Gap joins e-commerce market

Tuesday, August 31, 2010 - 21:39 by Paul Tissington

High street fashion retailer Gap has entered into the world of safe shopping online with two brand new websites which allow UK consumers to pick their clothes from the comfort of their homes.

Gap and its subsidiary Banana Republic, have brand new online retail outlets and some of its customers may be surprised that it has taken this well known firm so long to get its act together and jump on the e-commerce bandwagon.

The UK is the testing ground for the European online shopping sites for the two Gap brands, with everywhere from Spain to Sweden getting their own sites in the near future, according to the firm.

Gap's European head Stephen Sunnucks said that the firm had invested time and money in making sure that the e-commerce experience they offer UK consumers is very much at the top of its class. As well as building a site that offers safe shopping online, Mr Sunnucks said that every aspect of the process, including delivery and nationwide availability, had been tested and approved.

Gap's two new sites will offer consumers the chance to buy a variety of products and the firm has promised that there will be no extra costs to worry about, as the pricing of all products is transparent. This includes free returns and free postage provided you spend over £50 on one or more items online.

Ranges of clothing from across Gap's line up, including babyGap and GapKids, will be available online and any item which you add to your shopping basket from any department will be purchasable via a single transaction at checkout.

Gap is going for global e-commerce domination, with China and Australia getting their own online stores before the end of 2010. This will bring its products to people in over 80 different countries around the world.