Liberty's existing website, which the retailer's chief executive, Iain Renwick, described as 'appalling', will be relaunched next March. Renwick added that creating an online shop was essential, as Liberty does not have the capacity to build a chain.
As part of the activity, the company will also introduce an online wedding-list service comprising a choice of 10,000 items.
Renwick said expansion overseas is key to Liberty's growth and he has ear-marked Japan as a springboard for increasing its business in Asia. Although Liberty does not have a retail presence in the country, it has been selling own-branded products there since 1988. It also has a Japanese website, which provides information on the company, products and stockists.
Since Renwick joined Liberty in 2003, he has been overseeing a revamp of the store, boosting turnover by 15% over the past three years.
The changes have included an overhaul of all product ranges, and there are plans to develop further own-brand items. This will see the entire central atrium on the store's ground floor allocated to its Liberty of London brand.
In the six months to 30 June, Liberty's sales were up 2% year on year to £18.8m, despite the permanent closure of its Regent Street building and the subsequent loss of 20% of its floorspace.
Its menswear and ladies accessories departments posted double-digit growth year on year, while ladies fashion sales increased by 7%. Sales in its beauty division remained unchanged, despite a reduction of 27% in its trading space.
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