2019: A year to remember

And in the blink of an eye, it’s goodbye to 2019.   We pause for a brief moment and look back on the year that was - from projects that have helped client sales grow beyond all expectation to big business wins in the UK and the Middle East.  2019 has been a hugely successful year for the company that has taken strategy, design and tech to new heights.

In 2018, Redbox acquired Lewis Creative - one of the most forward-thinking ecommerce design and content agencies in the UK.  The acquisition has had a positive impact on the business and the way it delivers brand experiences for its clients.  Paul Lewis, founder of Lewis Creative and now head of creative at Redbox said: “As a business, we’ve reached a sweet spot where creative and tech has become truly integrated.  This has unlocked a lot of possibilities for our clients and allowed us to create the best possible customer experiences.”

Paul Lewis, Redbox's head of creative

Our clients, work and wins

While Brexit focused on the UK Government’s attempts to take us out of Europe, Redbox was making giant strides to cement relationships in new regions.

For the redesign and website launch of Gloria Jeans, it was a case of From Russia With Love, as the design team travelled to Moscow for several high-level workshops in a bid to fully understand the intricacies of the Russian market and consumer.

The fashion retail brand has 600 stores across Russia, Ukraine, Georgia and Belarus, with Sheren Terni, former general director of Victoria’s Secret, heading-up the operation.

Paul continued: “It was a very large and exciting project that gave the design team the opportunity to work in Russia.

“We were able to get a real understanding of the Russian market, what drives it and the problems faced in terms of the sheer size of the distribution area.

“It’s a cash on delivery market so an item can be sent to the far reaches of Siberia only for it to be returned and not to be paid for.  Logistically, it’s a real challenge - the project was a real eye-opener.”

Growth of the business has continued in key markets such as the UK and the Middle East.

Redbox teamed up with Nahdi to deliver Saudi’s biggest pharmacy retail chain a complete omnichannel commerce experience for its customers through retail stores and digital channels across 143 cities.

Built on Magento Commerce Cloud and Magento Order Management and integrating with Nahdi’s existing back-office systems, it launched at the beginning of the year.

Nahdi's website

Nahdi's website

Redbox CEO, Jonty Sutton, enthused: “A week after launch, Nahdi experienced its highest ever site traffic and best basket size and conversion rates. Site traffic increased by 150 to 200 percent, with new customers up 67 percent. The company also saw a 33 percent rise in repeat buyers and revenue growth of 600 percent in 12 months. It was a really successful partnership and launch and something we are very proud of.”

Redbox also undertook the website redesign for longstanding customer, The Folio Society, and has completed the design of menswear brand, Charles Tyrwhitt’s new site. The new design helps to illustrate the underlying quality of Charles Tyrwhitt’s products, while also introducing an integrated user experience for its good-value offers.

Other big wins for the business that will start to take shape in 2020 include new ecommerce platforms for luxury retailer Fortnum & Mason, drinks brand Amathus and clothing retailer Seasalt Cornwall - to name a few.

Partnerships: the key to Redbox success

Partnerships remain a key driver for Redbox both on the client side and through collaborations with third-party technology providers.

A number of clients have been with Redbox for more than five years often citing the close-working bond, team spirit and determination to go the extra mile in developing solutions that support their digital goals.

Technology partnerships have also been pivotal, with close ties being forged with Dotdigital, Klarna and Nosto – to name a few. These will continue to thrive next year, with plenty of joint events, marketing activity and sales opportunities in the pipeline.

The relationship between Redbox and Magento remains resolute and the acquisition of Magento by Adobe will bring further opportunities for the business in the enterprise, SME and mid-market spaces.

Hard work pays off

It’s always nice to see Redbox’s hard work – and the hard work of our clients – recognised by the industry and 2019 saw several awards and nominations.

Every year, businesses which have shown exemplary leadership within their industry are recognised and awarded by Magento and Adobe. This year, Pawel Dabrowski, Nahdi’s head of omnichannel won the coveted Magento Live Commerce Ace Award for ‘creating a unique vision and delivering commerce excellence’.

Two Redbox clients also made the finals at this year’s Ecommerce Awards, widely considered the best and most significant awards in the retail and ecommerce industry and attracting hundreds of entries each year.

Nahdi was shortlisted in the Best Use of a Multichannel category, while The Folio Society was up for Specialist Ecommerce Site and Best Website Launch/Relaunch for design and UX.Jonty added: “We’re honoured to have played such a major role in these awards and nominations. It’s a testament to our teams who have worked tirelessly to get the best outcomes for our clients. Our ideas, strategy and approach have continued to see many brands and companies grow and prosper.”

The Folio Society's online store

The Folio Society's online store

Onwards and upwards!

That rounds-up 2019 but what’s in store for 2020?

M2 migration will continue to play out next year, with a number of businesses still trading on M1 looking to move to M2.

New technologies like PWAs – mobile apps delivered online – are gaining in popularity and a great option for ecommerce retailers looking to improve their mobile strategy. The freshest sites are already incorporating the technology providing a certain speed, look and efficiency for a clean and contemporary user experience.

Redbox’s ‘centre of excellence’ in Mauritius will remain an important part of the business and continue to provide unrivalled support to Redbox’s customers all over the world.

Kavi Boodhun, Redbox’s country manager in Mauritius, added:There has been some massive success stories for us this year.  Our team has worked around the clock to provide support for our customers, especially during the Black Friday and Christmas peak times.

“During these periods, everything ran like clockwork and some of our clients enjoyed ‘outstanding’ Black Friday sales figures.”

As Redbox looks towards 2020, some final words from the company’s CEO.

“We have made some huge strides this year in our ability to provide great, transformative experiences for our clients,” said Jonty.  “We will continue to evolve our technology capabilities and push creative boundaries to deliver real value for our clients and the people our clients’ brands serve.”

He continued: “Our success is built upon the hard-work and talent of our brilliant, highly-skilled, creative and technically-proficient team, which in turn allows us to work side-by-side with some of the most recognisable brands in the world.

“On behalf of Redbox, I would like to thank all our employees, customers, partners and clients for a successful 2019 and I look forward to the next exciting chapter.”