are also the same, with footwear, accessories, fashion, electricals, home and leisure, sports and swimwear, and gifts. The colours used are softer than other catalogues, and this presents a more welcoming atmosphere. The home page is really the womens department and it features the latest deals, such as 20% selected items, and Simply Be have fashion tips from top designers, and a very good range of collections and bespoke clothes. They also cater for plus size clothes, and they dominate this part of the market.
By knowing their customer base, simply be are not going up against the bigger name businesses who focus on cheap items. This follows the business plan of the JD Williams group who operate in small niches within the retail market, and do very well out of it. You can request a catalogue from the site, and this will be delivered to your home for free. Once you have it you can shop using the product codes using the product search box, or by telephoning your order direct to simply be. In the clothing department you have tops, dresses, trousers, skirts, accessories, and jeans, which has its own separate section because there are so many.
Simply be seem to have many special offers using different discount codes on the site, so it is worth visiting it often, or sign up for email alerts and marketing advances. This service is free also. There are also incentives available if you are a regular shopper at the online catalogue. The more shopping you do the more incentives you can claim. Simply Be have a few fashion ranges and trends to choose from such as Warrior, Rococo, Surrealist and Chanel Chic. This is on top of the many collections they have, so there is a good choice of items to browse through. Footwear is also big in the catalogue, with all sorts of shoes, boots, sandals and high heels. Simply Be cater for wide fittings as well.
The home and leisure department has many things in it such as dining room furniture, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and hall. You will find many accessories as well including clocks, mirrors, contemporary lamps and rugs. The room feature shows you a collection of their furniture all set out as you would have in your dining or living room, and you can click on each piece of furniture to enlarge it and get a better look. It is a novel interactive feature, and the only other catalogue that has this is the Next directory.
The electrical section has all the appliances, gaming consoles, ipods, mp3 players, televisions, cameras, home entertainment systems and so on. The choice is pretty good, but not as big as the likes of argos and tesco, littlewoods or additions direct. Nevertheless, you still have a broad range of technology and prices, so you will find the right piece of equipment if you search for long enough.
Delivery is £2.99 for most items with a short lead time. Larger goods may take a bit longer to arrive, and may be more. You can track your order online and find out the expected delivery dates. Credit can be taken out, for more flexible payments options, and you can pay off any or all of your balance at any time you want. It is the same as the JD Williams catalogue as they are owned by them.
The Simply Be online catalogue has a large following of mainly female shoppers who enjoy the collections and fashion focused products. Great incentives help to reward loyal customers, and they have a nice little niche in the market and continue to expand and progress.
By knowing their customer base, simply be are not going up against the bigger name businesses who focus on cheap items. This follows the business plan of the JD Williams group who operate in small niches within the retail market, and do very well out of it. You can request a catalogue from the site, and this will be delivered to your home for free. Once you have it you can shop using the product codes using the product search box, or by telephoning your order direct to simply be. In the clothing department you have tops, dresses, trousers, skirts, accessories, and jeans, which has its own separate section because there are so many.
Simply be seem to have many special offers using different discount codes on the site, so it is worth visiting it often, or sign up for email alerts and marketing advances. This service is free also. There are also incentives available if you are a regular shopper at the online catalogue. The more shopping you do the more incentives you can claim. Simply Be have a few fashion ranges and trends to choose from such as Warrior, Rococo, Surrealist and Chanel Chic. This is on top of the many collections they have, so there is a good choice of items to browse through. Footwear is also big in the catalogue, with all sorts of shoes, boots, sandals and high heels. Simply Be cater for wide fittings as well.
The home and leisure department has many things in it such as dining room furniture, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and hall. You will find many accessories as well including clocks, mirrors, contemporary lamps and rugs. The room feature shows you a collection of their furniture all set out as you would have in your dining or living room, and you can click on each piece of furniture to enlarge it and get a better look. It is a novel interactive feature, and the only other catalogue that has this is the Next directory.
The electrical section has all the appliances, gaming consoles, ipods, mp3 players, televisions, cameras, home entertainment systems and so on. The choice is pretty good, but not as big as the likes of argos and tesco, littlewoods or additions direct. Nevertheless, you still have a broad range of technology and prices, so you will find the right piece of equipment if you search for long enough.
Delivery is £2.99 for most items with a short lead time. Larger goods may take a bit longer to arrive, and may be more. You can track your order online and find out the expected delivery dates. Credit can be taken out, for more flexible payments options, and you can pay off any or all of your balance at any time you want. It is the same as the JD Williams catalogue as they are owned by them.
The Simply Be online catalogue has a large following of mainly female shoppers who enjoy the collections and fashion focused products. Great incentives help to reward loyal customers, and they have a nice little niche in the market and continue to expand and progress.
Friday, 13 November 2009
JD Williams Catalogue
JD Williams are the main rivals to the shop direct home shopping group, and they own and operate over 20 catalogues at the present time. They have been trading for over 100 years have been very successful in this time. Today they are a retail shopping giant. The first thing you notice when you visit the JD Wiliams online catalogue is that it looks totally different to the shop direct catalogue web sites. They seem to follow the same layout and format, the only thing that is different is the colours used.
The site fills up all the screen and makes good use of the limited space, with blue and white colours to highlight everything. Right at the top of the page there ia search box which can be used to find things using the product number. Use this if you have the paper copy jd williams catalogue at hand, it makes it much faster to find what you want. You can order the catalogue from the site if you need it, it is free as well, unlike the next directory. As usual there is a great big banner advert in the middle of the page, promoting the latest special offers. This dominates the whole page and is designed for maximum impact. It has to be a good offer to keep interest, but also be better and different to what the other catalogues are doing. This is where the customer makes the choice, especially the first time visitors.
JD Williams is very focused on womens clothing, just like most of the other catalogues seem to be. Most of the best deals are on clothes, and he womens department has many more items than the mens does. This is down to demand, and knowing who your customers are. The fact is that women spend more time and money on shopping than men do, so they need to be put first and catered to the most. The departments are not as numerous, with a mens and womens section, lingerie, electricals, home and leisure and a footwear department. You will still find the range of goods though, its just that each deparment is bigger than usual.
Looking at the clothes in the womens section, there does not seem to be as wider choice as you get with littlewoods direct or additions direct. There are only 133 dresses compared to over 400 at littlewoods. Each piece of clothing has its own picture and description, and all the phots can be enlarged. The price is under the picture, and it is in red if it is a sale item. Further down you have a interactive slide show of the best deals in each department, and this runs across the screen. You can click on it to go directly to that product if you like the look of it. Everthing is organised very well, and you can shop by occasion, by brand, size, colour or price. JD Williams also supply a very big range of plus size clothing, and seem to have cornered this particular niche. You will also find some collections from well known fashion designers which are always very popular.
The lingerie section is one of the biggest in any catalogue, and there is a bra fitting video to make sure you get the right fit. Lots of good deals in here as well. The footwear section is all about the ladies as well. The men just have a small section that comes under menswear. There is no denying this catalogue is for women first of all. The shoes section has a multiude of boots, shoes, trainers, sandals, flat shoes and slippers to choose from, at very decent prices. Shop by brand if you want, with makes such as clarks, Diva Feet, Free Step, Kickers and lots of others.
There is a wealth of kids toys at JD Williams as well, from all the favourite toy makers. You will find many puzzles and board games, as well as character toys such as go diego go games and transformers, and disney character soft toys and teddy bears. Electronic games can also be bought for teenagers, so there is bound to be something to keep the kids happy and entertained for hours on end.
The electricals has televisions, appliances, computers, home entertainment systems, mobile phones and many other small applainces and electrical items like hairdryers and food mixers. All these are under big umbrella, but it is still very easy to find them all. In this section you will see the best selling items listed on the screen, and a picture and description to go with it and the price. This is a good idea, and it allows you to quickly find out the prices of the most wanted goods. You could easily compare these prices with the other catalogues to get cheapest price. I would imagine that a lot of price watching goes on between the catalogue companies to keep things about the same.
JD Williams will charge you £2.50 for your order, with bigger goods costing a bit more. The lead times are within 5 working days for standard products, with appliances and large items taking longer. The details will be sorted out when you place your order. You can choose next day delivery and this costs £3.99 on top of the standard charge. They do not have the collection point system that the shop direct catalogues can offer.
Payment options are numerous, and you can sign up for a JD Williams account that will get you access to interest free credit, or rolling credit each month. These flexible options are much the same as you will find at the littlewoods catalogue. Insurance can also be taken out on your payments. Incentive plans are also in place, and these vary from account to account. The idea is that the more you shop and pay regularly the more incentives you will get over time. Its a good way to reward loyal customers.
The JD Williams catalogue is one of the most popular on the internet. The main focus is for women shoppers, and it delivers a wide range of selected brands at low prices. A very respected name, and doing very well at the moment.
The site fills up all the screen and makes good use of the limited space, with blue and white colours to highlight everything. Right at the top of the page there ia search box which can be used to find things using the product number. Use this if you have the paper copy jd williams catalogue at hand, it makes it much faster to find what you want. You can order the catalogue from the site if you need it, it is free as well, unlike the next directory. As usual there is a great big banner advert in the middle of the page, promoting the latest special offers. This dominates the whole page and is designed for maximum impact. It has to be a good offer to keep interest, but also be better and different to what the other catalogues are doing. This is where the customer makes the choice, especially the first time visitors.
JD Williams is very focused on womens clothing, just like most of the other catalogues seem to be. Most of the best deals are on clothes, and he womens department has many more items than the mens does. This is down to demand, and knowing who your customers are. The fact is that women spend more time and money on shopping than men do, so they need to be put first and catered to the most. The departments are not as numerous, with a mens and womens section, lingerie, electricals, home and leisure and a footwear department. You will still find the range of goods though, its just that each deparment is bigger than usual.
Looking at the clothes in the womens section, there does not seem to be as wider choice as you get with littlewoods direct or additions direct. There are only 133 dresses compared to over 400 at littlewoods. Each piece of clothing has its own picture and description, and all the phots can be enlarged. The price is under the picture, and it is in red if it is a sale item. Further down you have a interactive slide show of the best deals in each department, and this runs across the screen. You can click on it to go directly to that product if you like the look of it. Everthing is organised very well, and you can shop by occasion, by brand, size, colour or price. JD Williams also supply a very big range of plus size clothing, and seem to have cornered this particular niche. You will also find some collections from well known fashion designers which are always very popular.
The lingerie section is one of the biggest in any catalogue, and there is a bra fitting video to make sure you get the right fit. Lots of good deals in here as well. The footwear section is all about the ladies as well. The men just have a small section that comes under menswear. There is no denying this catalogue is for women first of all. The shoes section has a multiude of boots, shoes, trainers, sandals, flat shoes and slippers to choose from, at very decent prices. Shop by brand if you want, with makes such as clarks, Diva Feet, Free Step, Kickers and lots of others.
There is a wealth of kids toys at JD Williams as well, from all the favourite toy makers. You will find many puzzles and board games, as well as character toys such as go diego go games and transformers, and disney character soft toys and teddy bears. Electronic games can also be bought for teenagers, so there is bound to be something to keep the kids happy and entertained for hours on end.
The electricals has televisions, appliances, computers, home entertainment systems, mobile phones and many other small applainces and electrical items like hairdryers and food mixers. All these are under big umbrella, but it is still very easy to find them all. In this section you will see the best selling items listed on the screen, and a picture and description to go with it and the price. This is a good idea, and it allows you to quickly find out the prices of the most wanted goods. You could easily compare these prices with the other catalogues to get cheapest price. I would imagine that a lot of price watching goes on between the catalogue companies to keep things about the same.
JD Williams will charge you £2.50 for your order, with bigger goods costing a bit more. The lead times are within 5 working days for standard products, with appliances and large items taking longer. The details will be sorted out when you place your order. You can choose next day delivery and this costs £3.99 on top of the standard charge. They do not have the collection point system that the shop direct catalogues can offer.
Payment options are numerous, and you can sign up for a JD Williams account that will get you access to interest free credit, or rolling credit each month. These flexible options are much the same as you will find at the littlewoods catalogue. Insurance can also be taken out on your payments. Incentive plans are also in place, and these vary from account to account. The idea is that the more you shop and pay regularly the more incentives you will get over time. Its a good way to reward loyal customers.
The JD Williams catalogue is one of the most popular on the internet. The main focus is for women shoppers, and it delivers a wide range of selected brands at low prices. A very respected name, and doing very well at the moment.
Thursday, 12 November 2009
Marshall Ward Catalogue
The Marshall Ward shopping catalogue is another part of the shop direct group. They have taken over many of the more famous brand catalogues in the last 5 years, and Marshall Ward are no exception. In reality this has probably saved them from going under because the competition in this field is intense. It mostly comes down to nulk buying power, and if you source your goods cheaper than the rest, then you have a distinct advantage. Most of the online catalogues tend to stock the same items, so the only difference they can make to affect sales is to offer them cheaper, or give the customers a wider variety that the others don't offer.
This the problem that the shop direct group must have because they own so many catalogues that sre all basically the same underneath. They all have very similar delivery options and credit agreements, just under a different name. It stands to reason why they don't just bring them all under one umbrella and have one huge catalogue that sells everything you could ever want. There is one very good reason why they don't, the catalogue would just be too big to use for customers. It would not be practical to search through so much stuff, even online, but can you imagine how big the paper copy catalogue would need to be? You wouldn't be able to lift it, never mind spend hours searching through it to find things. So that is why we have so many catalogues, and that is just fine for all shoppers to handle.
Back to the Marshall Ward catalogue, and it has one oustanding feature that none of the other shop direct catalogues have, which is a digital version of their catalogue. It looks just like a normal catalogue and you urn the pages by placing your mouse on the bottom right corner, just like you would turn a paper page. This is a very smart idea, and adds some excellent interaction which is bound to impress customers and casual visitors to the site. On each page you will see the items, and on the far right you can click for each department, and go to it just like turning the pages of a book. You can even click on any item on the page to get a better look at it in more detail.
Elsewhere you have the usual womens and mens sections, electronics, appliances, toys and games, furniture, home ware, jewellery and gifts. Not surprisngly the choice is very big, with many ranges to choose from, and some top name clothing designers and electronics makers. Monthly deals and interest free credit adverts are everywhere, and these are smack in the middle of the homepage to grab attention. 3 for 2 offers can also be found on selected items. It is just like looking at the Kays catalogue in reality, you have the same clothing lines, the same amount of goods in each deparment, the same delivery and payment options, even the same pictures and promotions. It is a big disappointment really because you basically have the same catalogue under a different name. You could of course turn this around and say that the Kays catalogue is the same as the Marshall Ward catalogue.
I believe that shop direct could do more to make them different, and they really should do something about it. I know it would take time to establish new ranges and suppliers, but they have been the same for a while now. Perhaps a merger should take place, and just drop one of the names in favour of the other. I doubt this would happen because there are many loyal shoppers who have dealt with these catalogues for many years, and it is the brand name that makes the difference.
You don't get the same reward benefits like you do with Kays, but you do get the collection+ service and free next day delivery, so there are some differences. As for the different departments, well there is a good choice of electronics, such as mobile phones, laptops and televisions. Cheap cell phone batteries are even stocked if you look hard enough. Some good bundle deals are also on offer like free games with certain consoles, or free dvd players with selected tv's. You can even pre order the latest video games so you get them as fast as possible.
he speical offers section doea have more products in it the most other catalogues, with over 30% off fashion brands and electrical items. You have the introductory offer of £10 off your first order if you spend more than £25, and you can order a paper copy catalogue from the web site if you like flicking through real pages and not electronic one's. Marshall Ward do have a few celebrity endorsements from Sienna Miller and Claudia Schiffer, who have their own small ranges. This does add a bit of class to the catalogue, and keeps customers happy.
All told the Marshall Ward Catalogue is a good one. A well respected brand name built on many years of providing good service and wide ranging items to suit all tastes and wallet sizes. In all honesty it does need changing to be unique and stand out from the other shop direct catalogues. It seems to have lost some of its identity, and that is a shame really. It still does very well, and will contiune to do so with its big backers and their money investments.
This the problem that the shop direct group must have because they own so many catalogues that sre all basically the same underneath. They all have very similar delivery options and credit agreements, just under a different name. It stands to reason why they don't just bring them all under one umbrella and have one huge catalogue that sells everything you could ever want. There is one very good reason why they don't, the catalogue would just be too big to use for customers. It would not be practical to search through so much stuff, even online, but can you imagine how big the paper copy catalogue would need to be? You wouldn't be able to lift it, never mind spend hours searching through it to find things. So that is why we have so many catalogues, and that is just fine for all shoppers to handle.
Back to the Marshall Ward catalogue, and it has one oustanding feature that none of the other shop direct catalogues have, which is a digital version of their catalogue. It looks just like a normal catalogue and you urn the pages by placing your mouse on the bottom right corner, just like you would turn a paper page. This is a very smart idea, and adds some excellent interaction which is bound to impress customers and casual visitors to the site. On each page you will see the items, and on the far right you can click for each department, and go to it just like turning the pages of a book. You can even click on any item on the page to get a better look at it in more detail.
Elsewhere you have the usual womens and mens sections, electronics, appliances, toys and games, furniture, home ware, jewellery and gifts. Not surprisngly the choice is very big, with many ranges to choose from, and some top name clothing designers and electronics makers. Monthly deals and interest free credit adverts are everywhere, and these are smack in the middle of the homepage to grab attention. 3 for 2 offers can also be found on selected items. It is just like looking at the Kays catalogue in reality, you have the same clothing lines, the same amount of goods in each deparment, the same delivery and payment options, even the same pictures and promotions. It is a big disappointment really because you basically have the same catalogue under a different name. You could of course turn this around and say that the Kays catalogue is the same as the Marshall Ward catalogue.
I believe that shop direct could do more to make them different, and they really should do something about it. I know it would take time to establish new ranges and suppliers, but they have been the same for a while now. Perhaps a merger should take place, and just drop one of the names in favour of the other. I doubt this would happen because there are many loyal shoppers who have dealt with these catalogues for many years, and it is the brand name that makes the difference.
You don't get the same reward benefits like you do with Kays, but you do get the collection+ service and free next day delivery, so there are some differences. As for the different departments, well there is a good choice of electronics, such as mobile phones, laptops and televisions. Cheap cell phone batteries are even stocked if you look hard enough. Some good bundle deals are also on offer like free games with certain consoles, or free dvd players with selected tv's. You can even pre order the latest video games so you get them as fast as possible.
he speical offers section doea have more products in it the most other catalogues, with over 30% off fashion brands and electrical items. You have the introductory offer of £10 off your first order if you spend more than £25, and you can order a paper copy catalogue from the web site if you like flicking through real pages and not electronic one's. Marshall Ward do have a few celebrity endorsements from Sienna Miller and Claudia Schiffer, who have their own small ranges. This does add a bit of class to the catalogue, and keeps customers happy.
All told the Marshall Ward Catalogue is a good one. A well respected brand name built on many years of providing good service and wide ranging items to suit all tastes and wallet sizes. In all honesty it does need changing to be unique and stand out from the other shop direct catalogues. It seems to have lost some of its identity, and that is a shame really. It still does very well, and will contiune to do so with its big backers and their money investments.
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
Kays Catalogue
The Kays catalogue is one of the most well known and respected catalogues out there. They have been trading for many years, and were one of the first catalogue companies on the scene. For many years they competed with littlewoods onlne and Great Universal, as one of the few mail order catalogues. The paper copy was always packed with goods, and it has remained the same to this day. They have bought out a few times as they have struggled to compete with the big players, and they are now owned by the shop direct home shopping group who are slowly taking over the catalogue shopping industry in the UK. No doubt they bought Kays because they were already a well established company who had a large customer base.
The Kays catalogue can be ordered from the web site and this is is free. Most people tend to use their catalogue and go online to order or simply telephone their order directly to one of the customer hot lines which are available all hours of the day and night. If you have a catalogue at hand then you can order on the site with the product number, it is just a case of entering the information in the seach box at the top of the screen. You will then be taken straight to your chosen product, which is a much faster way of doing your shopping. Having said that, the online catalogue is very easy to use, and many customers enjoy browsing through all the departments and choosing things this way.
The layout is much the same as the other shop direct catalogue sites, and it is a proven set up that is user friendly and easy to navigate through. At the top of the home page are all the departments, which are mens and womens, kids and nursery, sports and leisure, home, furniture, electronics, appliances, gifts and jewellery, toys, and finally the offers department where all the latest deals can be found. This catalogue covers most products you will ever need, and the list is pretty comprehensive, with very large ranges of goods in each section for you to look at.
Because any online business needs to grab your attention when you visit their site, you will always fing huge adverts on the main page highlighting the best deals or special promotions that they currently have. Kays is no different and the big promotion at the moment is a 3 for 2 offer on selected items. There is also an introductory bonus of buy now pay in a years time with interest free credit available. Kays also used to have a money off your first order promotion that is still in place, and thisis what most catalogues offer when you sign up with them or order a catalogue from the site.
The womens department has a very large choice of clothing from designer labels to cheaper items, and there are lots of them as well. The more well known brands are Miss Sixty, Firetrap, Diesel and Bench. You can shop by size, price, brand, clothing type such as dresses, tops, jeans, lingerie, and accessories such as hats and ladies leather gloves and so on. There are also a few collections at Kays which are always very popular and very extensive. In fact Kays are not far behind Additions Direct and Littlewoods for choice, but the Kays catalogue was always very big and full of decent stuff. In the womens section there are some very useful buying and style guides, and trend reports as well as a what's hot feature so you can stay in touch with the latest must have clothes and fashions.
The mens section is equally well stocked and there are hundreds of jackets, shoes, jeans, jumpers, suits, trousers and accessories. Another nice touch is the shop by customer rating feature, so you can see what others think of the products they have bought. This is much like what additions direct offer, and is a good way to bring a bit of unbiased opinion to the way we shop. The best products have a 5 star rating and the worst get only a single star. Kays also tell you how many products have a certain number of stars, so you can quickly see all the top rated things. The monthly deals are featured on a small slideshow that runs in the middle of the screen and you just click on that to get instant access to them.
The furniture department has a massive choice in it, and you can shop by room, like dining room, living room, bedroom, kitchen and hall, or shop by product. There are sofas, settees, tables, chairs, coffe tables, side boards, shelves, cupboards, wardrobes, beds, you name it. An example of the choice is that there are over 440 sofas on offer, and even the specialist sofa companies don't have this much in stock. There are interactive features that bring a bit of thought to the furniture as well, and if you shop by room you can see how the pieces of funiture look like when they are actually in the room. Below this is each individual item in it's own little box and you click on it to get the details and the prices. The prices are very reasonable as well, with easy assembly if you want to make them up yourself.
The home department has things like carpets, rugs, curtains, blinds, bedding, lighting and garden accessories and again, the choice is pretty spectacular. ou can filter the search results by price range and customer rating, or shop by product or room. It is very easy to use the Kays online catalogue, which is why they sell so many things year after year.
The electronics section has televisions, computers, video games and consoles, dvd players and mobile phones. This is where some of the biggest discounts are at the moment, with half price offers on many things. Over 800 computers are in stock, from the latest laptops to conventional systems. Well known brands in the electronics market are here such as Panasonic, Samsung and Sony. Thee are in excess of 220 televisions to choose from, with a wide variety of prices and specifications from the latest plasma tv's to small tv's for the kitchen. Bundle deals can be searched for, and you can get a free stand or dvd player with selected tv's. Audio equipment also features heavily and you can buy cheap speakers and microphones as the choice is very good. A very comprehensive range of stock.
The appliances section also has a load of good stuff and a big choice. Here you will find things like fridges and freezers from Hotpoint, Indesit and Swan. You can shop by colour if you want, or by price or rating. Some of the biggest discounts are here, like in the electronics department, so it is worth searching around a bit.
Delivery is free for small items, or next day delivery is £6.95 and is the same for nominated or saturday delivery. You can also use the collect+ service where you can pick up smaller goods from your local store. Kays does not have any high street stores, but they do run a partnership deal with other local stores, and you just use these stores. It helps to avoid waiting in for your items, and is becoming the best way to shop online and recieve goods when you want them. Most people pick them up after work or in their lunch breaks. Another option is to have your goods delivered to your place of work, and this is free, you just need to change the delivery address when you order.
For larger items like cookers and fridges delivery is still free, and usually within 10 days. When you place your order you will be notified of the date and expected time of delivery. You can choose the install and removal service for quite a lot more money. Payment options are pretty diverse too. You can get interest free credit if you pay of the amount owed in time, and the introductory offers give you the chance to buy now pay a year later. You also get rewards if you are a loyal customer in the form of cash back. You need to buy something each season and then in the next year you will receive your reward.
The Kays catalogue is a great success story now, with increased sales and profits. They have good backing from the shop direct group and are moving in the right direction after a few problems not too long ago. A well respected and trusted brand name has helped them out a lot in recent years, and kays is a good catalogue with a very big selection.
The Kays catalogue can be ordered from the web site and this is is free. Most people tend to use their catalogue and go online to order or simply telephone their order directly to one of the customer hot lines which are available all hours of the day and night. If you have a catalogue at hand then you can order on the site with the product number, it is just a case of entering the information in the seach box at the top of the screen. You will then be taken straight to your chosen product, which is a much faster way of doing your shopping. Having said that, the online catalogue is very easy to use, and many customers enjoy browsing through all the departments and choosing things this way.
The layout is much the same as the other shop direct catalogue sites, and it is a proven set up that is user friendly and easy to navigate through. At the top of the home page are all the departments, which are mens and womens, kids and nursery, sports and leisure, home, furniture, electronics, appliances, gifts and jewellery, toys, and finally the offers department where all the latest deals can be found. This catalogue covers most products you will ever need, and the list is pretty comprehensive, with very large ranges of goods in each section for you to look at.
Because any online business needs to grab your attention when you visit their site, you will always fing huge adverts on the main page highlighting the best deals or special promotions that they currently have. Kays is no different and the big promotion at the moment is a 3 for 2 offer on selected items. There is also an introductory bonus of buy now pay in a years time with interest free credit available. Kays also used to have a money off your first order promotion that is still in place, and thisis what most catalogues offer when you sign up with them or order a catalogue from the site.
The womens department has a very large choice of clothing from designer labels to cheaper items, and there are lots of them as well. The more well known brands are Miss Sixty, Firetrap, Diesel and Bench. You can shop by size, price, brand, clothing type such as dresses, tops, jeans, lingerie, and accessories such as hats and ladies leather gloves and so on. There are also a few collections at Kays which are always very popular and very extensive. In fact Kays are not far behind Additions Direct and Littlewoods for choice, but the Kays catalogue was always very big and full of decent stuff. In the womens section there are some very useful buying and style guides, and trend reports as well as a what's hot feature so you can stay in touch with the latest must have clothes and fashions.
The mens section is equally well stocked and there are hundreds of jackets, shoes, jeans, jumpers, suits, trousers and accessories. Another nice touch is the shop by customer rating feature, so you can see what others think of the products they have bought. This is much like what additions direct offer, and is a good way to bring a bit of unbiased opinion to the way we shop. The best products have a 5 star rating and the worst get only a single star. Kays also tell you how many products have a certain number of stars, so you can quickly see all the top rated things. The monthly deals are featured on a small slideshow that runs in the middle of the screen and you just click on that to get instant access to them.
The furniture department has a massive choice in it, and you can shop by room, like dining room, living room, bedroom, kitchen and hall, or shop by product. There are sofas, settees, tables, chairs, coffe tables, side boards, shelves, cupboards, wardrobes, beds, you name it. An example of the choice is that there are over 440 sofas on offer, and even the specialist sofa companies don't have this much in stock. There are interactive features that bring a bit of thought to the furniture as well, and if you shop by room you can see how the pieces of funiture look like when they are actually in the room. Below this is each individual item in it's own little box and you click on it to get the details and the prices. The prices are very reasonable as well, with easy assembly if you want to make them up yourself.
The home department has things like carpets, rugs, curtains, blinds, bedding, lighting and garden accessories and again, the choice is pretty spectacular. ou can filter the search results by price range and customer rating, or shop by product or room. It is very easy to use the Kays online catalogue, which is why they sell so many things year after year.
The electronics section has televisions, computers, video games and consoles, dvd players and mobile phones. This is where some of the biggest discounts are at the moment, with half price offers on many things. Over 800 computers are in stock, from the latest laptops to conventional systems. Well known brands in the electronics market are here such as Panasonic, Samsung and Sony. Thee are in excess of 220 televisions to choose from, with a wide variety of prices and specifications from the latest plasma tv's to small tv's for the kitchen. Bundle deals can be searched for, and you can get a free stand or dvd player with selected tv's. Audio equipment also features heavily and you can buy cheap speakers and microphones as the choice is very good. A very comprehensive range of stock.
The appliances section also has a load of good stuff and a big choice. Here you will find things like fridges and freezers from Hotpoint, Indesit and Swan. You can shop by colour if you want, or by price or rating. Some of the biggest discounts are here, like in the electronics department, so it is worth searching around a bit.
Delivery is free for small items, or next day delivery is £6.95 and is the same for nominated or saturday delivery. You can also use the collect+ service where you can pick up smaller goods from your local store. Kays does not have any high street stores, but they do run a partnership deal with other local stores, and you just use these stores. It helps to avoid waiting in for your items, and is becoming the best way to shop online and recieve goods when you want them. Most people pick them up after work or in their lunch breaks. Another option is to have your goods delivered to your place of work, and this is free, you just need to change the delivery address when you order.
For larger items like cookers and fridges delivery is still free, and usually within 10 days. When you place your order you will be notified of the date and expected time of delivery. You can choose the install and removal service for quite a lot more money. Payment options are pretty diverse too. You can get interest free credit if you pay of the amount owed in time, and the introductory offers give you the chance to buy now pay a year later. You also get rewards if you are a loyal customer in the form of cash back. You need to buy something each season and then in the next year you will receive your reward.
The Kays catalogue is a great success story now, with increased sales and profits. They have good backing from the shop direct group and are moving in the right direction after a few problems not too long ago. A well respected and trusted brand name has helped them out a lot in recent years, and kays is a good catalogue with a very big selection.
Monday, 9 November 2009
Next Directory Catalogue
The Next directory is certainly one of the most sought after catalogues in the UK. The paper copy has been the foundation of all the recent success that Next have acquired in the last decade. What makes it different from the rest is that you actually have to pay for it, most other catalogue companies offer theirs for free. You can see why you have to pay for it though, as it is a much more professional looking directory than the others. The products have much better pictures, more detailed and well thought out. The actual pages are made from more expensive paper and it is hardbacked as well.
This attention to detail is what separates Next from its competitors. Their goods are aimed at a different market, the slightly more wealthy shoppers to be exact. This places Next in a different market to the likes of argos, tesco and asda, who tend to focus on providing the lowest priced items, and selling more of them. The products old by next are higher quality and more difficult to source, plus most of the items are made especiialy for the Next brand name. The clothing lines are the best example of this in action, and this how they have built their reputation. The high steer stores are mainly focused on selling fashion clothes and accessories, and the online store sells everything contained in the directory such as furniture, appliances, electical goods and much more.
The web site is very good indeed, and has a quality feel about it. Next have used good brand awareness on the site, with a black and white layout that is the same as the colours used on their high street stores. You instantly know you have arrived at the right place when you get to the Next catalogue. The pictures are more detailed and you can expand every picture for a closer look if needed. There are small picture tabs that run on the bottom of the main pictures and you simply click on them to make them bigger. This is a very good invention that adds to the customer experience.
Next also have their own interactive features on the site including Next TV, where you can see behing the scenes footage of fashion shoots from all over the world, and get up to date with the latest fashion trends. The video loads immediately so there is no waiting around which is always good. Next has a worldwide operation these days, and have stores all over the world. You can even see photos of these stores in far away places, and it just shows how big they have become. All the stores are clean and fresh, with an upmarket feel about them, which is in keeping with the quality standards that Next adhere to. hey seem like a very professional organisation.
As for the catalogue departments, well you have huge womens and mens clothing sections, which is hardly surprising as this is the bread and butter for Next, the sector that generates the most profits every year. They have been able to grow and expand very quickly due to their unique ranges that other retailers look on with envy and admiration. We have all seen the shopping frenzy when the big Next sale opens in the new year sales, with people queuing overnight to get their hands on the discounted goods. No other sale generates as much interest, so it is a testament to their brand name and reputation.
The womens department has hundreds of fashion items, from tops, dresses, coats, leggings, jeans, knitwear, sports wear, lingerie, accessories and much much more. Next also now have designer labels in stock from the likes of Miss Sixty, Hilfiger, Polo Jeans and Full Circle, as well as the famous Next branded clothes lines that are very popular indeed. The focus is on quality and finish so the rices are not cheap at all, but they are aimed at the middle class buyers who have more money to spend. You can shop by type of clothing, by collection, by size or by price, and even by brand. This makes it a lot simpler to find exactly what you want.
If you have the Next directory catalogue at hand you can use the quickshop search function and just type in the product code and go straight to it. Next have fashion cover magazines as well with their latest must have clothes, and you can view these covers as they run in a little search photo gallery on the page. Another unique feature that makes things easier to find. The womens section also has many gift items and jewellery such as birthday ideas and gold and silver rings and bracelets. The radiant rings are very popular at the moment and the choice is very good as well.
The mens department is the same, with hundreds of designer goods and next own label products on offer. The best monthly deals can be found and the latest must have clothes are heavily featured. Be sure to look in the offers section, where the items are less than half price. There are not that many things in here, but what is in is very good value for money. Other mens accessories like sunglasses and bags are in this section, which is very extensive indeed.
Next now sell a wide range of home products such as furniture, tables, chairs, sofas and the like. The items are expensive, but of very good quality, and the pictures are well laid out and very clear. Each piece of furniture has a good description and the price is well displayed. There are a few Next furniture collections as well, that feature the trendy designs that are hot at the moment. You can shop by price, colour, popularity, size or by type of furniture. There are even ratings for each product so you can get a good ida of what other shoppers think of the things they have bought. This adds to the trust factor that means so much when selling anything, and being totally honest with customers is a good way of getting some respect.
Electrical items can also be bought at Next, including kitchen appliances, mobile phones, gaming consoles and games, telephones, audio equipment, televisions, dvd players, mp3 players, radios, cameras, and even the latest dvd and cd releases. The selection of televisions is not as big as some of the other catalogue companies, but this will grow in time, and the products are all carefully selected so you get a range of prices and technologies that should suit all tastes and budgets.
When you shop online with Next you will need to register with them. This is done by filling out the requested information when you place an order. You will be given a customer number that will be sent with your order. You can simply pay by credit or debit card online to receive your goods. Alternatively you can apply for a full account which enables you to shop on credit. You usually have to request a next directory catalogue when you do this, and this cost a little over £3. Then you will have a credit check and if you pass this you will then have your very own Next account set up. When buy things they will be placed on your balance, and you will be billed the following month. Pay off the balance and it is interest free, if you don't pay the full amount then the interest charges kick in, at around 2% of the balance owed each month.
Delivery charges are £3.95 no matter how big your order, and you can request next day delivery which costs the same as normal delivery. You can also choose the time of delivery if you so wish. For free delivery you can opt to pick your goods up at your local next store on the high street. This is the new way of online ccatalogue shopping, and makes it far more convenient for customers. Free returns are also available, and you can return anything by post or pop in to your local store and they will do it for you.
Next is growing very quickly, and profits and sales have risen sharply recently. They have a sound brand name and have branched out into selling furniture and electrical goods, based on this strong reputation for providing quality goods and services. The fact that they have numerous high street stores means they can get their products to a large customer base, and the services they offer are as good as any. The online next directory is easy to use, and very professionally put together. You get a feel for the quality of Nxt when you visit the site, and they have done a good branding job. Customer ratings help to make things clearer and far less biased, and they are leading the way with this. A very good place to shop, and one of the best catalogue retailers currently operating in my view.
This attention to detail is what separates Next from its competitors. Their goods are aimed at a different market, the slightly more wealthy shoppers to be exact. This places Next in a different market to the likes of argos, tesco and asda, who tend to focus on providing the lowest priced items, and selling more of them. The products old by next are higher quality and more difficult to source, plus most of the items are made especiialy for the Next brand name. The clothing lines are the best example of this in action, and this how they have built their reputation. The high steer stores are mainly focused on selling fashion clothes and accessories, and the online store sells everything contained in the directory such as furniture, appliances, electical goods and much more.
The web site is very good indeed, and has a quality feel about it. Next have used good brand awareness on the site, with a black and white layout that is the same as the colours used on their high street stores. You instantly know you have arrived at the right place when you get to the Next catalogue. The pictures are more detailed and you can expand every picture for a closer look if needed. There are small picture tabs that run on the bottom of the main pictures and you simply click on them to make them bigger. This is a very good invention that adds to the customer experience.
Next also have their own interactive features on the site including Next TV, where you can see behing the scenes footage of fashion shoots from all over the world, and get up to date with the latest fashion trends. The video loads immediately so there is no waiting around which is always good. Next has a worldwide operation these days, and have stores all over the world. You can even see photos of these stores in far away places, and it just shows how big they have become. All the stores are clean and fresh, with an upmarket feel about them, which is in keeping with the quality standards that Next adhere to. hey seem like a very professional organisation.
As for the catalogue departments, well you have huge womens and mens clothing sections, which is hardly surprising as this is the bread and butter for Next, the sector that generates the most profits every year. They have been able to grow and expand very quickly due to their unique ranges that other retailers look on with envy and admiration. We have all seen the shopping frenzy when the big Next sale opens in the new year sales, with people queuing overnight to get their hands on the discounted goods. No other sale generates as much interest, so it is a testament to their brand name and reputation.
The womens department has hundreds of fashion items, from tops, dresses, coats, leggings, jeans, knitwear, sports wear, lingerie, accessories and much much more. Next also now have designer labels in stock from the likes of Miss Sixty, Hilfiger, Polo Jeans and Full Circle, as well as the famous Next branded clothes lines that are very popular indeed. The focus is on quality and finish so the rices are not cheap at all, but they are aimed at the middle class buyers who have more money to spend. You can shop by type of clothing, by collection, by size or by price, and even by brand. This makes it a lot simpler to find exactly what you want.
If you have the Next directory catalogue at hand you can use the quickshop search function and just type in the product code and go straight to it. Next have fashion cover magazines as well with their latest must have clothes, and you can view these covers as they run in a little search photo gallery on the page. Another unique feature that makes things easier to find. The womens section also has many gift items and jewellery such as birthday ideas and gold and silver rings and bracelets. The radiant rings are very popular at the moment and the choice is very good as well.
The mens department is the same, with hundreds of designer goods and next own label products on offer. The best monthly deals can be found and the latest must have clothes are heavily featured. Be sure to look in the offers section, where the items are less than half price. There are not that many things in here, but what is in is very good value for money. Other mens accessories like sunglasses and bags are in this section, which is very extensive indeed.
Next now sell a wide range of home products such as furniture, tables, chairs, sofas and the like. The items are expensive, but of very good quality, and the pictures are well laid out and very clear. Each piece of furniture has a good description and the price is well displayed. There are a few Next furniture collections as well, that feature the trendy designs that are hot at the moment. You can shop by price, colour, popularity, size or by type of furniture. There are even ratings for each product so you can get a good ida of what other shoppers think of the things they have bought. This adds to the trust factor that means so much when selling anything, and being totally honest with customers is a good way of getting some respect.
Electrical items can also be bought at Next, including kitchen appliances, mobile phones, gaming consoles and games, telephones, audio equipment, televisions, dvd players, mp3 players, radios, cameras, and even the latest dvd and cd releases. The selection of televisions is not as big as some of the other catalogue companies, but this will grow in time, and the products are all carefully selected so you get a range of prices and technologies that should suit all tastes and budgets.
When you shop online with Next you will need to register with them. This is done by filling out the requested information when you place an order. You will be given a customer number that will be sent with your order. You can simply pay by credit or debit card online to receive your goods. Alternatively you can apply for a full account which enables you to shop on credit. You usually have to request a next directory catalogue when you do this, and this cost a little over £3. Then you will have a credit check and if you pass this you will then have your very own Next account set up. When buy things they will be placed on your balance, and you will be billed the following month. Pay off the balance and it is interest free, if you don't pay the full amount then the interest charges kick in, at around 2% of the balance owed each month.
Delivery charges are £3.95 no matter how big your order, and you can request next day delivery which costs the same as normal delivery. You can also choose the time of delivery if you so wish. For free delivery you can opt to pick your goods up at your local next store on the high street. This is the new way of online ccatalogue shopping, and makes it far more convenient for customers. Free returns are also available, and you can return anything by post or pop in to your local store and they will do it for you.
Next is growing very quickly, and profits and sales have risen sharply recently. They have a sound brand name and have branched out into selling furniture and electrical goods, based on this strong reputation for providing quality goods and services. The fact that they have numerous high street stores means they can get their products to a large customer base, and the services they offer are as good as any. The online next directory is easy to use, and very professionally put together. You get a feel for the quality of Nxt when you visit the site, and they have done a good branding job. Customer ratings help to make things clearer and far less biased, and they are leading the way with this. A very good place to shop, and one of the best catalogue retailers currently operating in my view.
Thursday, 5 November 2009
Additions Direct Catalogue
Additions direct is the popular online catalogue store that has seen a recent growth in sales and profits. Additions direct has changed hands a number of times over the years, it did used to be owned by argos a few years ago, and is now owned by the shop direct home shopping group who seem to be collecting catalogue companies for fun just recently. This group is a very powerful player in the home retail sector, and they own many well known brands such as littlewoods, choice, very catalogue and numerous other favourite stores.
Additions direct offers a very large range of goods and services, and you will always find big discounts on many items they sell. It is a good idea to check up on the site every week for the best deals, or sign up for the e-mail alerts to keep you informed. With so much competition around in this market, the prices have got to be low or else you will be left behind. This is where additions struggled before, but the buying power of the shop direct group means they will always be among the cheapest prices. Strong competition from tesco and asda should make prices fall even lower as they are all going after the same niche market, the cheaper goods sector of home shopping.
You can order a paper copy of the catalogue at the site, and when you do this you get £10 of your first order. This is not as much as other companies offer but it is still a good deal just for signing up for a copy, and there is no obligation to buy anything anyway so you have nothing to lose really. The online store has the typical set up, with large offers displayed right on the main page, with all the different departments situated at the top of the screen for easy access. Everything is only a few clicks away, so it speeds up your shopping experience. If you have a catalogue handy you can enter the product code into a search box and you will be taken directly to that product.
If you don't have a catalogue then just browse through the online catalogue, it is very easy and simple to use and is set up like all the other shop direct stores. The difference between them all is that each store has its own brands and special offers, although it has to be said that they are becoming the same with what they all offer, and the services available too. Having said that, the ranges at additions direct are very strong, and they have a reputation for selling good quality things at very reasonable prices.
One of the strong points at additions is the electrical items, they have been good at selling them cheaper than the rest, and have a generous amount of products in their current line up. There are over 250 televisions, which is a lot more than most other catalogues, and over 800 computers. That is a huge amount of stock to carry, and it ensures that once you start browsing you will certainly find something you like. The key here is choice, additions are good at keeping you at their site for longer, and this means you will most probably end up buying something. With the prices so cheap you will not find cheaper elsewhere, there is a lot of bulk buying going on to have so many computers and televisions on offer. With such high stock levels there will be big savings on more items, the stock needs to be cleared on a weekly basis. This is why you should sign up for the e-mail updates, you can even selct your favourite departments so you only get updated on the things you are most interested in buying.
The appliances department is equally as impressive, with over 200 cookers, 180 fridges and 200 plus vacuum cleaners. Within each section you will have easy access to the latest deals, some of which are less than half price. You can shop by brand name like Hotpoint, Indesit, Hoover and Dyson, if you are drawn to one favourite make. Must have items are listed, and the top 10 list for each dpeartment is included in the serach bar. These lists show you the biggest sellers, and the items with the largest discounts. The amount you save is shown in red numbers, and you get the original list price to compare with. The item must have been on sale for the original price in the past, so you really are saving that amount. In the past the catalogue companies used to pluck a very high recommended retail price out of thin air to make you think you were saving a lot of cash, when really you were not. That soon got stopped, so now you do save that amount, which is beter all round for customers and shoppers who visit these sites.
If you go to the womens department you will again find a much bigger choice than other catalogues. There are over 500 dresses to choose from, wih top designers and celebrity collections. Brands like Bench, Diesel, Hilfiger, and celebrity ranges from Caprice, Fearne Cotton and Holly Willoughby can be bought. What additions direct also have is the ability to shop by customer rating. Every item has a rating that has been given by previous customers. The top rating is 5 stars, so you can click on the 5 star rating button and see all the best rated items in the womens clothing department. This is a unique way of shopping, and of selling more of the best items, plus it is a lot more honest because it is the customers who decide which is best. You will soon see other catalogues moving in this direction, but you do need a large amount of prodcuts to make it successful. It gains trust as well, because no doubt additions direct would like to give every item a 5 star rating, but they are up front about it, and there are quite a few things with only 1 star ratings.
The men's section has all the top name brands in clothing and footwear such as Nike, Diesel, Firetrap, Ted Baker, Lacoste etc. There are over 500 shoes in this section, much bigger than the rest. Additions has quickly become one the biggest catalogues on the internet, and a lot of money has been poured into them. You have a what's hot this week button, or shop by price, size or brand. There are more top brands available at additions than any other catalogue, and this is the market they are going after. You will not find many own label ranges, this is not what they are about, it is strictly fashion, and lots of it. For example, if you shop by a certain brand name, you can dig deeper by choosing gender, activity, and type of clothing such as tops, sweater, trainers and so on. You can go further and shop by rating as well. Within 3 or 4 clicks you will have found exactly what you are looking for. This is customer service for you.
There is a load of furniture as well, from sofas, cabinets, tables, chairs, bedroom furniture, kitchen and dining room furniture and bathroom set ups. The trends section has the latest contemporary designs from the entire furniture ranges, so you can see what is likely to become hot in the near future. Additions also have over 50 modern collections of furniture items, which are unique to them, and they are very tasteful ans stylish indeed. The prices are high but the quality is good.
Other departments are the kids toys, gifts and jewellery, and the special offers section. Every department has special offers on all the time, and this allows you to browse the best of them in quick time. There are also monthly deals on top of this. An example os the scale of this is that there are currently over 670 reduced items of furniture, and this is just from one department. This goes back to the stock turnover and the need to get rid of as many things as possible to make way for new things. The logistics behind this must be mind bending at times, but additions manage to do it in a clear and user friendly way that keeps the customers coming back time after time.
You can pay for all these goods right away with your credit or debit card, or you can open an account with additions direct and get flexible payment plans. At present there is the pay 3 monthly installment plan which allows you to buy things now and pay for them over 3 months. It is interest free when you keep to the payment schedule. You can always just buy things and pay off the balnce each month, and this is also interest free. If you only pay the minimum amount due each month then welcome to interest payments of over 30%. This is about standard for credit agreements these days, so it is down to you to be careful with it.
Delivery charges are about £3.95 for next day delivery, and more for nominated day delivery. Bigger items link cookers and fridges will be a bit more, and you will need to sort out the delivery when you order. You can have additions direct take your old appliance away with them, and they do offer a connection and fitting service. This costs quite a bit more, for example, delivery, connection and removal of cookers will cost an extra £80 on selected brands. You also need to have the appliance disconnected beforehand or they will not connect the new one up, so make sure you read the small print when you order these services.
Additions direct online catalogue is one of the biggest in the UK. The ranges are huge, and focus on top name brands at decent prices. More and more shoppers are choosing to shop with additions because there are so many cut price items available all the time. One of the best around for sure, with good customer service and satisfaction.
Additions direct offers a very large range of goods and services, and you will always find big discounts on many items they sell. It is a good idea to check up on the site every week for the best deals, or sign up for the e-mail alerts to keep you informed. With so much competition around in this market, the prices have got to be low or else you will be left behind. This is where additions struggled before, but the buying power of the shop direct group means they will always be among the cheapest prices. Strong competition from tesco and asda should make prices fall even lower as they are all going after the same niche market, the cheaper goods sector of home shopping.
You can order a paper copy of the catalogue at the site, and when you do this you get £10 of your first order. This is not as much as other companies offer but it is still a good deal just for signing up for a copy, and there is no obligation to buy anything anyway so you have nothing to lose really. The online store has the typical set up, with large offers displayed right on the main page, with all the different departments situated at the top of the screen for easy access. Everything is only a few clicks away, so it speeds up your shopping experience. If you have a catalogue handy you can enter the product code into a search box and you will be taken directly to that product.
If you don't have a catalogue then just browse through the online catalogue, it is very easy and simple to use and is set up like all the other shop direct stores. The difference between them all is that each store has its own brands and special offers, although it has to be said that they are becoming the same with what they all offer, and the services available too. Having said that, the ranges at additions direct are very strong, and they have a reputation for selling good quality things at very reasonable prices.
One of the strong points at additions is the electrical items, they have been good at selling them cheaper than the rest, and have a generous amount of products in their current line up. There are over 250 televisions, which is a lot more than most other catalogues, and over 800 computers. That is a huge amount of stock to carry, and it ensures that once you start browsing you will certainly find something you like. The key here is choice, additions are good at keeping you at their site for longer, and this means you will most probably end up buying something. With the prices so cheap you will not find cheaper elsewhere, there is a lot of bulk buying going on to have so many computers and televisions on offer. With such high stock levels there will be big savings on more items, the stock needs to be cleared on a weekly basis. This is why you should sign up for the e-mail updates, you can even selct your favourite departments so you only get updated on the things you are most interested in buying.
The appliances department is equally as impressive, with over 200 cookers, 180 fridges and 200 plus vacuum cleaners. Within each section you will have easy access to the latest deals, some of which are less than half price. You can shop by brand name like Hotpoint, Indesit, Hoover and Dyson, if you are drawn to one favourite make. Must have items are listed, and the top 10 list for each dpeartment is included in the serach bar. These lists show you the biggest sellers, and the items with the largest discounts. The amount you save is shown in red numbers, and you get the original list price to compare with. The item must have been on sale for the original price in the past, so you really are saving that amount. In the past the catalogue companies used to pluck a very high recommended retail price out of thin air to make you think you were saving a lot of cash, when really you were not. That soon got stopped, so now you do save that amount, which is beter all round for customers and shoppers who visit these sites.
If you go to the womens department you will again find a much bigger choice than other catalogues. There are over 500 dresses to choose from, wih top designers and celebrity collections. Brands like Bench, Diesel, Hilfiger, and celebrity ranges from Caprice, Fearne Cotton and Holly Willoughby can be bought. What additions direct also have is the ability to shop by customer rating. Every item has a rating that has been given by previous customers. The top rating is 5 stars, so you can click on the 5 star rating button and see all the best rated items in the womens clothing department. This is a unique way of shopping, and of selling more of the best items, plus it is a lot more honest because it is the customers who decide which is best. You will soon see other catalogues moving in this direction, but you do need a large amount of prodcuts to make it successful. It gains trust as well, because no doubt additions direct would like to give every item a 5 star rating, but they are up front about it, and there are quite a few things with only 1 star ratings.
The men's section has all the top name brands in clothing and footwear such as Nike, Diesel, Firetrap, Ted Baker, Lacoste etc. There are over 500 shoes in this section, much bigger than the rest. Additions has quickly become one the biggest catalogues on the internet, and a lot of money has been poured into them. You have a what's hot this week button, or shop by price, size or brand. There are more top brands available at additions than any other catalogue, and this is the market they are going after. You will not find many own label ranges, this is not what they are about, it is strictly fashion, and lots of it. For example, if you shop by a certain brand name, you can dig deeper by choosing gender, activity, and type of clothing such as tops, sweater, trainers and so on. You can go further and shop by rating as well. Within 3 or 4 clicks you will have found exactly what you are looking for. This is customer service for you.
There is a load of furniture as well, from sofas, cabinets, tables, chairs, bedroom furniture, kitchen and dining room furniture and bathroom set ups. The trends section has the latest contemporary designs from the entire furniture ranges, so you can see what is likely to become hot in the near future. Additions also have over 50 modern collections of furniture items, which are unique to them, and they are very tasteful ans stylish indeed. The prices are high but the quality is good.
Other departments are the kids toys, gifts and jewellery, and the special offers section. Every department has special offers on all the time, and this allows you to browse the best of them in quick time. There are also monthly deals on top of this. An example os the scale of this is that there are currently over 670 reduced items of furniture, and this is just from one department. This goes back to the stock turnover and the need to get rid of as many things as possible to make way for new things. The logistics behind this must be mind bending at times, but additions manage to do it in a clear and user friendly way that keeps the customers coming back time after time.
You can pay for all these goods right away with your credit or debit card, or you can open an account with additions direct and get flexible payment plans. At present there is the pay 3 monthly installment plan which allows you to buy things now and pay for them over 3 months. It is interest free when you keep to the payment schedule. You can always just buy things and pay off the balnce each month, and this is also interest free. If you only pay the minimum amount due each month then welcome to interest payments of over 30%. This is about standard for credit agreements these days, so it is down to you to be careful with it.
Delivery charges are about £3.95 for next day delivery, and more for nominated day delivery. Bigger items link cookers and fridges will be a bit more, and you will need to sort out the delivery when you order. You can have additions direct take your old appliance away with them, and they do offer a connection and fitting service. This costs quite a bit more, for example, delivery, connection and removal of cookers will cost an extra £80 on selected brands. You also need to have the appliance disconnected beforehand or they will not connect the new one up, so make sure you read the small print when you order these services.
Additions direct online catalogue is one of the biggest in the UK. The ranges are huge, and focus on top name brands at decent prices. More and more shoppers are choosing to shop with additions because there are so many cut price items available all the time. One of the best around for sure, with good customer service and satisfaction.
Monday, 2 November 2009
M and S Shopping
Marks and Spencer are the world famous english institution for quality and value. They are probably the most respected name on the high street, and are loved by millions of shoppers. They have seen some tough times recently, but seem to be turning the corner, and moving the business forward in line with their competitors. Marks and spencer now have an online store to rival any other, and although they have been a little slow to react to the potential of online shopping, they have embraced it to their benefit. The site is very easy to get used to, and all their famous items can be bought over the internet. Marks's own label clothing lines have been very popular for many years, and the focus is on providing good quality rather than cheaper clothes. Having said that, the prices are very reasonable indeed, and the customer service in the high street stores is second to none. Marks and spencer take pride in their operation and it shows with such a loyal following of dedicated customers.
The online catalogue store is not so much like a catalogue but more of a department store. You have the mens and womens sections, a technology department with all the televisions and audio goodies. Food and wine is also available, as well as homeware and furniture. A new gifts department will help you find just the right gifts, and you can even order flowers. One new thing about the site is that it is packed with interactive features, and marks and spencer have taken the lead of the likes of Next and the other big name catalogue retailers by giving a better customer experience. Everyone likes to feel part of the buying process, and you will find videos on the latest fashions, a how to shop guide, as well as m&s tv, so you can keep up to date with the company.
The womens fashion lines are celebrating 125 years this year, and there are a whole host of discounts and special deals around at the moment. You can shop by brand from the likes of Per Una, Autograph and Portfolio, along with the m and s own brand lines. There are dresses, coats, jackets, jeans, lingerie, skirts, shoes, tops, blouses, swimwear and accessories in the womens department. M&S fashion TV can be activated with one click of a button and on here you will get some novel ideas for party wear and holiday wear. There is also a new arrivals section for the latest stock. M and S also sell designer clthes hangers for all your stuff, and the popular choice at the moment are the Joe Mangano Hangers. All the clothes are presented very well, with some good, clean photos, althoug they are one dimensional at present.
The mens section has brnaded names like Timothy Everest for suits and formal wear, Blue Harbour and North Coast are the other brands, as well as the traditional m and s lines, which are always great quality items. There is a new seasons collection feature, and you can shop by size and type of clothing such as trousers, shirts and shoes. Marks and spencer also have a made to measure shirt service where you choose from a range of cuffs, collars, buttons, fabrics and pockets. You can even add a personalised monogram. These ahirts will then be made specially for you, and the prices start at £24.95, which is not bad at all.
The home and furniture department has a very selection of goods, with a huge range of colours and styles. The settees and sofas are very good, and you can choose from single sofas, double sofas, corner sofas, armchairs, recliners, foot stools, bed sofas, and most of these are available in many different colour schemes and patterns. You will also find book cases, warbrobes, tables, chairs, coffee tables, dispay units, console units and side tables and nests. Bedroom and dining room furniture is sold too, and you can shop by size, design, colour or by collection, and there are some very stylish collections at m and s. The prices are not cheap, but there are lots of discounted pieces of furniture that are more reasonable. One thing you can count on is the quality though, m&s do not sell inferior goods to their customers, and this is why they are so well respected.
Also in the home and funiture department are dinner ware, like pots and pans and dinner sets, bedding, soft furniture, linen sets, lamp shdes and light fittings, and much more. Accessories such as clocks, mirrors, candle holders and other little things that can liven up any room are in the home section.
The technology department has televisions, dvd players, computers, mp3 players, games consoles, sat navs, games and beauty electronics and gadgets. If you are not sure about the latest technology then fear not beacuse marks and spencer have a buying guide and some videos to help showcase these gadgets. There are some great dundle deals on at the moment, where you can get a free dvd blue ray player with selected plasma and lcd televisions, which are on sale with big discounts already. The top name nrands in home entertainment including Sony, Panasonic, Samsung and Philips are in stock as well as m and s own brand electricals which are a bit cheaper. The choice is pretty large and all the televisions are top rated products, which are more expensive than most other catalogue shopping stores. Again, this comes back to the quality that marks's sell, they operate in a different niche to the likes of argos, tesco and asda. There is free 5 year guarantee on all large tv's and you don't get that at the other stores.
The mobile phones are all on pay as you go, and the selection is not that big, but the phones that are in stock are a good mix of cheaper to more expensive so there is something for most tastes and budgets. Home phones can also be bought, along with all the accessories such as holders. Digital photgraphy is big at m&s, and you have a solid choice at the online store. There are over 40 cameras from the best known brands like Sony, Samsung, Canon and Olympus, and everything in the technology section comes with a minimum of a 2 year guarantee. Look out for codes and special delivery rates, which on some items is free, with free installation as well.
The kids department has clothes where you can shop by size, product or age group. Also for the kids are competitons and costumes, as well as big choice of toys and games to keep them entertained. You can also buy books, dvd's and cd's as well.
The gifts section has some valuable ideas for loved ones or friends, and you can shop for men, women and the kids. Things like gadgets, wine, flowers, and clothes are in here. M&S sell food hampers, hand picked wine hampers, chocolates and other foods, all in unique gift wrapping of your choice. Most of these items can be oredered online and picked up at your local store. A unique feature is the wine plans, and this allows you to receive 12 bottles of wine every 3 months. You can choose between reds, whites and other wines. The first order has an low inrtoductory price of just £40, and after this it will cost around £60, but it still works out at £5 a bottle. The wines are delivered free to your door, and once your account is set up it runs on automatic. You can cancel at any time, or miss a period if you wish. No other online catalogue offers this kind of service, and if you are into your wines, then it is a great way to experience a wide range of wines at an affordable price.
Marks and spencer delivery options are fairly numerous. Standard delivery will cost you £3.50 when it is delivered to your home, and this price relates to small items such as clothes, homeware, small technology goods. You can pay a bit more for nominated day delivery, and m and s will also deliver to your owrkplace or neighbours for the same price. The lead time for standard is 3 working days if your item is in stock, if not it can take up to 7 working days. Now here is where it gets interesting, because you get free delivery on all furniture and large electrical items like televisions and appliances. For furniture the lead time is 2-12 weeks depending on what you have ordered and if it is in stock at the time. Appliances take 3 to 7 working days, and you can choose express delivery on these items which will cost you just £2.99 and it will arrive within 2 working days. This is very good value for money, and is a lot cheaper than most other catalogue companies for larger items and goods.
M and S will also deliver to over 80 countries worldwide, and the prices are very reasonable, with European countires paying just £10 for delivery. You can pick up your order at your local store, and this is free. You need to take your order form with you for identification, and the collect in store feature is for clothing, food and beauty products. Your order will be available for 3 to 5 days for collection in store, after that it will be returned to stock and your money refunded.
Gift vouchers can be purchased on the site, and they will be delivered to your home, or you can get them at your local store on the high street. All deliveries can be tracked online if you sign up with m and s. You will also get e-mail updates on the latest bargains and deals for free, so it is an effective way to ensure you don't miss out on anything.
All in all marks and spencer shopping is the real deal. It has a great selection of quality products for all the family. All the departments have good stock levels, and a wide variety of all sorts of things. They may not be the cheapest around, but customer satisfaction and quality are what m and s are all about. It is what their business is built on, and their reputation. A new feedback system has just come into use, and now you can give your opinion on customer experience and satisfaction, and m&s will listen to you. It is the way forward, and shows that they do care about evry single customer, which can be very difficult when your company is so large. The online shopping store is very user friendly, and everything is easy to find, with some good interactive features to enhance the experience. M and S has reinvented itself over the last few years, and the site is proof of that.
The online catalogue store is not so much like a catalogue but more of a department store. You have the mens and womens sections, a technology department with all the televisions and audio goodies. Food and wine is also available, as well as homeware and furniture. A new gifts department will help you find just the right gifts, and you can even order flowers. One new thing about the site is that it is packed with interactive features, and marks and spencer have taken the lead of the likes of Next and the other big name catalogue retailers by giving a better customer experience. Everyone likes to feel part of the buying process, and you will find videos on the latest fashions, a how to shop guide, as well as m&s tv, so you can keep up to date with the company.
The womens fashion lines are celebrating 125 years this year, and there are a whole host of discounts and special deals around at the moment. You can shop by brand from the likes of Per Una, Autograph and Portfolio, along with the m and s own brand lines. There are dresses, coats, jackets, jeans, lingerie, skirts, shoes, tops, blouses, swimwear and accessories in the womens department. M&S fashion TV can be activated with one click of a button and on here you will get some novel ideas for party wear and holiday wear. There is also a new arrivals section for the latest stock. M and S also sell designer clthes hangers for all your stuff, and the popular choice at the moment are the Joe Mangano Hangers. All the clothes are presented very well, with some good, clean photos, althoug they are one dimensional at present.
The mens section has brnaded names like Timothy Everest for suits and formal wear, Blue Harbour and North Coast are the other brands, as well as the traditional m and s lines, which are always great quality items. There is a new seasons collection feature, and you can shop by size and type of clothing such as trousers, shirts and shoes. Marks and spencer also have a made to measure shirt service where you choose from a range of cuffs, collars, buttons, fabrics and pockets. You can even add a personalised monogram. These ahirts will then be made specially for you, and the prices start at £24.95, which is not bad at all.
The home and furniture department has a very selection of goods, with a huge range of colours and styles. The settees and sofas are very good, and you can choose from single sofas, double sofas, corner sofas, armchairs, recliners, foot stools, bed sofas, and most of these are available in many different colour schemes and patterns. You will also find book cases, warbrobes, tables, chairs, coffee tables, dispay units, console units and side tables and nests. Bedroom and dining room furniture is sold too, and you can shop by size, design, colour or by collection, and there are some very stylish collections at m and s. The prices are not cheap, but there are lots of discounted pieces of furniture that are more reasonable. One thing you can count on is the quality though, m&s do not sell inferior goods to their customers, and this is why they are so well respected.
Also in the home and funiture department are dinner ware, like pots and pans and dinner sets, bedding, soft furniture, linen sets, lamp shdes and light fittings, and much more. Accessories such as clocks, mirrors, candle holders and other little things that can liven up any room are in the home section.
The technology department has televisions, dvd players, computers, mp3 players, games consoles, sat navs, games and beauty electronics and gadgets. If you are not sure about the latest technology then fear not beacuse marks and spencer have a buying guide and some videos to help showcase these gadgets. There are some great dundle deals on at the moment, where you can get a free dvd blue ray player with selected plasma and lcd televisions, which are on sale with big discounts already. The top name nrands in home entertainment including Sony, Panasonic, Samsung and Philips are in stock as well as m and s own brand electricals which are a bit cheaper. The choice is pretty large and all the televisions are top rated products, which are more expensive than most other catalogue shopping stores. Again, this comes back to the quality that marks's sell, they operate in a different niche to the likes of argos, tesco and asda. There is free 5 year guarantee on all large tv's and you don't get that at the other stores.
The mobile phones are all on pay as you go, and the selection is not that big, but the phones that are in stock are a good mix of cheaper to more expensive so there is something for most tastes and budgets. Home phones can also be bought, along with all the accessories such as holders. Digital photgraphy is big at m&s, and you have a solid choice at the online store. There are over 40 cameras from the best known brands like Sony, Samsung, Canon and Olympus, and everything in the technology section comes with a minimum of a 2 year guarantee. Look out for codes and special delivery rates, which on some items is free, with free installation as well.
The kids department has clothes where you can shop by size, product or age group. Also for the kids are competitons and costumes, as well as big choice of toys and games to keep them entertained. You can also buy books, dvd's and cd's as well.
The gifts section has some valuable ideas for loved ones or friends, and you can shop for men, women and the kids. Things like gadgets, wine, flowers, and clothes are in here. M&S sell food hampers, hand picked wine hampers, chocolates and other foods, all in unique gift wrapping of your choice. Most of these items can be oredered online and picked up at your local store. A unique feature is the wine plans, and this allows you to receive 12 bottles of wine every 3 months. You can choose between reds, whites and other wines. The first order has an low inrtoductory price of just £40, and after this it will cost around £60, but it still works out at £5 a bottle. The wines are delivered free to your door, and once your account is set up it runs on automatic. You can cancel at any time, or miss a period if you wish. No other online catalogue offers this kind of service, and if you are into your wines, then it is a great way to experience a wide range of wines at an affordable price.
Marks and spencer delivery options are fairly numerous. Standard delivery will cost you £3.50 when it is delivered to your home, and this price relates to small items such as clothes, homeware, small technology goods. You can pay a bit more for nominated day delivery, and m and s will also deliver to your owrkplace or neighbours for the same price. The lead time for standard is 3 working days if your item is in stock, if not it can take up to 7 working days. Now here is where it gets interesting, because you get free delivery on all furniture and large electrical items like televisions and appliances. For furniture the lead time is 2-12 weeks depending on what you have ordered and if it is in stock at the time. Appliances take 3 to 7 working days, and you can choose express delivery on these items which will cost you just £2.99 and it will arrive within 2 working days. This is very good value for money, and is a lot cheaper than most other catalogue companies for larger items and goods.
M and S will also deliver to over 80 countries worldwide, and the prices are very reasonable, with European countires paying just £10 for delivery. You can pick up your order at your local store, and this is free. You need to take your order form with you for identification, and the collect in store feature is for clothing, food and beauty products. Your order will be available for 3 to 5 days for collection in store, after that it will be returned to stock and your money refunded.
Gift vouchers can be purchased on the site, and they will be delivered to your home, or you can get them at your local store on the high street. All deliveries can be tracked online if you sign up with m and s. You will also get e-mail updates on the latest bargains and deals for free, so it is an effective way to ensure you don't miss out on anything.
All in all marks and spencer shopping is the real deal. It has a great selection of quality products for all the family. All the departments have good stock levels, and a wide variety of all sorts of things. They may not be the cheapest around, but customer satisfaction and quality are what m and s are all about. It is what their business is built on, and their reputation. A new feedback system has just come into use, and now you can give your opinion on customer experience and satisfaction, and m&s will listen to you. It is the way forward, and shows that they do care about evry single customer, which can be very difficult when your company is so large. The online shopping store is very user friendly, and everything is easy to find, with some good interactive features to enhance the experience. M and S has reinvented itself over the last few years, and the site is proof of that.
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