THG Ingenuity, the e-commerce services division of health & beauty retailer The Hut Group, has secured a ten-year deal with Homebase in which it will work to improve and grow the home & garden retailers digital activities.
The multi-million-pound agreement will give Homebase access to THG Ingenuity’s proprietary end-to-end e-commerce solution to replace its current systems. This will include web development and hosting, a global fulfilment and payment infrastructure, digital channel and proposition management, and brand building and strategy. The division will also provide a range of digital content from The Hut Group’s own content studios.
Damian McGloughlin, Chief Executive of Homebase, said: “This partnership will significantly fast-forward our digital plans and create an incredible new shopping experience for customers. We have a unique opportunity to move with the rapidly changing retail landscape, and leapfrog ahead to an experience that exceeds customers’ demands for online shopping that’s both easy and inspirational.
“We’ll combine the best of bricks-and-mortar with The Hut Group’s world-class expertise, to advise, excite and inspire our customers with new ways of shopping we know they’ll love.”
The Hut Group said the end-to-end and fully integrated solution will aim to deliver a seamless customer experience through operations and data including reserve in store, endless aisle, loyalty, digital kiosk and personalisation. The new partnership is part of The Hut Group’s strategy to expand THG Ingenuity into the home retail sector due to it being a predominantly offline industry that offers potential for digital growth.
THG Ingenuity’s third-party clients already include the likes of Nestlé, Procter & Gamble and PZ Cussons.
Matthew Moulding, founder and chief executive of The Hut Group, said: “We are incredibly excited to be working with one of the UK’s biggest players in the home and garden retail sector and there is huge potential for us to grow Homebase’s D2C capabilities with our proven infrastructure and services.
“The global retail landscape is changing and the current climate has accelerated digital plans for many businesses. This partnership is testament to the strength and reputation of THG Ingenuity to deliver a world-leading ecommerce solution that can power businesses of all sizes, in the UK and globally.”
The Hut Group revealed last week that it intended to float on the London Stock Exchange with an equity value of £4.5bn.
NAM Implications:
- A no-brainer move by The Hut Group to optimise online learnings in non-competing channels.
- The Homebase link has to be merely a starter…
- (If in doubt, think Ocado, Amazon)
