Shop Direct launches new Very.co.uk iPhone app with image recognition technology

Shop Direct, the UK’s leading multi-brand digital retailer, has launched a new Very.co.uk iPhone app to give its customers an easier, more engaging user experience.

The app includes cutting-edge image recognition technology that allows shoppers to take snaps of clothes they covet and search for similar patterns across Very.co.uk’s vast product range.

Search and browse has also been optimised to enable smoother and faster navigation of the 946 brands currently sold on Very.co.uk.

Customers can also track their orders in just one tap and make payments on-the-go.

Feedback from shoppers indicates that they find apps a more secure environment to manage their accounts; they can now check their balance and available funds and pay their statement in just a couple of clicks.

The launch, which is the etail group’s first transactional shopping app, marks the start of an increased investment in apps to further boost Shop Direct’s mobile artillery. Mobile is now its largest sales channel and accounted for 58% of online sales at flagship brand Very.co.uk over Christmas.

Shop Direct ecommerce director Jonathan Wall said: “Mobile sales continue to grow at pace. Customers are shopping when they want, where they want and mobile is making this possible. A world class app is now a must-have.

“Our new Very.co.uk app will make our customers’ shopping experience smoother, slicker and speedier than ever before.”

Shop Direct has initially launched the app on iOS, which accounts for over 50% of traffic to its websites, but plans to launch on Android later this year.

The retailer has begun promoting the launch to users of Very.co.uk’s existing app and will kickstart a campaign to attract new customers in the next few months.

ENDS

For more information, please contact: Gemma Goldfingle on gemma.goldfingle@shopdirect.com / 07795 811742

ABOUT SHOP DIRECT

Shop Direct is the UK’s fourth largest online retailer, with annual sales of more than £1.7 billion. Our digital department store brands include Very.co.uk, which is now a £800 million brand, and receive over a million visits each day.

We exist to make good things easily accessible to more people. With our department store range, market-leading ecommerce and technology capabilities and unique financial services offer, we’re well placed to deliver on that promise.

We sell over 940 famous brands, including big name labels and our own exclusive brands, and deliver 48 million products to our four million customers every year. Our click and collect service, Collect+, delivers to more than 5,500 stores across the country, increasing ease and convenience for customers.

For more information on Shop Direct, visit www.shopdirect.com or follow us on Twitter at @ShopDirect.