Richard Lloyd-Williams, formerly Group IT Director of The Net-a-Porter Group, has been welcomed aboard luxury online furniture, lighting and accessories retailer Discover&Deliver as Chief Executive Officer.
He joins the business, alongside John Pillar as Chief Technology Officer (having previously led technology departments at M&S and ASOS), to complete the 10-strong team which founders Isabel Rutland and Stephanie Mähl have put together over the past 4 months. The introduction of premium e-commerce expertise will help drive the next stage of growth for the business.
A worldwide online emporium of superfine design, Discover&Deliver curates a careful edit of collectable pieces of design from the interiors of luxury destinations around the globe.
Launched in September 2012, Discover&Deliver displays authentic and original pieces in situ, as used by world-class designers and architects, with products available to customise and purchase through the site, delivered worldwide, straight to customers‘ doors.
Lloyd-Williams comments:
“The strength of the vision of Isabel and Stephanie, to build a global luxury design website, coupled with the talent and passion in the tight-knit team, were what really excited me about joining Discover&Deliver.”
The new team is in the process of rebuilding both the website and core internal systems, to create an intuitive e-commerce site that inspires and educates customers in a narrative context. Using their knowledge of fashion e-commerce, in conjunction with the latest software engineering techniques and technologies, the Discover&Deliver team will produce solutions that will transform the luxury furniture industry.
Pillar adds “The opportunity to drive how digital is used to showcase these amazing pieces of design, both online and offline, is very exciting, and I am thrilled to be a part of the team.”
The retailer is also launching a London gallery named Atelier D&D, to open in April. The SW7 address will be a ‘by appointment only‘ gallery in the heart of South Kensington, just a stone‘s throw away from Knightsbridge and Sloane Square. The previously online only company is responding to an ever-increasing demand from an extensive list of both private and trade clients, to open this gallery space.
Using a secretive little black book of trusted suppliers and craftsman, Discover&Deliver has selected history‘s most impressive furniture designs in history to showcase as a Spring 2015 collection for the gallery..
Noteworthy pieces on display will include the entirely handmade Teddy Bear Chair, an extraordinary piece designed by Hans J Wegner, dating from 1951, as seen in the Wythe Hotel in New York, and elegant Bishop Stools by India Mahdavi in a range of striking colours, as seen in the Hotel du Petit Moulin in Paris.
“We plan to introduce a new collection to the gallery every 3 months, each time with a unique theme, enabling us to showcase a broad range of beautiful brands from our website. All items in the Atelier will be available for immediate dispatch, so our clients can avoid the long lead times that are often associated with furniture purchases” comments Co-founder Isabel Rutland.
Added to which, the company have many other plans for the gallery. There are several exclusive design collections and suppliers in the pipeline, to surprise both new visitors and loyal, long established clientele. Regular talks by industry experts will be held in the Atelier, as well as exclusive preview events for trade and press prior to the launch of each new collection.
With this and a new website launching at the same time, 2015 is set to be a busy year for Discover&Deliver.
