A more selective e-tailing experience than its elder sister – its unfussy black and white branding is designed with fashion-wary men in mind – www.mrporter.com carries a small but carefully chosen selection of menswear and male accessories. Well laid out, visually rich, easy to navigate, you’ll love how stylists have done three-quarters of the work for you.
“I like to think that the buying-team choose the best that each designer or brand has to offer so that we’re offering our customers a keenly edited selection,” explains buying director Toby Bateman, who admits that about 20 per cent of the site’s million visitors, are women shopping for men. “Of the 150 or so brands we currently stock, we have a good balance of designer and contemporary clothing, shoes and accessories, but we also value specialist producers in certain categories such as Charvet for shirting, John Lobb for footwear and Sunspel for fine jerseys.”
This online retailer is gradually changing the way men buy clothes and by combining shopping with editorial pieces and style advice, it’s also demystifying a subject that many men still find challenging. “We find that men are as happy to shop with us via mobile device,” Bateman adds, “and are as likely to shop from the back of a taxi as they are from the comfort of an armchair.”
What’s more, customers need not worry about being unable to try the clothing before purchase. Mr. Porter’s fast, reliable shipping and its policy of collecting returns “for free and with no hassle” operates strictly on a no questions asked basis, means mistakes are swiftly rectified.
No wonder then, the site has global appeal. “With over a million visitors each month and shipments to 170 countries, we’re a global business but the Middle East is a key territory for us,” concludes Bateman. “Ultimately we cater to men who want to or need to look good. It’s really as simple as that.”
WHAT Mr.Porter (www.mrporter.com)
WHEN Since February 2011
WHERE Pretty much everywhere in the world with an internet connection, including every Middle Eastern country
WHY Shop for all the best clothes in minutes, anytime, anyplace, without dealing with crowds or pesky assistants, plus you’ll be lowering your carbon footprint.
