Clas Ohlson launches new e-commerce platform

Clas Ohlson has initiated the launch of a new e-commerce platform that is to be introduced in all markets. The initiative is a feature of the multichannel strategy employed by the company to reach more customers through more channels and to guide them to smart solutions for practical everyday problems.

The new e-commerce platform will initially be launched in Sweden and Norway in April and will also be rolled out in Finland and the UK in the summer of 2012.

“Our investment in e-commerce is a vital part of our multichannel strategy for offering even greater accessibility, service and inspiration to our customers and to guide them to smart solutions for practical everyday problems. By using an attractive mix of stores and e-commerce sites, we can attract even more customers in both existing and new markets,” says Klas Balkow, President and CEO of Clas Ohlson.

“Over the past two years, more than 100 people have been engaged in the project which, in addition to a new technical platform, also involved developing other peripheral systems, strengthening the organisation and adapting processes. The aim is to offer our customers a really good, practical and user-friendly site that makes it easy to shop and that contains lots of useful information. It will also function as an excellent tool for those intending to prepare their purchases on the Internet prior to shopping in our stores,” says Catrin Folkesson, e-commerce Manager at Clas Ohlson.

Clas Ohlson’s multichannel strategy comprises the creation of an integrated offering and services provided through stores, e-commerce, social media and search engines, as well as telephone and catalogue sales. An important aspect of the new e-commerce platform is the investment in spare parts, with more than 9,000 articles that enable the extension of the service life of various products.

“Many customers are pleasantly surprised to hear that we are offering both spare parts and workshop services, and that they can extend the service life of a favourite product—everything from machines, tools, electronics, household articles and multimedia to leisure products. It is about both service and sustainability, meaning the ability to economise on resources and not to discard items unnecessarily,” says Sven-Åke Östberg, Customer Service Manager at Clas Ohlson.

Source : BusinessWire
www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120423005588/en/Clas-Ohlson-Launches-E-Commerce-Platform