Retail software start-up lands first contract

A START-UP company which helps retailers with customers who return items bought online has landed its first major client.

Clear Returns, the brainchild of chief exercutive and web analytics expert Vicky Brock, has signed up M&Co to use its analytics software which tracks and reduces the number of items returned through internet sales.

It is expected the company will launch its next stage of fundraising on the deal with M&Co, a value fashion retailer with 300 stores nationwide.

Brock said: “We’ve now proven our technology works with UK and European high street retailers. We have launched our technology officially with customer M&Co – one of the largest, privately-owned fashion retailers in the UK. The three-month pilot project is aimed at delivering significant savings by reducing returns from the online channel.”

Nichola Toner, website and customer services controller at M&Co, added: “M&Co has a very successful e-commerce operation, which is becoming increasingly important to the company-wide performance and we seek out and take a lead with best practices.

“Customer experience and operational efficiencies are essential to the profitability of the online channel and tackling returns are key to both. We’re working with Clear Returns as it fits with our innovative approach to ensuring that we deliver quality and service to our customers at an affordable price.”

Last week Clear Returns was named the best new product at the Digital Technology Awards in Glasgow.