Kingfisher Homebase hires THG to accelerate ecommerce transformation

Homebase has joined forces with THG Ingenuity, the e-commerce operation of The Hut Group, to develop its online shopping offering. A new website offering design tools and “before and after” pictures is set to be launched by Spring 2021, alongside new payment options including Google Pay and PayPal. Homebase added that the website would also offer AI-backed customer recommendations.

Homebase Signs Long Term Deal with The HUT Group

Homebase, one of the UK's leading home and garden retailers, today announces a ten-year partnership with e-commerce specialist The Hut Group (THG) and its ecommerce services division, THG Ingenuity, to transform the online shopping experience for customers.

This partnership builds on the extensive investment already made in product range and inspirational shopping experiences over the last two years as part of the Homebase turnaround. It marks a bold new step that will accelerate Homebase to its vision of being the go-to place for the inspiration, expertise and products customers need for their home and garden projects from start to finish.

By Easter 2021, Homebase customers will have access to a brand new website, offering a range of exciting and interactive new features, including 'before and after' pictures and design and style tools to help them turn their home and garden ideas into a reality. Improved navigation, shoppable multi-product images, instant 'add to basket' functionality, and new payment options including PayPal and Google Pay will make it even easier to shop from the wide range of products and create the latest home trends.

Homebase will combine its 40-year heritage and deep understanding in home and garden with The Hut Group's globally recognised e-commerce credentials to uncover and maximise powerful real-time data insights. This will allow Homebase to understand its customers even better in real-time, tracking trends to help them find exactly what they're looking for whether they're shopping online or in-store. On the website, AI-driven recommendations will allow Homebase to deliver a more personalised customer experience and make it even easier for the customer to get everything they need.

Damian McGloughlin, CEO of Homebase, comments: "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 THG Ingenuity's world-class expertise, to advise, excite and inspire our customers with new ways of shopping we know they'll love."

Matthew Moulding, Founder, Chairman and CEO of THG, 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.”

Source: Insight DIY & Homebase

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02 September 2020