The Hut to power shopping sites for major magazine publisher

NORTH West online lifestyle retailer The Hut Group has teamed up with the publisher of Cosmopolitan and Men’s Health magazines to launch a new shopping concept.

The Northwich-based company’s deal with Hearst Magazines UK, will see it provide the products, technology, customer relationship management and fulfillment for The UK Edit – an online shopping platform which hosts a range of magazine-branded stores.

From today readers of Hearst’s magazines will be able to buy from a selected range of products chosen by the magazine editors, and shipped within 24-hours to their door.

This week will see the first of the stores launching from Hearst brands including Men’s Health and Digital Spy with more new stores being added in the coming months from brands including Cosmopolitan, Handbag, & ELLE. More titles will be added to the portfolio through 2013. 

Each store is independently created to reflect the look, tone, content and values of each individual magazine brand.

Hearst Magazines UK, chief executive Arnaud de Puyfontaine said: “This exciting new shopping concept is part of Hearst Magazines UK‘s overall strategy to propel its digital agenda and develop new ways for its magazine brands to connect with audiences.

“Providing our audiences with a premium shopping experience based on the advice, trust and expertise of our Editors is a natural step for our brands and The UK Edit fits perfectly into our growing stable of world-class magazine brands, digital editions, innovative apps, mobile platforms and premium websites.”

The Hut Group divisional chief executive Richard Chapple added: “This partnership brings a fantastic opportunity for both parties to drive incremental revenues by bringing our assets together.

“Hearst Magazines UK audiences will benefit from The Hut Group’s expanding portfolio of brands within multiple product categories, with market leading shopping and fulfilment options, while The Hut Group will enjoy increased traffic and volume, driving economies of scale which benefit the whole group.

“What excites me a great deal is the extra insight and data we’ll have as partners to understand shopping and decision making habits of the UK’s most affluent consumers.”

Hearst Magazines UK  publishes 20 magazines and more than 20 websites, 14 mobile sites and, to date, more than 150 applications and digital editions for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch, as well as the Android platform.