Matchesfashion.com is a luxury fashion retailer offering over 450 designer labels. Founded by Ruth and Tom Chapman as Matches in 1987, the business has transitioned from a bricks-and-mortar operation into a multichannel player that now generates more than 95% of its sales online. There are four Matchesfashion stores in London, including the high-profile concept space on Mayfair’s Carlos Place which opened towards the end of 2018. This formed an evolution of three key areas of the business: the global series of ‘In Residence’ events, the retail store and the private shopping townhouse. There is also a broadcasting hub in the space where the group delivers podcasts and live streaming. The retailer’s ultimate aim is to make the physical more digital and the digital more physical. This has seen it invest in store technology such as tablets that provide access to the full online range and mobile points of sale. Digital customers have access to a team of online stylists that are available 24/7.
It’s a measure of the revolution taking place in retail that a senior Amazon executive like Ajay Kavan has chosen Matchesfashion for his first chief executive role.
Matchesfashion has poached Amazon executive Ajay Kavan to take the reins as its new boss.
Retailers in fields ranging from fashion to grocery and health and beauty were recognised in the New Year Honours list.
As Retail Week marks its 30th birthday, we hear from eight industry luminaries about the biggest game changers for the sector in the last 30 years and what they see on the horizon that will transform retail.
Matchesfashion.com has transformed in the 31 years since it was founded. Retail Week spoke to boss Ulric Jerome about its reinvention.
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