The UK e-Retail Association
www.imrg.org
For more than 20 years, IMRG has been the voice for e-Retail in the UK and, increasingly, overseas. With over 1200 members, we are the largest e-retail association in the country – collecting and analysing valuable market data from our members and facilitating professional development across the industry through events, reports and other media.
You’re in good company with IMRG
Correct at 01.07.2013
Everything we do is driven by our community of members and our approach is to integrate content as much as possible. So, the conference sessions at our events draw heavily on the data and insights derived from our tracking indexes and member input, whilst our Industry reports utilise Index data and insights gleaned from our specialist Forums. Member confi dentiality is respected at all times. Comments, data and insights are never attributed to a member unless prior authorisation has been obtained.
The UK e-Retail Association
IMRG has been tracking the e-retail market for longer than anyone else. This gives us a unique insight into the way the market is developing. Our 1200 members give considerable depth to our analysis and as a member, you are able to access our data, our market knowledge and our members experience. IMRG will prove invaluable in the following areas of your business:
• Strategic development – our tracking indexes give you market perspective
• Gaining competitive advantage – we can show you where the market is heading, helping you to identify and exploit developing segments
• Building business partnerships – learn from leading solutions providers about the latest techniques and developments
• Network with peers – our events are unrivalled in delivering senior decision makers from across the retail spectrum
• Your Business partner – need some advice or someone to present at one of your events? IMRG can help. Maybe you want some market research undertaken. Again, we can do that for you.
An investment in your business
e-Retail Sales index
m-Retail Sales index
IMRG MetaPack Delivery index
e-retail Benchmarking
IMRG Tracking IndexesWith a database of e-retail sales, marketing, delivery and mobile platform performance, IMRG’s Chief Information Offi cer, Tina Spooner, runs the longest running e-retail tracking study in Europe. Much of this data is available to our membership and all relevant reports are available to members who contribute performance data.
e-Sales Index
This is the primary report for e-retail in the UK and is available to all members. Produced in association with leading retail analyst, Capgemini, the e-Sales Index is published monthly and shows how the total e-retail market is performing, average conversion rates, average basket value and more.
m-Retail Sales Index
We all know that Mobile is transforming the e-retail landscape. Sales on mobile devices are growing quickly… but how quickly? How do sales patterns differ between smartphones and tablets? How do basket values compare with non-mobile devices? How are conversion rates affected?
Many retailers are predicting that they will get more visits via mobile devices than any other platform by the end of the year – are you prepared?
Get the answers to these questions with the M-Retail Sales Index – included in IMRG membership fees.
Delivery Index
Delivery continues to be highly infl uential in achieving sales conversion. Does it pay to offer a free premium delivery service? What advantage do you get from offering delivery windows instead of named day or AM/PM options? Is your delivery failure rate better or worse than your competitors?
We produce the Delivery Index every month in association with MetaPack. The Delivery Index is only accessible by members.
Quarterly Benchmarking Reports
IMRG produces a range of reports each quarter dealing with all of the key drivers for successful e-retail. Available to members who provide the data that drives the reports, the quarterly indexes will give you objective information to help you benchmark your own performance. Over 40 key performance indicators are measured including:
• Website performance – including bounce and abandonment rates
• Marketing – including PPC performance data
• Acquisition and Retention – including customer return rates
• Fulfi lment – covering fraud and abandonment rates
• Geography – including cross border sales rates
• Commercial – including average order value.
Things change so quickly in the online world it’s diffi cult to keep up. The legal framework, new marketing trends, advances in technology… There are so many dimensions to e-commerce. That’s why we run a series of live events for you to attend. Some are small and intimate to facilitate confi dential and open discussion. Others are larger conference based events designed to give you maximum choice of conference topics and a broad sample of technology and service solutions.
Connect
Our fl agship events programme, IMRG Connect events take place 4 times each year. Centred around an industry leading conference programme which has been designed by our own membership, Connect events are designed to explore a “theme” in detail.
It might be Mobile or Fashion or maybe Customer Experience. Whatever the topic, when you attend a Connect event you will get a comprehensive briefi ng, have you questions answered and see a range of world beating solutions providers who can discuss tailored solutions with you in this pressure-free environment.
Forums
We organise Forums for smaller groups of members (usually between 10 and 20) who want to discuss or understand topics in more depth. We regularly run Legal Forums where we address everything from upcoming policy and legislative changes, to copyright issues and legal implications with social media.
We will also organise forums on an ad-hoc basis - to discuss major issues which might affect our members. For example, we recently held a very successful Forum exploring cyber crime – how to guard against it and what to do if it happens.
IMRG sits at the top table for policy making both in the UK and Europe. We’re already actively involved in many policy areas including Data Protection, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Consumer Rights and Common European Sales Law.
We represent your – our members – interests in these vital policy areas. If there is a specifi c policy area that is important to you and your business, then join one of our policy forums and make sure your views are heard in Westminster and Brussels.
Are you a Senior Retailer? – why not come to one of our agenda -free discussions
Are you an industry Specialist? – then join one of our working parties and help shape IMRG policy.
Informal Events
Our members are always keen to meet up and network with each other to discuss recent events or learn about different techniques and developments. So we regularly arrange small, informal Networking sessions. Often these events take place in the early evening over drinks and snacks and are based on an agenda item.
Recently, for example we held a social evening for several contributors to one of our index reports. We discussed how members would like to see the reports develop in the future. A highly productive evening with like minded members pooling their expertise, and resulting in a new industry benchmark report.
Things change so quickly in the online world it’s diffi cult to keep up. The legal framework, new marketing trends, advances in technology… There are so many dimensions to e-commerce. That’s why we run a series of live events for you to attend. Some are small and intimate to facilitate confi dential and open discussion. Others are larger conference based events designed to give you maximum choice of conference topics and a broad sample of technology and service solutions.
IMRG Events
Online retailing is all about change. So keeping up to date with developments is essential. IMRG offers a comprehensive events programme and a sophisticated suite of tracking study reports which show key market trends.
Sometimes, however, you need something more tailored – a specific question answered, a detailed analysis of a South American Market perhaps; or maybe you want to search an archive of Case Studies and White Papers that discuss issues that are top of your agenda. Our learning and development products can help you.
v ForumsIf you’re dealing with something new, the chances are that someone else has already come across it or is dealing with the same problem right now. It would be great if you could ask our 1200 members if they can help in any way.
That’s what V Forums are for. Just email us your question and we will pose it anonymously to a range of experts who will provide the group with their views.
IMRG Market ReportsAt IMRG we have a wealth of experience in e-retail. Many will know the founder of IMRG and world expert in online retail, James Roper. James travels the world, advising major corporations and governmental organisations on all aspects of e-commerce. Using his insight and experience, James produces 3 or 4 visionary reports each year.
IMRG is also proud to retain the services of Andrew McClelland, Head of Strategy and Policy. Andrew has over 10 years of experience in e-commerce and specialises in European e-retail as well as policy development. Andrew also produces between 4 and 6 reports each year.
Bespoke reportsWhen developing strategy there are often knowledge gaps that need to be filled. You might be considering an overseas launch or want to understand what the options are for international delivery.
First, you can consult our library of White Papers and existing reports from IMRG and third parties. However, if you need something more tailored, IMRG can help.
We have industry experts and market data to hand as well as excellent connections with our membership. Add to this our relationships with overseas Trade Associations and strategic solutions providers and we have a formidable pool of experience, relationships and data to call upon in order to design and execute the report you’re looking for.
Supporting your own eventsMany of our members organise their own events. Sometimes its a top level briefing at a prestigious London location. Other times it might be an International Board Meeting or even a presentation at a major Trade Exhibition.
IMRG can support you at these events by either providing advice and guidance or even attending and giving presentations or Chairing discussions and debates.
Learning and Development
Join IMRG todaywww.imrg.org
Membership profileIMRG offers a company, rather than an individual membership. As such, everybody with responsibility for their organisations’ online retail channel, will engage with IMRG, either via the website, through our events or directly with our subject matter experts. A typical major retail brand may have between 50 and 100 users active at any one time. The majority of users are Department Heads or Board members. Typical job titles are:
Board Level
Managing Director, Founder, CEO, Marketing Director, Finance Director, Operations Director, Logistics Director, Merchandise Director, Buying Director, Director of Multi Channel…
Department Head
Online Marketing, Finance, Merchandising, e-commerce, IT, Customer Service, Multi Channel, Customer Experience, Distribution, Operations, Digital, Business development, Customer Service, Legal, Online…
Other
Web Analytics Manager, Fulfilment and Returns Manager, Customer Experience Manager, Category Manager, PPC Manager, Trading Manager, Cross Site Merchandising Manager, Payments Manager, Export Manager, Content Manager…
Membership OptionsIMRG Membership is available to all online retailers and solutions providers. Fees are based upon company turnover. There is a special Associate membership option for online retailers with a turnover below £5m p.a.
As a member of IMRG you receive the following:
e-Sales Index Included in membership
m-Retail Sales Index Included in membership
Delivery Index Included in membership
Connect events Included in membership
Round Tables Included in membership*
Policy Forums Included in membership*
V Forums Included in membership*
Market Reports Included in membership
Bespoke Reports Chargable
Support Service Negotiable
*By invitation
Members are invited to participate in and benefit from the quarterly benchmarking indexes. Please contact IMRG for more details.
To learn more about IMRG membership and sponsorship options:
Call: +44 (0) 203 696 0980
Or email: [email protected]
Senate MembershipSenate membership is by invitation only to companies who are considered to have a strategic influence in the market – examples include John Lewis, Royal Mail, and Arcadia Group etc. Membership offers unrivalled networking opportunities as well as the opportunity to influence IMRG strategy and policy work.
2 Ching Court
49 – 53 Monmouth Street
Covent Garden
London
WC2H 9EY
Tel: +44 (0)203 696 0980
www.imrg.org
