Leisure wear outfit sets up retail Website

Sports and leisure wear manufacturer Cotton Oxford has launched a Website aimed at promoting and retailing the company’s range of rugby replica kit online.

The company, which supplies 60 per cent of UK Premier Division rugby clubs, and site developer Xplora aim to develop original editorial content to drive traffic onto the site.

The site plans to include editorial contributions from leading international players, as well as local club data supplied by rugby enthusiasts.

Xplora declined to identify any leading rugby players committed to the site. But head of new business Dan Squirrell at Xplora says he is confident of securing big name contributors from among the clubs Cotton Oxford supplies.

The clothing retailer also hopes to generate valuable direct marketing data by providing an e-mail rugby magazine to users who register their details on the site.

Phil Morgan, Cotton Oxford’s sales director, says the site should help to overcome the problems consumers have in obtaining replica rugby kits from retailer outlets which often only carry limited stock.

“Walk-in [retail] customers are often faced with a choice of only Wasps, Bath or Harlequins shirts,” according to Morgan. “Using the Web, the same customers can now go online and browse through the complete portfolio.”