Fashion brand, SuperGroup, selects IT services from Retail Assist to enable growth

Dec. 6, 2011 - PRLog -- Retail Assist is providing a first-line Help Desk for SuperGroup between the hours of 8am and 9pm, and 24/7 remote infrastructure management services. Hardware maintenance for stores is being provided by ICM, and managed by Retail Assist.

SuperGroup contracted with Retail Assist to support the strategic objectives of the business. The group has invested in an extensive store rollout program, and earlier this year announced the opening of a new flagship location on Regent Street in the space formerly occupied by Austin Reed.

Neil Hooper, IT Infrastructure Manager at SuperGroup, explains: “Following SuperGroup’s rapid growth the company wanted to find a partner who could support our current and future expansion plans, and with Retail Assist, we found this.”

Hooper continues: “It was critical to the business that a complete range of IT services and the option of 24/7 cover was provided via a cost-effective shared-service model. Retail Assist were already delivering 24/7 support to a number of well-known retailers, and doing it well. They were confident they could make a positive contribution to SuperGroup’s vital operations and also take on the service rapidly.”

The timescales for the project were tight, with only six weeks to go-live after the contract was confirmed. Retail Assist are providing a single point of contact for all IT issues across the entire SuperGroup store estate, including own-branded retail outlets and concessions.

Dan Smith, Managed Services Director at Retail Assist, comments: “SuperGroup now has a scalable IT services structure in place that will support the future growth of the business. Investing in shared services also means a low overall cost of ownership and access to a wider resource pool.”

Smith concludes: “Retail Assist are delighted to have won the SuperGroup contract and successfully delivered the IT transition, however our work continues. Delivering service improvements and call reduction are ongoing projects, as they are for all our clients”.


Retail Assist Limited                            www.retail-assist.com & www.merret.com

Retail Assist is a leading retail-only IT solutions and services company, providing UK and international retailers with end-to-end business applications and services that reduce costs, optimise retail operations and support higher revenues. The company was the first retail-only IT services provider to be awarded ISO20000 accreditation by the BSI.

Retail Assist clients include ASOS, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, WDF, A|Wear, La Senza, Paperchase, Whistles, Aurora Fashions, Karen Millen, The White Company, Odin Retail, Tec7, Mint Velvet, Jane Norman, REISS, Crew2000, VUE, Signet, Jacques Vert and White Stuff.

With its Retail Solutions Retail Assist excels in developing, integrating, deploying and supporting customised systems. These include its award-winning Merret supply chain solution. Merret is a real-time, multi-currency, multi-channel merchandising, warehousing and stock control solution that covers all areas of the retail supply process. Through working with third parties, Retail Assist also integrates and delivers EPoS systems.

In Managed IT Services, Retail Assist’s proven offerings include 24/365 Help Desk, Technical Services, Operations, Data Centre, Hardware Maintenance and Disaster Recovery. Professional Services cover Retail Business Consultancy and Project Services.

SuperGroup                                                                                     www.supergroup.co.uk

SuperGroup is a distinctive branded UK fashion retailer offering quality clothing and accessories. It operates a multichannel business through a combination of Cult and Superdry standalone stores, Superdry concessions, e-Commerce and its UK and International Wholesale operations.

The business was founded in 1985 and has since been developed to design and sell a wide range of premium men’s and women’s clothing under its flagship brand, Superdry, together with other own brands and a number of third-party products which are sold in its Cult stores. Superdry offers an international brand proposition targeted at discerning customers who are looking for stylish clothing that is uniquely designed and well made.

SuperGroup currently has 74 standalone Cult and Superdry retail stores, 75 concessions and a large number of Wholesale relationships. Superdry is sold in approximately 90 countries worldwide via its websites, and in 40 overseas countries through a well established network of distributors, licensees, agents and franchisees.

# # #

Romain Consulting is a UK-based Marketing & Corporate Communications consultancy. Services including PR are delivered by a high-calibre, highly-experienced technology Marketer. Former Marketing Director of global group. Strategy, planning & execution. Full range of Communications & Product Marketing activities are available on a project or retained basis. Specialisms: technology, insurance & financial services, retail. French speaker.