Online commerce taking off in Italy

    Additional partnership for the Italian market

    SMC Consulting offers e-commerce experience

Jena, Germany, November 29, 2011 – E-commerce specialist Intershop is expanding its Italian partner network with the addition of SMC Consulting S.r.l., which will provide a local presence via its offices in Bolzano and Capri. Dr. Ludger Vogt, Management Board member at Intershop Communications AG, said: “The partnership with SMC Consulting S.r.l. gives us instant access to a customer-focused service provider with Enfinity experience and will thus enable us to take advantage of growing demand in the Italian market.” Intershop previously acquired Intergic as a partner for Italy.

E-commerce is rapidly gaining in significance in Italy, where the share of retail sales transacted online is expected to grow from just 3.3% in 2010 to 20% this year, according to the Online Trends 2011 survey conducted by the Nottingham, UK-based Centre for Research. With projected sales of EUR 12.3 billion, Italy is set to become the fourth largest online market in Europe by the end of 2011. E-commerce newcomers can get off the ground fast with support from Intershop and SMC Consulting. Ralf Männlein, president of SMC Consulting: “Inexperienced store managers in particular need an implementation partner with a thorough understanding of the market and a proven software package. Intershop’s scalable solution offers precisely what Italian companies need right now and in future.”