• The Australian and New Zealand websites are Marks & Spencer’s first outside of Europe
  • Australians are already among M&S’s biggest online spenders, buying on the retailer’s UK site, which delivers to more than 30 countries
  • M&S said it has no current plans for stores in Australia

Marks & Spencer launched its first dedicated websites outside of Europe in Australia and New Zealand as its overseas expansion continues.

Australians are already among M&S’s biggest shoppers online, buying via the retailer’s UK website, which delivers to more than 30 countries worldwide.

The new sites have local currency and sizing alongside editorial tailored to the market and its seasons.

David Walmsley, director of M&S.com, told The Guardian: “Australia is firmly established as one of our top-performing international delivery markets and our new localised website presents a key growth opportunity for our international online business.”

Marks & Spencer is promoting the website launch with an ad campaign carrying the tagline “British style for Australian life”.

Despite the web debut, the retailer said it had no current plans to open stores in Australia.

Internationalisation has been a key tenet in outgoing M&S chief Marc Bolland’s strategy. He launched the retailer’s first dedicated overseas website in France in 2011, before launching stores in the country.

M&S now has nine country-specific website including in Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

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