Former Comet director to chair fast-growing online retailer

Toby Lousada joins the Huddersfield-based business as chairman as it aims to increase sales by 50 per cent over the next three financial years.

Buy it Direct, owned and managed by Nick Glynne, has grown from £1m a year in 2000 to £100m a year.

Mr Lousada said: “It is a great pleasure to be joining such a dynamic and innovative team.

“Buy It Direct has gone from strength to strength over recent years and has an exciting growth strategy.”

Mr Glynne added: “I am delighted that Toby is joining us as non-executive chairman.

“He brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge gained over many years in the electrical sector.

“This will be invaluable to the board as we embark upon our next stage of growth.”

Mr Glynne gave up a successful career as a TV documentary maker to buy a small computer shop in Huddersfield in 2000.

He built a business selling laptops before moving into television sales, kitchen appliances and then baby products.

These now trade under brands including LaptopsDirect, DirectTVs, AppliancesDirect and BambinoDirect.

Buy it Direct has two electrical showrooms, in Huddersfield and near Chesterfield, and also runs white label sites for Debenhams and BHS.

Mr Glynne said he hopes to add new white label deals with House of Fraser and Next in the coming months.

He told the Yorkshire Post that following a decade of “slightly unnerving” growth, the company needed help as it moved from a being large SME to a small corporate.

Mr Lousada would it make that transition, Mr Glynne said.

He ascribed its success so far to his skill at IT “married to commercial instinct”.