Member Article

Starfish 360 raise £220k from North West Fund

A digital business from Wilmslow has raised a £220,000 fund from The North West Fund for Venture Capital, managed by the Enterprise Ventures.

Starfish 360, which was founded by chief executive Chris Brassington in 2010, helps retailers to increase sales using mobiles, tablets and laptops.

It supports a wide range of retailers, including supermarkets, fashion outlets and retail banking, by bringing digital commerce and marketing experts together.

Mr Brassington commented: “The potential for integrated, multi-channel customer service in the retail sector is huge.

“We have the expertise to unlock that potential for retailers and deliver more sales, increased loyalty and long-term operational savings.

“We’re delighted to have secured growth funding which will help us expand the business, add to our skill-base and forge new partnerships.”

Recent statistics from business advisors, Deloitte, have estimated the value of purchases made through phones to be approximately £8bn for 2012.

Research from Strategy Analytics also showed that 67% of smartphone users compare prices and look for deals using their phones.

Doug Stellman from Enterprise Venture said: “The retail sector is undergoing dramatic changes.

“With social media and mobile channels playing an increasing role in driving sales, businesses which can offer expertise in digital strategy and e-commerce will be in demand.

“Starfish 360 is working with a range of blue chip clients. This funding will help it to fulfill its growth potential.”

The North West Fund for Venture Capital is part of a £155m fund which is provided jointly by the European Regional Development Fund and the European Investment Bank.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .