Stylish, Successful On-line Lingerie Business Featuring Collections from Leading Manufacturers
Ref.AB033 Location Web Based CompanyAsking Price £60,000Confidential offered for sale
Finance available to buy this business subject to status. All regulated business is passed to independent financial advisors who are regulated by the FSA | |
Asking price includes
Easily navigable, fast and innovative site that maintains the interest of customers
Web-based business that could work alongside an existing retail outlet
High quality ranges that are not available on many other sites
A convenient way to purchase today's key looks
Many years of successful operation
Complete Turnkey Operation
Established customer base
On-going growth pattern
Strong advertising base
Re-locatable business
Excellent reputation
Leasehold premises
Goodwill | Business profile: | This Company began trading in August 2000 and is now established as a successful online retailer, selling high quality lingerie.
The main activity of the company is the sale of ladies underwear through the Internet site. Lingerie is held in stock or obtained from suppliers as required and then it is despatched to customers. Customers pay by credit card prior to shipment and stock items are supplied on terms of generally around 60 days. The main market is the UK; orders are also obtained from other countries in Europe, America and the Far East.
The company generally operates at the upper end of the market, although a recent trial with some quality lower priced products from a major European manufacturer, who was seeking to break into the UK market, has also been successful.
The company has a high quality profile and as such is able to source prestigious brands such as Aubade – a major French supplier. Other brands include Janet Reger, Chantelle, Rigby & Peller, Verde Veronica, Passionata, Fantasie and a French boutique brand with ranges exclusive to this business. From fresh and modern to luxurious and elegant, there are styles and shapes to answer the needs of every woman.
The high quality collections are made from the finest fabrics and designed for comfort, style and fit. Customers are given a personal service and they can email or contact the customer service line for advice when necessary.
Fast delivery is standard working practice, usually within three working days for most items to most mainland UK and Northern Ireland addresses, or usually within 14 days for items not in stock. Goods can be gift wrapped for those special occasions.
The web site has been developed using a specialist web support company that also supports other major Internet brands. The fee for maintaining the site and routine support is 5% of sales turnover.
The site has been upgraded twice since its inception with the last change occurring in October 2004. It is easy to maintain and update. New ranges and sale items can be added easily and there are facilities to allow special offers for customers entering from specified referring sites.
There is an established affiliate scheme that allows referring sites specific commissions dependant on the level of sales referred. The site features highly on such search engines as Google, which account for a good proportion of referrals. There are around 2.5k to 3.5k customer Internet sessions each day. The company is also established on several major third party shopping channels, through which products are often offered on Sky etc. The site is also marketed through ‘pay per click’ through two major providers.
This is a fantastic opportunity for a buyer wishing to get into the growing online lingerie market, and where the present owners have already done the majority of the groundwork.
Key Strengths:
Specialising in quality, desirable lingerie this web-based business is long established (in internet terms) and is a well-known name, encapsulating individuality, sophistication and femininity. The business maintains superb customer relationships with excellent product descriptions and assistance for customers, resulting in rates of return lower than those generally recognised for internet/mail order businesses.
Customers are offered the facility to search by any size, brand, price and product type, with sale items able to be searched for separately from the main ranges offered, making for easier navigation for those shoppers looking for a bargain. Customers can expect an honest, helpful and friendly service, including help and practical advice for men buying for women, partners or friends, generating a high percentage of repeat business.
This business is built on solid foundations with a long established affiliate network capable of further development and is capable of a significant growth in profitability.
Key Opportunities:
This business could be expanded to include a wider product range, including mid-range products and more wedding lingerie, the quality of the site lends itself to marketing quality mid/higher range brands currently not represented in UK, in doing so it will receive even greater interest.
The site already performs well on the search engines so with the addition of new products and by more aggressive marketing, it could rival top companies.
| | The Company operates out of rented premises in London | <>Competition
The lingerie market is quite competitive, but a lot of lingerie websites are poorly designed and lack quality. This website has been well designed and is an up market website retailing high quality products to a huge market, generating substantial orders. It is estimated that there will be over 300% growth of the sex lifestyle market for sexy lingerie, etc over the next 4-5 years. The market is currently valued at approximately £550 million. Source Beaublue presentation April 2004.
The extensive professional website displays the products in a stylish and tasteful way, it has a simple, secure on-line payment and ordering system with a quick find procedure and accepts payments by major credit cards.
The business has used monthly advertisements in GQ magazine and pay per click advertising, which enables businesses to secure top ranking in many leading search engines, delivering targeted advertising and pay only when someone clicks through to the site.
| | | Financial profile: | The business is being offered for sale on a going concern basis, all financial discussions will take place directly between the vendor and all interested parties under the auspices of Turner Butler. The current turnover is in excess of £75,000 per annum.
Full financial information is available, subject to the confidentiality letter being returned. | Employees: One person operates the Company and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the business.
Business Hours: This business has the advantage of twenty-four hour Internet sales. | | | Retirement | | Turner Butler Disclosure Statement: This statement applies to information relating to any company or other undertaking or business advertised for sale by Turner Butler (a 'Business') The information supplied by Turner Butler on its website or in any other promotional material ('the Information') is not and is not intended to constitute an offer for sale of the Business or any assets of the Business or of the shares of any company which owns the Business. For the avoidance of doubt there is no intention to create a legal relationship which will only come into existence when a written contract for sale and purchase of the shares in or the Business has been entered into The Information provided is not intended to address your particular requirements. Further the Information does not constitute any form of advice recommendation representation endorsement or arrangement by Turner Butler and is not intended to be relied upon in making (or refraining from making) any specific decisions. Any agreements transactions or other arrangements made between you and any client of Turner Butler are at your sole risk and responsibility. The prospective sellers of the Business have provided the Information to Turner Butler. The Information has not been verified by Turner Butler. You must carry out your own due diligence and satisfy yourself as to the accuracy of all matters. In the case of the sale of shares in a Business the Information has been prepared on the basis that the shares will consist of or include more than 50% of the voting shares and that both the seller and the buyer is either a body corporate, a partnership, a single individual or a group of connected individuals so as to fall outside the scope of regulated activities as defined by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. If you are considering a transaction which falls within the scope of such regulated activities you cannot do so through Turner Butler. Appropriate professional, legal and accountancy advice should be obtained before making or refraining to make any decision. Turner Butler does not accept any responsibility or liability for loss or damage of any nature that may occur by reliance on the Information. Neither Turner Butler nor any of our employees or agents makes any representation as to the completeness or accuracy of the Information nor do we accept any liability for any losses, costs, liabilities or expenses which may arise directly or indirectly from your use of, or reliance on the Information. This document is governed by and shall be construed in accordance with English Law and any dispute arising in connection with it shall be subject to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts Turner & Co (GB) Limited registered in England and Wales under company no. 2477988 of registered office Savoy House Savoy Circus London W3 7DA, trading as Turner Butler © Shaun Sweeney October 2006 |
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