Bonprix set to celebrate 25 years with Yorkshire growth

Bonprix has appointed a new director at its UK base in Bradford as part of a strategy to increase its market share.

Bonprix was launched in Germany with three employees and a 32-page catalogue in 1986.

It entered the French, Polish and Italian markets in 1991 and 1992.

Its online operation was started in 1997 and, seven years later, it secured a market entry in Belgium, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic.

Total annual sales are around 1 billion euros.

Koert Tulleners, the company’s chief executive, told the Yorkshire Post: “Following our entry into the UK market in 2005 and substantial investment into our transactional website and credit offer, Bonprix has experienced substantial growth; in particular over the past 18 months, with sales growth reaching in excess of 30 per cent and www.bonprix.co.uk generating more than 50 per cent of our custom.

“The Bonprix UK team currently comprises five members of staff working at the Ingleby Road site in Bradford, who form part of Freeman Grattan Holdings’ extended workforce of more than 1,000 employees based in and around the Bradford area.

“However, in order to assist with and capitalise on this growth, we have appointed a new director, Britta Bahlmann, who joins us at our Bradford base from one of our sister companies in Germany.

“Having managed similar online propositions, she is well versed in using online techniques to recruit and engage customers, drive sales and deal with the challenges and demands online retailers face in an ever-changing, competitive marketplace.

“Having worked with members of the Bradford community for a number of years, we are keen to continue this relationship as the Bonprix brand grows.

“As we see more and more retailers expanding into other international markets – Zara to the UK, ASOS to the Continent, Tesco to Asia – looking ahead, the Otto Group will bring more of its assortments to the UK, with a view to replicating the success the Bonprix brand and offering has experienced in this country to date.”

To mark its 25th anniversary, the retailer is launching a competition to find the Faces of 2011. For further information visit www.bonprix.co.uk.

Bonprix, is a division of Freemans Grattan Holdings, which is owned by the Otto Group.

The Otto Group was founded in Germany in 1949 and is today a global supplier of goods and services with 47,952 employees.

The group has 123 companies across 20 countries in Europe, North America and Asia.