Luxury women's clothing retailer moves to managed service for growth

Luxury women's clothing retailer moves to managed service for growth

Mint Velvet has selected retail communications technology provider Vodat International to implement a managed network across all stores in a bid to improve communication between stores and head office.

The new network ensures Mint Velvet has a robust communications network and consistent visibility of transactions and data from all stores. Stuart Grant, Mint Velvet commercial director, said: “We went to market and decided that Vodat International were the natural fit and could offer us the appropriate solution for our business. They have proven experience of working with well-known retailers and their reputation within the market is strong.”

Growth outpaces network capability

The retailer quickly out grew its previous solution and is implementing a managed multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) network to support its expansion plans for 2012.

Grant added: “Mint Velvet has grown rapidly over the last three years and our existing network infrastructure wasn’t fit for the future. Communication between our stores, data centre, warehouse and head office is critical to our business, we need all sites talking together at all times in order for us to run our business well.”

Mint Velvet trades from 91 locations including eight stand alone boutique stores, with an additional three openings planned for Spring 2012 in Harrogate, Guildford and Farnham. The company aims to have 20 to 30 stand-alone stores in affluent market town locations. In addition, Mint Velvet operates 83 concession stores in premium department stores and a successful website www.mintvelvet.co.uk. The brand can also now be found in every John Lewis Fashion store.