AO World to launch German website tomorrow
Online electrical appliances retailer AO World is taking the first step in its European expansion with the launch of a German website.
The site is expected to go live tomorrow, six months ahead of schedule, and will make its first deliveries on 14 October.
While AO.de will initially focus on major domestic appliances, the site will otherwise largely mirror AO’s UK operation and will offer nationwide next day delivery and services such as installation and recycling.
In a statement, the company said: “We believe this will redefine how major domestic appliances are sold in Germany, as we have achieved in the UK.”
Never Miss a Retail Update!AO has invested in end-to-end resource including head office, warehouse and outbase infrastructure and its own last mile delivery capability.
John Roberts, AO founder and chief executive, said: “I am extremely proud of our team at AO and the scale of what they have achieved in our first step in our international strategy.
“Of course we have work to do and we will relish the lessons that will no doubt be forthcoming. We are as passionate about building the AO brand in Germany as we are in the UK and can’t wait to start bringing German consumers a better way to buy the category, as we have for UK consumers. Germany is our stepping stone to realising our ambition to become the leading online retailer in our categories in our target markets.”
AO also said that its UK business is continuing to perform well with overall UK revenue growth and EBITDA on track to meet full year expectations.
