A global luxury fashion retailer that sells high-end brands such as Prada and Gucci is planning to open a new office in Bristol, creating 70 technology jobs.
Matchesfashion has three bricks-and-mortar stores in London but 95 per cent of its sales are now online, which has helped the company defy the retail downturn and boost revenues.
The business, which has a unique experience store in Mayfair that uses technology to interact with customers, recently posted a sales increase of 27 per cent to £372million.
Last week it also announced the appointment of Amazon executive Ajay Kavan as chief executive.
The retailer has not confirmed where in Bristol it's new location will be but says it will initially be working from a co-working space before launching the Bristol office later in the year.
Dan Knight, Matchesfashion's chief technology officer said: “The speed of our development in Bristol is completely dependent on how quickly we can recruit the technology roles we need.
"Recruitment and interviews have already started and, by summer, we should have an initial team of 10 in place, from which we will build the hub.
“We chose Bristol because of its rapidly growing technology community, world-class centres of education and great quality of life. Our new team here will be pivotal to future development.”
Matchesfashion started as a single shop in Wimbledon in 1987. The fashion retailer launched its first international website in 2009, which saw it begin its transformation into a global, luxury ecommerce business.
It also has shops in Marylebone and Notting Hill, and a five-floor retail experience store at 5 Carlos Place in London.
