Retail News Update

LONDON – Britain’s top clothing retailer, Marks & Spencer announces the launch of its international delivery service to France, Germany, Spain, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand from its shopping website at marksandspencer.com.

The group, which also sells food and homewares, said customers would be able to order clothes, lingerie, as well as selected beauty and home accessories from its website and send them to friends and family abroad in time for Christmas.

The move is part of Marks & Spencer’s (M&S) plan to grow sales at its M&S Direct home shopping business to ($773.3 million) by 2010-11,as well as its commitment to expand overseas.

“(We) have deliberately selected markets where we currently don’t have stores, but where we know through extensive feedback, that there is a demand for our goods,” Carl Leaver, M&S’s director of international, home and retail, said in a statement.

Deliveries will cost 10 pounds to France, Germany and Spain, and 20 pounds to the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

The launch of international delivery follows a series of new additions to the online business, including the launch of an online wine club, the introduction of 3,000 premium “white goods” such as washing machines and fridges online, and the development of a portal for corporate gifting.