DECEMBER 2018 Business 31
on eBay.
While Amazon and eBay have been
the main platforms for reselling their
products, a strategic move was made
two years ago to sell directly to
consumers on musicMagpie’s online
store.
Oliver said: “That’s been a really
important strategic move for us.
“We’re still the world’s biggest seller
on eBay and Amazon, which is a proud
claim for musicMagpie.
“They are an important part of the
business because they bring the world’s
eyeballs to us and it’s allowed us to
scale.
“But we’re really interested in
forming a direct relationship with the
consumer when we’re selling and
buying, which is why we launched our
own online store in 2016.
“Some days our musicMagpie online
store is doing the same as the other
platforms together.
“Ebay and Amazon will remain an
important part of the sales mix because
a lot of people do still want to shop
through them while many are choosing
to come directly to us.”
He adds: “The consumer has also
recognised that they trust
musicMagpie, that they can come and
buy directly from us and frankly they
will get the best deal. As a result, we get
to form a relationship with them. If
“Decluttr is a brand that I have seen
grow rapidly over the last few years and
it’s great to be working with Steve and
the rest of the group’s senior
management team to plan for our next
phase of growth.”
As for plans in Greater Manchester,
Oliver says the company isn’t
going anywhere.
It moved into brand new
headquarters at Stockport
Exchange from its base
in Hazel Grove 18
months ago.
Based directly
outside the train
station, it’s been
an ideal spot for
not only attracting
talent but to retain
them as well.
“In the north west
we’re competing for
talent with so many tech
businesses in and around
Manchester but we really didn’t
want to take the business into
Manchester city centre,” he says.
“Originally, we’re a Macclesfield
business, most of our staff are from
Macclesfield and Stockport and I think
it will be quite an imposition for
everybody to start going into
Manchester every day.
“But we’re getting people coming out
of Manchester - it’s an eight-minutecommute on the train from Piccadilly- and straight into our office.”
He says the regeneration of Stockport
town centre has also helped raise a
positive profile of the town, which is
changing beyond all recognition.
Whizz past the town centre on the
M60 and you’ll see a brand new
cinema - and a huge car park.
It’s impressive, but it’s just
the beginning. A
whopping £1bn is
being put into
transforming the
town centre and
surrounding
areas.
“Absolute hats
off to the council
for the work they
are doing,” says
Oliver.
“Their vision for an
ambitious town centre is
paying off and it’s definitely
helped to attract the right people to
our business. Our previous base in an
industrial estate in Hazel Grove wasn’t
the right place for getting people
through the door, but now that’s not a
problem. We haven’t got bean bags and
slides but we have tried to create a
modern fun working environment with
a nod to Manchester’s industrial and
music heritage.”
they bought a mobile phone 18 months
ago we can ask if they’re ready to trade
that? We can tailor our marketing
accordingly.
“If you’re going to be posting your
£200 to £400 iPhone at the post office
you have to have trust in us.
“We work so hard at our feedback,
our customer service, and our trust
ratings.
“We’ve got more than five million
positive reviews on eBay and have 10m
global ratings on both Amazon and
eBay.
“People have heard of us, they like us
and trust us and now they’re exploring
what else we can do for them with both
buying and selling.”
Another key strategy for scaling the
business is the company’s US
operation, where the brand operates
under the name of Decluttr.
To expand the US business, retail
heavyweight Anthony Catterson has
been appointed as president and CEO
of Decluttr.
The appointment comes off the back
of a year of stellar growth for Decluttr
having more than doubled revenues in
the last 12 months to a run rate in
excess of $50m, with its consumer
electronics category climbing to over
50% of total revenue for the first time.
The company was also recently
showcased on US national TV show
Good Morning America as being the
‘best place in the US to sell your
iPhone’.
Catterson is a former senior vice
president of major US network
operator, Sprint, and prior to his role
there, was MD of both Carphone
Warehouse and Phones4u in the UK.
More recently he was global CEO of
the listed online technology retailer
eXpansys.
Oliver says: “We’re really excited to
have Anthony joining our group board
to come and lead Decluttr in the US.
We have huge plans for the brand and
believe that Anthony is the right person
to implement our vision and turn
Decluttr into an even bigger success
state-side.
“The business has experienced
massive growth in the last 12 months
and Anthony’s appointment is crucial
to take the business forward and
continue momentum on its recent
successes.”
Across the Entertainment Magpie
group (the parent company of
musicMagpie and Decluttr) sales
revenues for FYE 2019 are forecast to
hit £130m and with Catterson’s
appointment and the recent growth
capital deal, overall growth of the
business is set to further accelerate
rapidly within the next few months.
Catterson, said Decluttr is perfectly
positioned to capitalise on the major
growth opportunities in the re-
commerce and consumer electronics
sector in the US.Their vision for an
ambitious town centre
is paying off and it’s
definitely helped to
attract the right
people to our
business