Movers & Shakers Q&A – Jon Wragg, director of e-commerce and marketing at Supergroup

Movers and Shakers 2014 Front Cover

Brought to you by Retail Insider and K3 Retail

Jon Wragg, director of e-commerce and marketing at Supergroup

1. What is the greatest opportunity for your business?

The greatest opportunity never changes – it is to continue to create product that our customers love, and to give them access to that product and to our Brand through whatever medium they choose.   We are fortunate in that we have broad appeal across customer segments and across geographies and that in itself creates a huge opportunity.

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2. What is the biggest challenge to your business?

Our biggest challenge is the same as in any retail business; always staying in step with all our customer’s needs and lifestyles.

3. With the benefit of hindsight what would you have done differently so far?

Whenever anything works, you always wish you’d done it sooner and driven it faster.   Our international e-commerce operation is working well, and I always want to drive it faster.

4. What is the future of the physical store?

I think it is different in different retail sectors, but I think stores will continue to be a critical part of the channel mix, supporting a cross channel proposition, giving physical exposure to the Brand, and……maybe in the not too distant future acting as local fast response fulfilment centres.   In new territories, they are fundamental to establishing a brand’s credibility and demonstrating its provenance.

5. What will the high street look like in a decade?

In many ways similar to today, but with a much stronger emphasis on leisure and other mixed use.   We’ll also continue to see growing polarisation between retail centres.

6. Will mobile devices be the primary sales channel in the future?

Yes – it’s pace of growth has stepped on materially again this year.

7. What other retail business do you admire?

Wholefoods – great product and a good shopping experience too.

8. If you hadn’t been a retailer what would you have liked to do?

Absolutely no idea!

9. What marks out of 10 do you give yourself so far for achievement?

That’s for others to judge…..

10. Who would you place in the Top 25 Multi-channel/e-commerce Movers & Shakers?

I don’t know, but it’s important to keep it fresh, and to recognise new emerging talent.