· Home24 shows evidence of extremely positive business development and continues to build strong market position throughout Europe and Brazil
· Home24 launches in Italy and is now active in 7 European countries. Italy is the third market expansion of 2014
Home24, Europe’s largest online furniture shop announces shop launch in Italy and also presents half-year figures for the first half of 2014.
Home24 shows a very positive business development and continues to expand its strong market position. In the first half of the year, the net revenue totaled 59 million Euros, which equals 64% of the total net revenue of 2013. In the first six months of 2014, the gross merchandise volume was at 69 million Euros (+43% compared to H1 2013). Furthermore, in the first half-year of 2014, the number of orders totaled 0,4 million (+37% in comparison to H1 2013). A further increase is expected for the second-half of the year.
Home24 launches in Italy, marking the seventh shop in Europe. The launch in Italy is already the third one this year for Europe’s largest online furniture shop. At the beginning of the year Home24 launched in Switzerland, shortly after in Belgium. www.home24.it enables Italian customers to choose from Home24’s large assortment and order their desired products from the comfort of their own homes. The purchases will be delivered into the customers’ homes, free of charge.
Image 1: www.home24.it
Domenico Cipolla, CEO at Home24: „Our goal is to offer our customers the best possible shopping experience. At Home24, our clients are able to choose their products via the Internet, without being forced to spend their free Saturday in overly crowded furniture stores. We deliver all products free-of-charge into the homes of our customers. Should they not be satisfied with their choice, we will pick the product up – this is also for free.“
Second only to Germany, the Italian furniture market is the highest in volume within Europe. Thus far the majority of revenue is generated throughout stationary markets. However, this is changing rapidly: a growing number of Italian customers are shopping online. According to a study of the Centre for Retail Research, the growth rate of Italian e-commerce lies at about 19% in 2014. In Germany, this rate is at about 22%.
Image 2: Home24 exclusive brand Mørteens
„Italy is one of the most important countries in the European furniture industry. We are currently already working with a variety of Italian manufacturers and will expand this collaboration even further with our launch in Italy. Furniture and Italy clearly belong together. Nevertheless, we currently do not see any comparable shop to Home24, in Italy. Our assortment and service is one of a kind in Italy. The Italian furniture market is enormous and Italians continue to order more online – we therefore see huge potential in this country. From now on, we are able to also cater to the needs and wishes of our Italian customers and elate them with the shopping experience at Home24“, declares Cipolla.
