Twist in the E-tail

by Jeanne-Vida Douglas @ BRW

E-tail sales have never reached the levels anticipated when retailers first took to the web. Now sellers are integrating online efforts with a presence on the ground.

The chief executive of online retailer dStore Australia, Andrew Cooper, says his main challenge has been in accessing brands, and that brand owners are often reluctant to work closely with retailers that only have an online presence.

“Online retail in Australia is particularly price-focused, and a lot of the merchants are pitching themselves at that low-price, high-volume space,” Cooper says.  “We are more like traditional retailers: we’re looking to build a strong retail brand, and a reputation for customer service.”

Source: BRW Magazine (p.24-25), 2-8 July 2009 (PDF)