Debenhams plans web sales lift

Department chain Debenhams has appointed the UK's leading e-commerce fashion photography studio Fashshot to ramp up its online business. The retailer has outsourced its photography, video and content to Fashshot in a move

that will see the photography and video expert assume creative management of the retailer’s studio - all photography, styling and processing (previously handled in- house) will be managed by Fashshot.

Simon Forster, Director of Debenhams.com, who joined the company last year, said outsourcing its imaging will allow Debenhams to provide customers with "better and more varied product imagery".

He continued: "With Fashshot’s expertise, we will be able to offer customers more choice and be reactive to their expectations around product images and video."

Asked what the company’s reasons were for outsourcing, Forster explained: "We quickly concluded that outsourcing would be the most cost-effective way to improve our imagery."

Later this year Debenhams will roll out catwalk video and 360 across relevant categories on its website, something Forster said "is easy to bring about working with an outside provider."

Commenting on the new wave of outsourcing solutions, Lee Friend, Managing Director and Executive Producer at Fashshot said: "Retailers want to tap into the accelerated learning [of] our photographic and styling team experiences, having worked with multiple online retailers and brands."

He added: "Many of Europe's largest retailers have benefitted from cost savings associated with outsourcing."

Fashshot is the UK’s largest fashion photography and videography studio, providing still life, mannequin, 360, catwalk and other creative video content to retailers and brands. The move marks a significant milestone for the company, which currently has studios across the UK and mainland Europe with headquarters in London.

Picture: Fashshot studio