Press Information

mandmdirect.com Says TCT Kids Are My Generation

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:54:23 -0400

mandmdirect.com, the UK’s leading online fashion and sport discount retailer, attended the opening of a new Teenage Cancer Trust ward in Scotland on 19th May where they presented a cheque of 70,399 to contribute to the trust, bringing their total donation to 213,544 over the past 18 months. Teenage Cancer Trust is working to make life better for teenagers and young adults with cancer, providing specially designed wards in NHS Hospitals to boost survival rates by an anticipated 15 per cent.

Mike Tomkins, CEO of mandmdirect.com, was accompanied at the cheque presentation by Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT) patron and lead singer of The Who, Roger Daltrey CBE and Dr Adrian Whiteson OBE, Chairman of TCT. "It’s fantastic to be able to hand over the donation to the TCT team," said Mike Tomkins. "We’ve been working with TCT for 18 months and this donation is one of a number that we always take great pride in presenting." mandmdirect.com supports TCT through donations from product sales on the website and catalogue.

The company is continuing to back TCT in even more sponsored activity. Jon Amos, an ex-Paralympic athlete and current Great Britain Paralympic head coach, will be scaling the British Three Peaks of Ben Nevis, Scafell and Snowdon
in 48 hours – all in a wheelchair. In addition to supporting Jon in a financial capacity, mandmdirect.com will be providing him and his team with clothing from their range to use on his adventure. For further information on Jon’s British Three
Peaks challenge, head to www.creative-adaptive-sports.com.

Back To School With mandmdirect.com

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:54:47 -0400

Mandmdirect.com, the UK’s number one online discount fashion and sports retailer, is getting kids back to school in style this autumn with a range of top quality school uniform essentials that are built to last!

While many stores offer low quality items for kids heading back to school, mandmdirect.com only stocks leading and trusted brands, including Helly Hansen, Peter Werth, Ben Sherman and many more. Knowing their children’s clothes will last through the rigorous daily school regime provides parents with piece of mind through the school year.

All the essential back to school items are available from mandmdirect.com, including:
Helly Hansen jacket, 49.99
Ben Sherman black trousers, 24.99
Peter Werth black leather shoes, 29.99
Rockport backpack, 12.99
Bench Nimrod jacket, 39.99
Plus many more high quality items

About mandmdirect.com
mandmdirect.com is the UK’s leading online and catalogue retailer, bringing big brands at bargain prices to a computer or letterbox near you! Founded 20 years ago, mandmdirect.com has been supplying customers with fantastic products at prices that no high street store can dare to compete with.

At mandmdirect.com, you will find brand fashion, sportswear, outdoors clothing sports equipment, and accessories for men, women and children from more than 200 top brands – all at astonishingly low prices with discounts of up to 75% on RRP. With top buyers who can spot a good purchase a mile off, stock that is updated every hour and with no expensive stores to run, it means at mandmdirect.com you will never have to pay the full price again!

Run With mandmdirect.com

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 23:00:00 -0400

mandmdirect.com have the perfect running shoes for everyone, whether they are serious athletes, training for a charity run or simply running for fun. They acknowledge the importance in having the ideal running shoes, which is essential for performing, enjoyment and reducing injury. mandmdirect.com have secured expert advice from their resident runner and triathlete, Steve Poulton. Steve has competed alongside the world’s greatest runners including Steve Ovett and Sebastian Coe. His most memorable race was when he finished less than half a second behind Steve Ovett who at that time was reigning 800m Olympic champion and 1500m world record holder.

Steve Poulton’s Top 5 Tips
1. Have a goal. Whether it be a local fun run, marathon or just to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

2. Stay hydrated. Particularly on warm sunny days, make sure that you drink plenty of water both before and after you have exercised.

3. Listen to your body. If you are overtired, take a rest day or simply do some light exercise.

4. Maintain your flexibility. A 5-10 minute stretching programme after a run is invaluable and will help prevent those niggling little strains and pulls especially in the early days of training.

5. Keep a training diary. This will help you both prepare and evaluate your training to date.

Steve insists that you should have the correct running shoes before starting to train. He recommends visiting the mandmdirect.com website and following the simple online fit guide.

mandmdirect.com is the UK’s leading online discount fashion and sports retailer bringing big brands at bargain prices to a computer or letterbox near you! Founded 20 years ago, mandmdirect.com has been supplying customers with fantastic products at prices that no high street store can dare to compete with.

At mandmdirect.com, you will find brand fashion, sportswear, outdoors clothing sports equipment, and accessories for men, women and children from more than 200 top brands – all at astonishingly low prices with discounts of up to 75% on RRP.

With top buyers who can spot a good purchase a mile off, stock that is updated every hour and with no expensive stores to run, it means at mandmdirect.com you will never have to pay the full price again!

Be An Urban Warrior With mandmdirect.com

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 15:54:58 -0400

Camouflage is one fashion that never goes out of style and mandmdirect.com, the UK’s number one online discount fashion and sports retailer, is making you an urban warrior this season with a host of khaki and camo coloured items available at drastically reduced prices!

Camo gear looks great wherever you are: at the beach, at a festival or just cruising the streets. With mandmdirect.com you’re sorted: everything from combat shorts, jackets, flip-flops, boots and much more; it’s all just a mouse click away!

So what top branded camouflage gear is available at mandmdirect.com?
Here are just some of the highlights:
Sonnetti women’s spider camo pant, 19.99 – save 35.00 off RRP!
Bench combat short, 24.99 – that’s 20.00 off
Ringspun men’s hammer camo trousers, 24.99 – a discount of 35.00
Bench camo flip-flops, 7.99 – 5.00 off the retail cost!
And many more top quality camouflage items at up to 75 per cent off RRP

mandmdirect.com is the UK’s leading online discount fashion and sports retailer bringing big brands at bargain prices to a computer or letterbox near you! Founded 20 years ago, mandmdirect.com has been supplying customers with fantastic products at prices that no high street store can dare to compete with.

At mandmdirect.com, you will find brand fashion, sportswear, outdoors clothing sports equipment, and accessories for men, women and children from more than 200 top brands – all at astonishingly low prices with discounts of up to 75% on RRP.

With top buyers who can spot a good purchase a mile off, stock that is updated every hour and with no expensive stores to run, it means at mandmdirect.com you will never have to pay the full price again!

mandmdirect.com celebrates 20 years of success

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 11:14:04 -0500

mandmdirect.com, the UK’s number one online discount fashion and sports retailer, celebrates 20 years providing big savings on the best brands in February this year. mandmdirect.com will be providing daily offers to consumers and special deals to its mailing database to celebrate its 20th birthday.

Currently employing 470 staff, the mandmdirect.com story began in Herefordshire in early 1987 when Mark Ellis and Martin Churchward were introduced by their Nike representative Ken Mallender. The two founders started their careers with retail shops in Hereford and Stourbridge and joined forces to buy end-of-line clearance sports products. The success of this led to the pair to venture into off-page advertising, with the first advert appearing in Shoot magazine in 1987. National press adverts followed in 1990, specifically offering clothing and footwear.

The business flourished around Churchward’s shop in Stourbridge and soon outgrew the premises. As both men lived in the area, a site in Leominster was purchased, and the company was born. Trading as M and M Sports, the company soon began to grow, as ongoing word of mouth recommendations helped the business flourish.

"M and M Sports was one of the first strictly sporting mail order catalogues to cater to all needs, with goods at lower prices providing extra incentive to purchase," says mandmdirect.com’s CEO Mike Tomkins. "That framework of the business still exists today, where the principal ethos of the business is to provide top quality clothing and accessories at a genuine discount."

After a management buy-out in 2004, the company identity was changed to M and M Direct to reflect the company’s move into selling fashion and lifestyle brands. New senior managers were drafted in to develop expertise in each of the key areas of the business and a new emphasis placed on the development of the website, www.mandmdirect.com. The website, which displays the 100-plus fashion, outdoor and sport brand offerings, records more than 15 million visitors each year, with a growing 600,000 strong email database. In 2005 the majority of orders came via the telephone, but today up to 57 per cent of orders are received through the website. "We’re glad we can offer our regular customers thanks for their loyalty to us over the past 20 years," says Tomkins. "mandmdirect.com is constantly striving to grow and develop and we’ll see some great leaps for the company in 2007, with our website set to undergo some fantastic enhancements and innovations. We hope to consistently improve the service to our customers and provide a pleasurable online shopping experience every time."

Brands stocked include Nike, adidas, Miss Sixty, Timberland, Rockport, Animal, Ugg, Peter Werth, K Swiss, Bench, Replay, Firetrap, and more than 100 other top names, with discounts of up to 75 per cent on RRP.

Get Ready For Winter With mandmdirect.com!!

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 11:16:39 -0500

These days you can never pick the weather, but one thing is for sure, when winter rolls in you need to be prepared! mandmdirect.com, the UK’s number one online discount fashion and sports retailer, has all the winter clothing you could ever need, all at heavily discounted prices!

Whether you’re walking the kids to school, waiting in a chilly bus stop, or heading into the wintery weather for an afternoon’s stroll, you’ll need to be wrapped up and protected from adverse conditions!! Get the most stylish winter gear for the cheapest possible prices, with up to 75 per cent off leading brands!

Amongst our comprehensive range of winter clothes we have:
Helly Hansen Men’s Aden Jacket – Only 44.99, save 45.00
Adidas Polar Fleece Running Gloves – Just 1.99, a reduction of 8.00
Playboy Women’s Knitted Winter Hat – A bargain at 8.99, down 6.00
Helly Hansen Women’s Marine Jacket – Save a whopping 60.00, priced at 49.99
Firetrap Women’s Sassy Scarf – Unbeatable value at 12.99, saving 12.00

About mandmdirect.com
mandmdirect.com is the UK’s leading online and catalogue retailer, bringing big brands at bargain prices to a computer or letterbox near you! Founded 20 years ago, mandmdirect.com has been supplying customers with fantastic products at prices that no high street store can dare to compete with. At mandmdirect.com, you will find brand fashion, sportswear, outdoors clothing sports equipment, and accessories for men, women and children from more than 200 top brands – all at astonishingly low prices with discounts of up to 75% on RRP. With top buyers who can spot a good purchase a mile off, stock that is updated every hour and with no expensive stores to run, it means at mandmdirect.com you will never have to pay the full price again!

mandmdirect.com Launches New Look Website

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:30:31 -0400

mandmdirect.com, the UK’s leading online discount fashion and sports apparel retailer, has launched its new website. The new site addresses the need to communicate the company’s growing product offering and provides the user with an improved interface for easier and quicker browsing and purchase.

The new site also offers a richer user experience with a more stylish look and feel. The number of navigation utilities has been increased, with more drop down menus and search options, emphasising the large variety of brands, products and styles available online at mandmdirect.com.

When clicking through to the page of their desired product, users are greeted with larger product imagery and greater product information. A new internal search engine has also been installed, making the process of finding products significantly easier. For search engine optimisation, a larger number of embedded tags have been included in the site.

Steve Robinson mandmdirect.com CEO comments, "We are delighted to have gone live with this evolution of the website prior to the busy Christmas period. We have worked hard to produce a site that is more useable, less cluttered and yet still very M and M Direct. We have tested it with customers and the feedback is extremely positive. There are still more improvements to be made and we will be rolling these out over time – taking into consideration our customers input - watch this space!"

IT Director Graham Benson from mandmdirect.com adds, "We strongly believe that this new site marks a step-change in our online presence and significantly improves our complete product and service offering to our customers."

mandmdirect.com Presents Big Savings On Back To School

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:52:00 -0400

Whether it’s PE class, a run around the playground, rugby or football practice, mandmdirect.com has exclusive access to the best gear from Mitre for the new school year.

For football practice, there’s the Mitre Icon 32 football, available at an unbelievable 2.99 Whether playing rugby, football or hockey, the Mitre Flanker shinguards perfectly protect both the shin and the ankle with hardwearing guards. Suitable for soft and hard school fields is the Mitre Junior Revival Moulded Football boot. This comfy, versatile boot is great for kids playing either rugby, football or field hockey non-astroturf.

This entire kit can be purchased for just 22.97, a saving of 27 off high street prices

So head to mandmdirect.com to find out more about these great Mitre products, and much more from the Back to School collection. You won’t find these Mitre bargains anywhere else, so log on now

LOCAL POSTMAN'S A VERY HAPPY MAN THANKS TO MANDMDIRECT.COM DONATION

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 11:05:00 -0500

Hereford postie’s fundraising gets boost from online retailer

Leominster-based mandmdirect.com, the UK’s number one online discount fashion and sports retailer, has donated to 1,000 to Hereford postman Mike Chandler as part of his efforts to raise money for prominent charity, Breast Cancer Haven.

To raise money for the charity, Mike will be running a sponsored treadmill-based marathon in Maylords Orchard, Hereford. In a unique link, mandmdirect.com offered to sponsor the posting of sponsorship request letters around the county mandmdirect.com&rsquo;s support helped Mike reach a phenomenal overall total of 18,000.

Says mandmdirect.com&rsquo;s CEO Mike Tomkins, "Seeing everyday local people embarking on endeavours such as Mike’s fills us with real pride. We at mandmdirect.com wanted to help him raise funds in any way and we’ve managed to do that. It’s a charity that is no doubt close to his heart and we’re delighted to help him in any way."

Breast Cancer Haven’s Hereford Manager, Frankie Devereux is also grateful of the support leant by Mike Chandler: "We’re so thankful for Mike for his fundraising efforts. He’s made Hereford proud and we will always remember his contribution to our charity."

UK Consumers No Scrooges This Christmas, New Survey Shows

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:33:00 -0400

The Christmas spirit is alive and set to assist with retail spending in 2008, despite the credit crunch, a new survey has shown.

The study, commissioned by online discount retailer mandmdirect.com, explored the habits and spending thoughts of more than 1,000 respondents in the lead up to the Christmas period. The survey questioned respondents on the amounts of money they would spend, what gifts they would buy, where they would do their Christmas shopping and their attitudes on Christmas as a whole.

Key findings of the survey include:
- Mums are top of the list of people included in a Christmas list, registering 85 of the votes
- 72 of voters said buying Christmas gifts makes them happy, while 20 feel Christmas is over-commercialised
- 26 of voters said they would look to save between 50 and 100 this Christmas
- 63, or 804 voters, said they would be spending around the same this Christmas, despite the credit crunch
- 29 of voters will be doing the majority of their shopping for Christmas presents online this year
- A number between 10 and 20 gifts is the total number of presents the majority of voters expect to buy this Christmas
- Friends would be the first group of people struck off a Christmas list, followed by Aunts & Uncles

Credit Crunch Effect
The credit crunch is not having as strong an effect as suspected on the spending habits of the nation for the Christmas period, with 63 of the vote, or 804 respondents, saying they will spend around the same as usual this year. When asked how much they would be looking to save this year, 26 of the vote, or 336 respondents, said between 50 and 100 off their total seasonal spending.

Total Christmas Spend
Looking the credit crunch in the face was 2 of voters, who said they would spend in excess of 5,000 on gifts, food and festivities during Christmas. Spending between 1,000 and 5,000 netted 11 of the vote, while the majority of voters said a figure between 200 and 500 would be their total seasonal spend, with 28 of votes.

Most Popular Gifts
Clothes and accessories are the most popular gifts at Christmas, with 55 of respondents saying these items would be the most likely gifts they would buy. Music / DVD / Entertainment gifts came in at 18, while toys and games registered 14 of the vote. When asked where they would do the majority of their Christmas shopping, 636 respondents, or 50 of the voters said the high street was their most popular location, while online retailers garnered 29, or 372 total votes. Shopping centres came third with 14 of the votes.

Numbers of Presents Expected To Buy
Regarding how many gifts respondents expected to buy, 37 said between 10 and 20, 36 said between five and 10, while 13 expected buy between 20 and 50 gifts. Partners / Husbands / Wives were likely to receive the most expensive gifts, with 45 of the vote, while Aunts & Uncles, Nieces & Nephews and close friends would get the cheapest gifts.

Christmas Lists
Mums were top of the list when it came to people included in a Christmas list with 85 of the vote, followed by Partners / Husbands / Wives and Fathers. Aunts & Uncles were the least important to test respondents. When asked who they would first like to strike off their Christmas list, 593 people voted for their friends, while Aunts & Uncles came second with 324 people, or 25 of voters saying they would not include them in Christmas shopping if they had a choice.

The Overall Concept of Christmas
Looking at the overall idea and concept of Christmas, 36 of respondents feel it is a good way of bringing families together, 24 said it is great fun, 20 feel it is over-commercialised and 11 said it is a nice break. 72 of respondents said buying presents makes them very happy, with 10 saying it makes them happy sometimes.

Steve Robinson, CEO of mandmdirect.com, said the survey demonstrates the market retains some positivity, despite the negative forecasts. "This study shows the UK consumer is committed to giving to their loved ones during the Christmas period. It is encouraging to see people moving towards online shopping for a greater share of their presents - a third of voters will be using their mouse rather than hitting the high street. Retailers need to heed the opportunities by ensuring their ranges, pricing and customer service is of a high standard, as competitors, both on the high street and online, will be ready to pounce."

This survey was conducted by Voxpopuk.com, an online survey and market research organisation.
mandmdirect.com is the UK’s leading online discount fashion, sports and outdoor apparel retailer, with up to 75 off RRP.

TA Associates Completes Secondary Buyout of M and M Direct

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 11:09:00 -0500

TA Associates, a leading growth private equity and buyout firm, today announced it has completed a majority investment in M and M Direct Ltd, the leading online and mail order retailer of discounted lifestyle, fashion and sports apparel and footwear in the UK. M and M was formerly majority owned by its founders and ECI Partners. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Based in Leominster, M and M specializes in purchasing end-of-line clearance stock from major brands and selling those products at substantial discounts. The company was founded in 1987 as M and M Sports, selling solely sports apparel. Following the management buyout backed by ECI in 2004, M and M expanded its product line to include fashion and lifestyle clothing. M and M now sells more than 230 brands of men’s, women’s and children’s apparel and footwear, including Adidas, Animal, Bench, Levis, Miss Sixty, Nike, Puma, Quiksilver, Reebok,Timberland and Vans.

Steve Robinson, formerly CEO of Tesco Direct and previously Finance Director of Argos, will join M and M as CEO, taking over from Mike Tomkins who has led the company under ECI’s ownership. Mike will remain very actively involved with the company as a non-executive director, managing key brand relationships as well as leading various operational and strategic initiatives.

"We are delighted to partner with a distinguished private equity firm like TA, and to welcome Steve Robinson to M and M," said Tomkins. "TA’s expertise in helping profitable companies accelerate growth, and Steve’s considerable online and catalogue retail sales experience, are a great combination for M and M, and I look forward to working with them both to take the business to the next level."

Robinson commented, "I am delighted to join a business with such strong momentum. Mike and the team have developed a well recognized brand known for delivering quality products at a great value, and I look forward to building on these achievements."

Internet research group IMRG estimates that online shopping in the UK will reach 42 billion in sales in 2007, up 39 from 30.2 billion in 2006, and will grow to 78 billion by 2010. Chris Parkin, who led the transaction for TA Associates and will join the company’s Board commented, "With a compelling customer proposition, a unique distribution channel for suppliers, and substantial exposure to the online retail market, M and M is well-positioned to continue its strong growth."

"M and M fits very well with TA’s growing focus on online growth businesses with strong consumer brands," said Ajit Nedungadi, Managing Director of TA Associates, who will also join the company’s Board of Directors. "We look forward to working with Steve, Mike and the rest of the team to build further value in the company."

David Ewing, ECI Partners Director commented, "Thoughtful repositioning and re-branding, coupled with the increasing acceptance of the Internet as a channel, has resulted in strong growth for M and M. We are very pleased to have contributed to the company’s growth, and wish Mike and the team continued success."

TA Associates, which has more than 39 years of experience investing in profitable, growth companies, has been an active investor in the European markets with numerous investments, including Jupiter Asset Management, SmartStream Technologies, eDreams, GlobeOp Financial Services, IntercontinentalExchange, ION Trading Group, Sophos Plc and Tempur-Pedic International. The firm opened its London office in 2003 and is continuing to expand its investment efforts in Europe.

MacFarlanes provided legal counsel to TA Associates. Eversheds provided legal services to M and M.

M and M Direct
M and M Direct Limited is the UK’s leading purchaser of end-of-line clearance for fashion and sports products. As an online and mail order retailer, M and M offers sports and fashion apparel and footwear for men, women and children, at substantial discounts. The company’s website has over 100-plus brands, and receives 15 million visitors per year. M and M distributes 19 million catalogues a year, featuring great bargains. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Leominster. More information can be found at www.mandmdirect.com .

TA Associates
Founded in 1968, TA Associates is one of the largest and most experienced private equity firms. With offices in Boston, London and Menlo Park, the firm manages 10 billion in capital and has invested in more than 380 companies. TA Associates provides management buyout, leveraged recapitalization and growth equity capital primarily for technology, financial services, business services, healthcare and consumer businesses. More information about TA Associates can be found at www.ta.com .

Kangaroo Poo - Laid Back Surfer Style

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 11:10:00 -0500

Fun Aussie surf label Kangaroo Poo bounces into our wardrobes this season with a sensational selection of top quality clothing, all available exclusively at mandmdirect.com, at drastically reduced prices. Kangaroo Poo is bounding away from the cold this winter by offering softer, duskier colours. For the women there’s a selection of easy wearing, pretty and funky looking garments including stylish t-shirts, warm fleece tops and twill combat trousers. Men are offered a blend of garments including zip hoodies, cargo trousers and distressed canvas belts in stone, khaki and navy, all with a twist of grungy utilitarianism

The cool Kangaroo Poo range is perfect for cosy, lazy weekends at home, relaxed Sunday pub lunches or braving the elements for a wintry day outdoors

Highlights of this great new range include:
Men’s Washed Twill Pant – Half price at 14.99
Distressed Canvas Belt – Less than half price at 3.99
Men’s Enzyme Hoody – save 23, on sale at 14.99
Women’s Enzyme long sleeve Washed T-Shirt – Save 13, on sale at 6.99
Women’s Zip Thru Fleece - 12.99, save 17.00

mandmdirect.com is the UK’s leading online and catalogue retailer, bringing big brands at bargain prices to a computer or letterbox near you Founded 20 years ago, mandmdirect.com has been supplying customers with fantastic products at prices that few high street stores dare compete with.

At mandmdirect.com, you will find fashion, sportswear and accessories for men, women and children from more than 200 top brands – all at astonishingly low prices with discounts of up to 75 on RRP. With top buyers who can spot a good purchase a mile off, stock that is updated each day and with no expensive stores to run, it means at mandmdirect.com you will never have to pay the full price again

mandmdirect.com - One Stop Christmas Shop

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 13:44:41 -0500

Shopping for Christmas can be notoriously taxing on energy and the wallet... but not with leading online fashion and sports discount retailer mandmdirect.com.

Stocking designer and high street fashion labels and premium sports brands with savings of up to 75% off you will be spoilt for choice from a huge selection of products for the whole family. Fast and simple – shop for everybody in one sitting in the comfort of your own home and have money left in your pocket for the festive celebrations.

- Designer labels
- High Street fashion
- Leading sports brands
- Celebrity-inspired Get The Look fashion
- Massive Savings
- Save up to 75% off RRP
- Fast, simple shopping
- Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- Delivered to your door
- Products for all ages from kids and teens through to adults and grandparents
- Last online orders for Christmas delivery 20th December

mandmdirect.com- one stop Christmas shopping destination.

mandmdirect Posts Astonishing Growth Over Christmas Retail Period

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:22:37 -0500

mandmdirect.com, the UK’s number one online discount fashion and sports retailer, has posted Christmas trading sales growth of 29 per cent to the nine weeks ending 30 December 2007. In addition, internet sales growth has increased by an astonishing 51 per cent across the same period.

More than 1.5 million items from 435,000 orders were successfully shipped to mandmdirect.com customers through November and December, positioning mandmdirect.com in the top five most visited clothing websites in the UK across the Christmas period, according to leading web analysts Hitwise.

Steve Robinson, CEO of mandmdirect.com comments: "The business did fantastically well over the Christmas period driven both by customers seeking out its great value products and its continued transformation from a mail order to e-commerce business.

"Looking forward to 2008 we believe we are well placed to take advantage of a softening in the market and we will also continue to improve our customer offerings."

About mandmdirect.com
- mandmdirect.com is the UK’s leading online discount fashion and sports retailer, with 100+ leading brands available at up to 75 per cent off RRP
- mandmdirect.com was founded in Leominster in 1987 and currrently employs more than 450 staff
- More than 800,000 registered customers
- In excess of 60 per cent of all orders received via mandmdirect.com website
- 15 million+ visitors each year
- Acquired by TA Associates in late October 2007

mandmdirect.com Makes No.2 On The 2008 Sunday Times Buyout Fast Track

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 10:00:00 -0500

mandmdirect.com, the UK’s leading online and mail order retailer of discounted lifestyle, fashion and sports apparel and footwear, has been placed second in the 2008 Sunday Times Deloitte Buyout Track 100. It’s the first time the company has appeared in Fast Track and the placing comes after a hectic year for the company which saw it break all its previous sales records and become one of the top five visited clothing websites in the UK across the Christmas 07 period according to web analysts Hitwise.

In October 2007, leading growth private equity and buyout firm, T A Associates completed a majority investment in the company formerly owned by its founders, management and ECI Partners. Steve Robinson, formerly CEO of Tesco Direct was appointed CEO.

"We are delighted with our placing on Fast Track. We’re a business with strong momentum and ambition and a lot still to achieve both in terms of our online and catalogue operations. We have a compelling consumer proposition, solid backing and are well-positioned to continue our strong growth to date. 2008 is set to be a strategically eventful year and this award is a major bonus for the company at a an exciting stage in its development," says Steve Robinson.

About mandmdirect.com:
mandmdirect.com sells more than 230 brands of men’s, women’s and children’s apparel and footwear, including adidas, Animal, Bench, Levis, Miss Sixty, Nike, Puma, Quiksilver, Reebok, Timberland and Vans
The company specializes in purchasing end-of-line clearance stock from major brands and selling those products at substantial discounts - often up to 75
mandmdirect.com was founded in Leominster in 1987 and currrently employs more than 450 staff
Originally a sports apparel retailer, mandmdirect.com expanded its product line to include fashion and lifestyle clothing following the management buyout backed by ECI in 2004
More than 800,000 registered customers
In excess of 60 per cent of all orders received via mandmdirect.com website
15 million visitors each year
Acquired by TA Associates in late October 2007

MANDMDIRECT.COM WINS AT ECMOD AWARDS 2008

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 10:17:27 -0500

mandmdirect.com, the UK’s number one online discount fashion, sports and outdoor apparel retailer, has won the Outdoor Pursuits, Sports & Leisure category at the ECMOD Awards, 2008.

The win is mandmdirect.com′s first since the takeover by T A Associates in late 2007. The award recognises mandmdirect.com, ’s success in business performance, branding consistency, marketing activity and of course, customer service quality and the effectiveness of the catalogue and website offerings.

Steve Robinson, CEO for mandmdirect.com, comments, "This is a fantastic result for our company," he said. "The team at mandmdirect.com, have worked tirelessly to improve our business, whether it be on the phones, securing new and desirable lines for inclusion in our collections, marketing our offerings or providing strategic direction and momentum. The ECMOD Awards are a benchmark for leading businesses in our industry and we are delighted to be recognised as one of the sector’s leaders."

The ECMOD Awards are designed to reflect multi-channel, catalogue producing and online retailing organisations serving business or consumer customers and are now based in merchandise categories. This year’s event took place at a Gala Evening at London’s Natural History Museum on 5 March 2008.

Extensive Growth Leads To New Operations Site For mandmdirect.com

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:31:00 -0400

Due to its consistent growth, mandmdirect.com, one of the UK’s largest discount fashion, sports and outdoor clothing retailers, is relocating its Operations Division from Leominster to a larger site at nearby Moreton-on-Lugg. The move will take place between May and July 2008.

mandmdirect.com has outgrown its current site in Leominster to the extent that the all-new Moreton-on-Lugg site stands at more than 210,000 square feet. The new operations site will house bulk storage, a goods-in department, and a picking, packing and despatch operation.

The 1m investment in the site is the first major development implemented by mandmdirect.com since being taken over by TA Associates in late 2007. mandmdirect.com CEO Steve Robinson comments: "The new operations site will enable us to more effectively and efficiently handle the growing number of orders we are receiving from our website and catalogue customers. In addition we are able to process more goods coming into mandmdirect.com, which is essential as our quality product offering base also continues to increase rapidly."

The existing mandmdirect.com operations site in Leominster will be redeployed, creating additional space for other company departments, a sample store and the design of a photographic studio to allow for faster product image upload to the website and greater image dynamism, both in print and online.

"We are delighted to show the people of Herefordshire the visible evidence of our growth and will continue to provide the local area with further employment opportunities. These are exciting times not only for mandmdirect.com, but equally for Herefordshire as a whole," says Steve Robinson.

Summer Holiday Madness at mandmdirect.com

Fri, 02 May 2008 15:06:00 -0400

Just booked a luxurious holiday abroad Feeling the pull of the purse strings and yet still want a whole new wardrobe Never fear mandmdirect.com is here with a full range of gorgeous clothing, accessories and apparel.

37.00 will buy you a whole new holiday wardrobe...

Kangaroo Poo Bikini – Our price, 9.99 – RRP, 24.99

Blend She Vest Top – Our price, 6.99 – RRP, 14.99

Blend She Shorts – Our price, 14.99 – RRP, 29.99

Aloha Flip Flops – Our price, 4.99 – RRP, 14.99

About mandmdirect.com
mandmdirect.comsells more than 230 brands of men’s, women’s and children’s apparel and footwear, including Adidas, Animal, Bench, Levis, Miss Sixty, Nike, Puma, Quiksilver, Reebok, Timberland and Vans
The company specializes in purchasing end-of-line clearance stock from major brands and selling those products at substantial discounts - often up to 75
mandmdirect.com was founded in Leominster in 1987 and currrently employs more than 450 staff
Originally a sports apparel retailer, mandmdirect.com expanded its product lines to include fashion and lifestyle clothing following the management buyout backed by ECI in 2004
An active customer base of over 853,000
In excess of 60 per cent of all orders received via mandmdirect.com website
15 million visitors each year
Acquired by TA Associates in late October 2007

Bounce Into Your Summer Holidays With Kangaroo Poo at manmdirect.com

Fri, 02 May 2008 15:33:00 -0400

Keep your luggage as cool as your clothing this summer with fun and funky Aussie surf clothing label Kangaroo Poo This fantastic, totally summery and all-new range is available at up to 75 off RRP and is completely exclusive to mandmdirect.com, the UK’s leading online discount fashion, sports and outdoor apparel retailer.

Whatever your luggage and travel needs, Kangaroo Poo have it covered with great rucksacks, holdalls, cases and courier bags. The range is split into male and female designs, from the feminine "Board Angels" with their funky floral pattern to the men’s range, with its laid back, sporty and stylish patterns, all effortlessly combining surf chic with a suave edge.

The huge roller holdall has plenty of space, ideal for carrying all your holiday essentials. The rucksack and case combo perfectly connects together for simple and comfortable transportation, great for when you are rushing for that flight Finally, the dry sack is the top choice for carrying your wet towels after a fun day on the beach.

The amazing Kangaroo Poo luggage price highlights are:

The rucksack and case combo – now just 29.99, saving you 30 off RRP

The cool courier bag – only 12.99, a huge 17 off the RRP

The 30 litre dry sack – a total steal at just 8.99, knocking 11 off the RRP

The fantastic roller holdall – just 24.99, saving you a huge 25 off RRP

The funky women’s wallet – an unbelievable 4.99, saving you 5 off RRP

Beat The Credit Crunch And Save Up To 75% Off Fashion

Wed, 14 May 2008 08:59:31 -0400

If you’ve made the decision to tighten your purse strings- head to mandmdirect.com, the UK’s leading online discount fashion, sports and outdoor apparel retailer, and beat the credit crunch in style and on budget.

Millions of savvy shoppers have known about mandmdirect.com for years – now the secret is out and you can pick up a super bargain on top branded clothing and accessories, easily, efficiently and with minimal impact on your finances.

1) Log on to mandmdirect.com and you’ll find a website that has more than 150 top brands available. This includes Miss Sixty, Diesel, Oasis, Peter Werth, Lee Cooper, Converse, Kangaroo Poo, Chilli Pepper and many more, with prices cut by up to 75% off the retail price.

2) Beat the crowds and shop at home – From the comfort of your own home you can pick and select the very best online fashions. mandmdirect.com tailors your shopping to how you like it. Easy, cheap and efficient.

3) Shop for the whole family at a fraction of the price – Don’t think about spending too much on clothes for the whole family. Whether its weekend clothes for the kids, school uniforms, the latest fashions for trend-conscious teenagers or birthday and Xmas gifts, mandmdirect.com covers it all.

4) Sign up for latest updates – mandmdirect.com’s e-newsletter lets you know when the latest styles are available for purchase, meaning you can get what you want, when you want it.

5) Spend and save – Beating the credit crunch is easy. With mandmdirect.com you can spend and save at the same time on all clothing essentials, fashion desires and family needs.

Savvy UK Consumers Turn Bargain Hunters To Beat Credit Crunch

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 10:50:04 -0400

In light of the much publicised Credit Crunch and the debt and interest rate fears surrounding the banking crisis, UK consumers are already more actively searching for bargains and altering their shopping habits, a new survey has shown.

Examining the climate of concern amongst consumers surrounding the ongoing fears and effects of the credit crunch, the study, commissioned by online discount retailer mandmdirect.com, surveyed more than 1,000 members of the public, gauging their thoughts on spending habits, debt and the search for bargains*.

Respondents said in light of the credit crunch that they would look to reduce their spending in different ways. When asked if they would now be actively looking for bargains when shopping, 61% agreed they would, whilst 56% resolved to save money by not spending as much on luxury items and 28% would not go out as much. Only 9% said they would cut back on vices like alcohol and tobacco. When asked if shopping online made it easier to save money, 62% said it would, while 45% felt bargains were easier to come by online than on the high street. A combined total of 58% of respondents said they either regularly or occasionally used online price comparison sites.

When asked if the credit crunch would affect their broader spending habits, 48% of respondents said no, while 54% said the credit crunch would not affect their decision to purchase cars, holidays or other large, expensive items.

Respondents refused to point the finger of blame for the credit crunch at any one factor, with 33% blaming the government, banks, themselves and a consumerist society for the current climate. That said, 73% of respondents believe credit was too easy to obtain prior to the existing crisis.

Steve Robinson, CEO of mandmdirect.com, said "The survey shows that the UK consumer is in the process of becoming savvier when it comes to spending money. They want to continue to shop for what they want, but realise they can find bargains online and cut back in key areas to help combat the effects of the credit crunch."

*This survey was conducted by Voxpopuk.com

mandmdirect.com is the UK’s leading online discount fashion, sports and outdoor apparel retailer, with up to 75% off RRP.

Star Of The Bill And Hollyoaks Models Exclusive Clothing From MandMDirect.com

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:16:00 -0400

Ali Bastian is supporting Teenage Cancer Trust by modelling new collections by Board Angels and Kangaroo Poo, being sold in aid of the charity at MandMDirect.com . Ali, who is currently starring in The Bill as PC Sally Armstrong, took time out of her busy recording schedule to spend a day being photographed in the funky new ranges which include T-shirts, jeans, dresses and shorts.

The clothes will be available exclusively through MandMDirect.com, the UK’s leading online discount fashion and sports retailer from July 2008. For each item sold, a donation will be made to Teenage Cancer Trust, adding to the 300,000 that MandMDirect.com has already raised for the charity during their three-year partnership.

Taking time out at the shoot, Ali spoke about her support of Teenage Cancer Trust: "When Teenage Cancer Trust approached me to model these fantastic new ranges I just couldn’t say no. The work that TCT does to make life easier for teenagers and young people going through cancer is amazing. It’s hard to imagine what it’s like to be going through your teens – one of the most difficult times in your life – and finding out you have cancer. TCT tries to make this experience easier to bear by building special units in NHS hospitals where teens and young people can be treated with others their own age instead of being on a ward with children or elderly people.

"They can give each other support and get on with being teenagers which is so important when you’re going through cancer. I hope that by lending my support I can help MandMDirect raise loads of money for TCT so that more teenagers can have access to these units."

Steve Robinson, CEO of MandMDirect.com says, "We are delighted to continue to support TCT with this fantastic initiative. The Kangaroo Poo and Board Angels ranges are already some of our biggest sellers. The combination of great styling, highly competitive pricing and the support of Ali Bastian means we’re in a fantastic position to drive donations to a charity that’s close to our hearts."

TEENAGE CANCER TRUST
Each day in the UK, 6 teenagers will find out they have cancer - that is almost 2,000 new diagnoses every year. These young people often get a raw deal, receiving hospital treatment in inappropriate facilities catering for children or the elderly. Teenage Cancer Trust focuses on the needs of teenagers and young adults with cancer by providing specialist teenage units in NHS hospitals. As well as state-of-the-art facilities to keep patients occupied during long stays in hospital, the units provide an environment where teenagers can meet others in a similar situation. To date, TCT has built nine units but we need a total of 22 to ensure that every teenager diagnosed with cancer has access to one. For more information on Teenage Cancer Trust visit www.teenagecancertrust.org

MANDMDIRECT.COM
MandMDirect.com sells more than 230 brands of men’s, women’s and children’s apparel and footwear, including Adidas, Animal, Bench, Levis, Miss Sixty, Nike, Puma, Quiksilver, Reebok,Timberland and Vans. The company specializes in purchasing end-of-line clearance stock from major brands and selling those products at substantial discounts - often up to 75. The company was founded in Leominster in 1987 and currently employs more than 450 staff. Originally a sports apparel retailer, mandmdirect.com expanded its product lines to include fashion and lifestyle clothing following the management buyout backed by ECI in 2004. It now has an active customer base of over 853,000. In excess of 60 per cent of all orders received via mandmdirect.com website, with more than 15 million visitors each year. The company was acquired by TA Associates in late October 2007.

Kangaroo Poo and Board Angels are iconic Australian surf and lifestyle brands sold exclusively in the UK by mandmdirect.com . The cool Kangaroo Poo range is perfect for cosy, lazy weekends at home, relaxed Sunday pub lunches or braving the elements for a wintry day outdoors. A donation will be made to TCT for every item sold from the Kangaroo Poo and Board Angels Autumn/Winter ranges, available from MandMDirect.com .

mandmdirect.com Online Trolley Dash Raises Thousands For Teenage Cancer Trust

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:04:00 -0500

Celebrities from Big Brother and Shipwrecked joined with comedians and the public in a world-first – an online trolley dash celebrating the launch of the new look mandmdirect.com website, raising more than 6,000 for Teenage Cancer Trust. Organised by the UK’s leading online discount fashion, sports and outdoor apparel retailer mandmdirect.com, participants were tasked to fill their online shopping basket with as many items as possible – all in just one minute, with the proceeds going directly to Teenage Cancer Trust.

Taking place at 24 London, the celebrity line up included Big Brother twins Sam and Amanda Marchant; Big Brother 9 winner Rachel Rice and housemate Kat Kasisopa; Colleen's Real Women winner Sasha Parker: Goks' Miss Naked Beauty contestant Joanna Russell; Shipwrecked’s Marvyn Williams; and comedians Gordon Southern and Adam Bloom. The premise was simple – load as many products as they could in one minute: the online shopping basket with the highest value contents was the winner

Taking a break from recent catwalk shows and life after Big Brother, Sam and Amanda were delighted to take part in the action and raising money for Teenage Cancer Trust. Says Sam: "It was so well organised and really exciting Well done to mandmdirect.com for helping raise awareness and funds for Teenage Cancer Trust in a fun way. We were amazed how much money was raised"

Adds Amanda: "We were a bit slow on the computer at first, but the website was easy to use and we quickly managed to get the best stuff into the shopping basket. We really enjoyed the experience because we love shopping online – we’re addicted to shopping"

The most popular items shopped for by celebrities and contestants were jeans jackets and shoes and despite the products being heavily reduced on mandmdirect.com&rsquo;s new-look website, the total accumulation of all the shopping contest came to more than 6,000 – plenty of trigger happy fingers enjoyed clicking the mouse for charity

It wasn’t just celebrities shopping for bargains in record time; Kate Newton of New Eltham entered a competition to win not only a cash prize, but also the coveted title of mandmdirect.com Online Trolley Dash Winner 2008

About Teenage Cancer Trust

Every day in the UK, six teenagers will face a cancer diagnosis. This is a rising figure and there are already more young people than children with the disease.

Teenage Cancer Trust understands that teenage cancer requires specialist care and knows that young people have a much better chance in their fight against cancer if they are treated by teenage cancer experts, in an environment tailored to their needs. So the charity is working every day to make that happen, building specialist units in NHS hospitals.

Teenage Cancer Trust units aren’t like ordinary cancer wards. Everything about them has been designed to give teenagers the very best chance of a positive outcome. The charity estimates that, with the units they currently have around the UK, four out of 10 teenagers diagnosed with cancer now have access to the dedicated, specialist support they provide. But Teenage Cancer Trust’s aim is to build enough units so that, by 2012, every teenager will be treated on one.

For more information on Teenage Cancer Trust visit www.teenagecancertrust.org

Teenage Cancer Trust is a registered charity, no. 1062559

For images and information, please visit www.editorsinfo.com.

mandmdirect.com Pips VAT Man To The Post

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:56:06 -0500

MandMDirect.com Hands Festive Boost To Customers By Introducing Chancellor’s VAT Discount 4 Days Before 1st December Deadline

The UK’s leading on line discount clothing retailer MandMDirect.com has embraced the Chancellor’s 2.5% reduction in the VAT rate wholeheartedly – and even pipped him to the post when it comes to passing on the discount to its customers, because the company will be implementing the VAT changes overnight on Wednesday 26th November – 4 days before the Chancellor’s official start date. What’s more, in keeping with the company’s policy of integrity and fairness to its customers, any awkward prices will be rounded down not up and all delivery charges will also be trimmed accordingly.

It seems mandmdirect’s straightforward approach to its customers is paying off because despite general doom and gloom in the retail sector business has never been better at mandmdirect.com, with the company up around 20% on year on year sales and bracing itself for what it believes will be its biggest ever Christmas. Already the company is despatching over 16,000 parcels every day in the run up to the festive season.

According to mandmdirect.com CEO, Steve Robinson, "We’re successful because we know that every penny does really count to our customers and as a business we are nimble and responsive enough to be able to pass on good news like the Chancellor’s almost immediately. In this case we are delighted to deliver even lower prices to our valued customers a little early"

About mandmdirect.com
mandmdirect.com is the UK leading online and catalogue retailer, bringing big brands at bargain prices to a computer or letterbox near you! Founded 20 years ago, mandmdirect.com has been supplying customers with fantastic products at prices that no high street store can dare to compete with. At mandmdirect.com, you will find big brand fashion, sportswear, outdoors clothing sports equipment, and accessories for men, women and children from more than 200 top brands at astonishingly low prices with discounts of up to 75% on RRP. With top buyers who can spot a good purchase a mile off, stock that is updated every hour and with no expensive stores to run, it means at mandmdirect.com you will never have to pay the full price again!

NB Please note VAT is not applicable on children’s clothes or books

mandmdirect.com Hires Neil Sansom As Marketing Director

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:06:00 -0500

mandmdirect.com, the UK’s leading online discount fashion, sports and outdoor apparel retailer, has appointed Neil Sansom as the company’s new Marketing Director. Sansom brings 13 years experience at the highest level of marketing activity to a role that encompasses customer acquisition and retention, e-commerce and catalogue production for the 74m business.

Previously Sansom worked with the world’s second largest e-tailer, Otto Group, where, as Business Development Director, he launched the innovative fashion brand, Oli.co.uk . Wider experience includes marketing and commercial experience at Kingfisher, Freeserve and Littlewoods Shop Direct. Sansom was also responsible for Comet’s first e-commerce website and for building a multi-channel strategy for Shell International.

On accepting his new role, Sansom says, "I’m delighted to be joining mandmdirect.com at this time to help grow the business and the brand to the next stage of its commercial development. mandmdirect.com is a great brand which, together with the backing of a private equity business and its internet-based value proposition, makes it an exciting time to join the company."

If Christmas Knocks The Stuffing Out Of You... Head to mandmdirect.com for 80% off!

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:38:00 -0500

If you get tired of turkey, bored of boozing and can’t face another re-run of the Sound of Music – try a little retail therapy to beat the Christmas Blues

There’s good news for shopaholics, who might be worried about going cold turkey without shopping over the Christmas holiday season, one store that will be open throughout the whole festive period is mandmdirect.com - the UK’s leading online fashion and sports retailer. Not only will they be open 24:7 every day for their sale, but they are even offering die-hard shoppers a special Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day and January 2nd shopping offer of free delivery when you spend over 25.00.

So whilst the Christmas mayhem ensues around you and the January sales kick off – you can be happily sitting in your new socks and slippers snapping up cool bargains on-line to enjoy once the mince pies and Christmas carols are safely over. mandmdirect.com at Christmas - fill yer boots, stockings and anything else with fantastic discounts on branded goods at up to 80 off during the sale.

mandmdirect.com's massive 30million warehouse clearance starts 22nd December, but hurry, as bargains at up to 80 discount won’t last.

IT IS MARATHON SEASON AGAIN!

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:49:45 -0500

It’s marathon season again! So get involved!
Get up and motivated to run this season in stylish fashion forward kit for less! You needn’t break the bank at mandmdirect.com the UK’s leading fashion and sports e-tailer – offering up to 75% off a whole host of cool branded labels.

The events to train for, from the extreme to the easy:
- 14th February London 10km Valentines Day Love Run
- 1st March Bushy Park 10km
- 15th March ASICS Fleet Pre London half Marathon
- 4th April Regents Park Summer 10km
- 26th April ′the London Marathon’
- 2nd August Urbanathlon 5km Manchester

SIX NATION SENSATION...

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 11:04:27 -0500

It’s Six Nations season, so get inspired with this sensational kit from mandmdirect.com.

As another action packed tournament begins get kitted out in top performance rugby kit for less! You needn’t break the bank at mandmdirect.com, the UK’s leading fashion and sports e-tailer, the site offers up to 75% off a whole host of cool branded labels.

Events to look forward to:

- Six Nations Final 7th Feb – 21st March
- Guinness Premiership Final 7th May
- Heineken Cup Final 23rd May
- Tri Nations 18th July – 19th Sept
- British Lions Tour 30th May – 4th July

Teenage Cancer Trust T-shirts

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 14:35:11 -0400

Limited edition and exclusively designed, these T's emblazoned with cult music images have been produced especially for Teenage Cancer Trust. Only available on M and M Direct, ALL profits will go directly to the charity.

Chrissie Hynde, Madness and Paul Weller prints are used on these 100% cotton t-shirts.

mandmdirect.com