Member Article

North East retail solutions provider set to expand

A growing trend in loyalty and customer retention programmes amongst the UK’s top high street brands has led to expansion at a North East retail solutions provider.

Newcastle-based MBL Solutions, a provider of retail systems designed to help increase sales, loyalty and new customer acquisition, has continued to expand steadily as a result.

Established 14 years ago by Oliver Stephens, who formerly held senior marketing roles with global brands such as Sage and Flymo, MBL Solutions has developed a unique integrated suite of customer loyalty, EPoS, gift card and E-Commerce platforms.

This has allowed the company to create a niche for itself working not just with household brands like Sainsbury’s, New Look, Caffe Nero and Debenhams, but also to apply this knowledge for smaller regional retailers.

To manage this new growth, three key retail specialists have been appointed as part of an ongoing recruitment programme which will include sales acquisition, account management and software development.

Stephens believes that the growing desire for a single view of the customer journey, combined with better use of data which can provide a clear understanding of purchasing behaviour, is encouraging retailers to consider new business models and better, more integrated, systems to manage them.

This has been further accelerated by the growth of online and other multi-channel routes to customers.

Oliver said: “Our new platforms allow retailers to track the customer wherever they are in the purchase process and employs a centralised database to understand customer behaviour, purchasing and product management.

“Our loyalty platform then facilitates profiling to reward customer behaviour. This works effectively for all types and sizes of retail, hospitality businesses and even membership groups and sports clubs.”

The latest recruits at MBL Solutions include Katherine Wilkinson who joins as marketing and account manager. She heads up our e-commerce account for Caffè Nero, supporting B2C and B2B business development as well as account management, training and sales support for MBL Solutions clients including Phoenix Taxis.

Beth Whale, a psychology graduate, joins as sales and marketing manager of MBL Solutions’ online EPoS software and hardware sales through sister brand Inspired Retail, as well as account managing growing clients such as 360 Champagne & Cocktail Bar.

Finally, Mike Morley has been appointed as key account sales manager of the Retail Solutions Suite and brings a wealth of experience to the role gained from his time at Sage Software’s retail division, and as commercial manager at Sunderland Football Club as well as working for major regional restaurant and hospitality brands.

Commenting on his new role, he said: “From my experience I can see how MBL Solutions’ suite of products fits an important need and gap in the retail and hospitality sectors and I’m looking forward to using my market background to help the company meet its goals.

“It’s great to be working with a team who have real vision and ambition, backed up by market knowledge and innovation.”

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