1 Dec 2008

Warehouse plans online expansion

6:03 am on 1 December 2008

The Warehouse plans to sell all its products over the internet within two years, as the country's broadband services improve.

The discount retailer, which already sells its stationery products online, says online transactions will boost its sales as more customers get faster broadband.

The Warehouse chief executive Ian Morrice said customers use the company's website to choose products before they visit a store.

He said the market is large already but there is tremendous potential for growth, with the new Government strongly behind broadband development.

Ian Morrice said the summer trading period will be crucial in determining the company's annual result, which he does not expect to exceed last year's due to the retail slump.

The company plans to increase its number of stores from 85 to more than 100 in five years.