Notonthehighstreet.com launches in Germany

Fashion and lifestyle marketplace Notonthehighstreet.com has launched its first dedicated overseas marketplace in Germany, following significant growth in sales and traffic from Europe and the US.
The standalone site, which is part of the e-tailer’s wider

international plans, went live last week with more than 100 German partners, as well as a number of its existing UK-based retailers, though the company said that this figure would “rapidly” grow over the coming months. It follows a year-long search for the most unique products from Germany’s community of creative independent businesses and designers.

The move comes after the curated marketplace, which hosts more than 4,000 businesses in the UK, saw a 50 percent increase in web traffic in two years, and that fact that 70 percent of its UK-based partners now trade internationally.

Notonthehighstreet.com co-founder and president Holly Tucker said: “We are extremely excited and proud about this, our first international launch in Germany, a territory well known for its appreciation of outstanding product design.

“It has taken significant dedication from a number of teams within both the UK and Germany to ensure our operation would be ready for launch. We cannot wait to bring the outstanding product selection and service level for which Notonthehighstreet.com is renowned to German consumers.”

Notonthehighstreet.com launches first dedicated overseas marketplace

Notonthehighstreet.com co-founder and director Sophie Cornish added: “Only by working on an international project such as this can you appreciate the challenges that need to be overcome and so I couldn’t be more proud to see the site live and our partners beginning to sell.

“Having experienced unprecedented growth in the UK, we are looking forward to developing a community of innovators, creators, crafters and makers across Germany and providing them with the technology, marketing and support to help their businesses grow.”

The new site, Notonthehighstreet.de will be headed up by Doris Pietrek, a former product development and global sourcing director for cult US-based lifestyle and interiors retailer Anthropologie, who has been named country manager.

Pietrek commented: “The launch of Notonthehighstreet.de is a hugely exciting step for us. We are confident that given the enthusiasm that we know German consumers have for exceptionally designed products, coupled with the passion of independent German designers and makers, that we can emulate the transformational qualities and success that notonthehighstreet.com is known for within the UK.”

The launch will be supported by a major marketing campaign, which will be coordinated from the UK, and will include paid social and search marketing, as well as print and outdoor advertising, and experiential activity including blogger outreach. It is hoped that the activity will drum up awareness of the new site ahead of the important Christmas trading period.

Notontheghighstreet.com was founded in 2006 by Tucker and Cornish and offers more than 150,000 original, fashion and lifestyle products, many of which are bespoke and made to order. The business has grown from a turnover of 134,000 pounds in its first year to a total transactional value of 83.3 million pounds in 2013.