ECommerce Solution Opens Up Market

Online, June 26, 2012 (Newswire.com) - CNA's new website enables consumers to purchase games, movies, music, books and more on account.

CNA has revamped its existing website (www.cna.co.za) where consumers can now purchase games, movies, music, books and more using their Edgars or Jet account card.

David Gibbons, Edcon's e-Commerce Executive who is spearheading the group's online retail offering, says the beauty of this solution is that account holders can purchase entertainment items online 24/7 from CNA while benefiting from store credit, making e-commerce more accessible to those who don't have credit cards.

"The new site opens up online shopping to the Group's almost 3.9 million account card holders. Customers will also be able to earn Thank U points on all online purchases," he says.

The site has a new, fresh look and is easy to search with thousands of products already on offer across four product categories: books, games, movies and music, along with 10 000 eBooks. CNA is growing the site's inventory continuously.

Pre-orders for eBooks will also be offered on big name titles such as the next edition of the Spud series, along with web exclusive deals and autographed copies. File format will include pdf or epub formats, which can be read on PCs, tablets and smartphones with the appropriate software.

"With the major game titles often released during the same month, gamers sometimes have to choose which games they want to play first, according to what they can afford. Our easy payment terms mean gamers can now buy several titles at one time and pay them off", says Gibbons.

Online retail is growing
Recent research from World Wide Worx, commissioned by Google, indicates online retail is becoming increasingly popular in South Africa, growing around 30 percent per year with no signs of slowing down.

"Opening up e-commerce to our entire base of account holders is another positive step to growing the Internet economy in South Africa," says Gibbons.

Gibbons says CNA's site is secure, uses SSL security and is verified by Entrust. Purchases can be made using a credit card or account card, with a one time pin on account payments adding to users' security. Customers with any queries can contact the customer service call centre on 0860 262 289 and return online purchases at their nearest CNA store.

New user-friedly design and process
Along with the new design, CNA has re-engineered its entire e-commerce process.

"The e-commerce platform that powers the site is new and far more powerful than the previous system. Furthermore, we've changed the logistics process and will now hold stock in a centralised warehouse as opposed to distributing products from stores, resulting in a more efficient fulfllment process" he says.

Delivery will occur nationwide on average within three days. The delivery charge on all purchases over R350 will be waivered; otherwise a R55 delivery fee will apply.

ENDS.

About CNA
CNA, established in 1896, is one of the oldest retail brands in South Africa and operates out of more than 200 stores across the country. In 2002 Edcon (PTY) Ltd acquired CNA, ensuring that this well-known brand became part of the bigger Edcon family alongside retail stores like Edgars, Boardmans, Red Square, Jet, Jet Mart & Legit. This family structure positively serves consumers as all Edgars and Jet account holders can use their cards in CNA stores to purchase on credit, while benefiting from the easy payment terms on offer.

CNA stocks thousands of goodies that inform, entertain and delight. They have more than 1000 employees, who all help to provide customers with reading, writing, learning and interactive products in an enjoyable and easy shopping environment. The newly revamped CNA online store, www.cna.co.za has just launched with a wonderful range of books, e-books, games, movies and music, with new goodies being added all the time.

About David Gibbons
David Gibbons is the E-Commerce Executive at Edcon who is responsible for developing and operating the online retail business for Edcon's chains (including CNA, Edgars, Red Square and Boardmans). He spent a decade in Seattle building web businesses at Amazon.com and Zillow.com (the US' largest online property business). He has a passion for web marketing and internet-based consumer businesses and is bullish on the potential for e-commerce in South Africa.