Harrods is boosting its international direct-to-consumer online ops in a deal with Global-e, the platform that powers global D2C e-commerce.

We’re told the collaboration “will enable Harrods to bolster its e-commerce strategy in over 200 markets worldwide, offering customers around the globe a seamless online shopping experience”.

Just as the recently-launched DSquared2 partnership with ESW underlined, the stakes are high for any luxury business operating online and it’s important for such high-profile names to be able to offer a luxury edge in e-tail ops that can often feel little more than merely transactional.

Global-e said the link-up “underscores [our] shared commitment to deliver a premium, online retail journey that is synonymous with Harrods’ in-store service and reputation for excellence. [The] platform will ensure customers worldwide enjoy the same high-quality experience and personalisation that defines Harrods”.

Harrods will “offer an elevated, localised shopping experience for customers”. Key features include browsing and payment in local currencies, a wide range of local and alternative payment methods, attractive shipping offerings, advanced duty and tax calculations and prepayment for a guaranteed final cost of purchase, and an easy return process. 

The companies said “Global-e’s technology will equip Harrods with an optimised approach to international sales while navigating the complex nature of global e-commerce; combining best-in-class localisation capabilities, streamlined operations, trade compliance, big-data best practice business intelligence models, and deep local market expertise”.

Harrods’ chief digital and customer officer Caitlin Innes said the retailer is “continuously expanding our e-commerce presence to deliver memorable experiences to our customers around the world, making it crucial to partner with those who can support our ambitious goals. Global-e brings a wealth of experience in managing international transactions and deliveries for a range of major international companies and its robust technology platform, extensive industry insights, and proven expertise made it the ideal choice.”

Loro Piana store takeover

The e-tail development comes as Harrods is also focusing on adding interest to its physical flagship in London’s Knightsbridge and luxe cashmere brand Loro Piana is joining in that drive this festive season with its “Workshop of Wonders, a full collaborative takeover of the Brompton Road façade”, having just landed. It comes as big brand store takeovers become something of a Harrods festive tradition.

It takes in 36 windows, two pop-ups, a pop-in, and various animations for “a magical journey into the Maison’s unique world of fibres, fabrics, icons, and symbols… a joyful, surprising, and unique celebration of its 100 years of history and heritage”.

The façade “tells the story of a fibre, as light as a cloud, transported in bales, floating through incredible mechanics, transforming into cloth, and ultimately creating an enchanting 17-metre holiday tree decorated with swathes of fabric and festive ornaments”. 

The windows, pop-ups, and animations inside all recount the story of Loro Piana. Each window “unveils an excellence, telling the tales of the fibres, communities, and beautiful landscapes that make up the Maison’s masterful chain of hands. Storytelling a fascinating journey through impressive, faraway lands inhabited by the sweet animals that produce the finest, rarest materials in the world, makes its way to the factory in Quarona in Italy where these materials are transformed into the most precious gifts one could ever dream of”.

The Workshop of Wonders also brings to life an ode to Loro Piana’s workshops, tools, and master artisans. It’s created with elaborate moving sets that combine the idea of a marionette theatre with its exposed behind-the-scenes mechanisms.

“Permeated by a refined 1920s perspective, evocative of the Maison’s origins, the overall time-worn feel is enhanced by woody textures finished with warm, hazy tones and glints of matte gold. The dreamy scenes are populated by hand-painted puppets and framed by hand-knitted fluffy clouds, fully reflecting Loro Piana’s prowess and Italian exclusive craftsmanship”.

Workshop of Wonders runs until 2 January and “is a significant part of a broader global celebration” marking the 100-year milestone of Loro Piana, founded in 1924 by Pietro Loro Piana.

Two new boutiques also open in Harrods during the period: one dedicated to the Kids Collection and one to Loro Piana Interiors. Meanwhile, exclusive products celebrating the Maison’s heritage and the festive season will also be revealed at the store.

The wide-ranging men’s and women’s RTW collections offer a variety of items and colours exclusively developed for Harrods to celebrate the Maison’s anniversary. We’re told the “dawn-to-dark offering channels a subtle British undercurrent rendered with equestrian touches, checks, and classic solids in dedicated colourways, including a wave of the iconic Harrods green, setting off an understated elegance allowing for endless versatility”. 

The offer features evening looks for women (“delicately hand-embroidered and elongated silk gowns and knitted column dresses”), footwear in Melton cashmere, an array of men’s tuxedos and formal tailoring, plus a large number of bags and other items.