E-Briefs
Jewellery box
SYDNEY: Siblings Rachel and Jonathan White have launched an etail site geared at tackling the accessories market in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Japan and South Africa. Smashpiece (www.smashpiece.com) sells jewellery as well as handbags, hair accessories and scarves. Rachel White said she could not source the same breadth of product in Sydney as her native London. Brands stocked by the site include the duo's own Smashpiece label as well as Anna Lou of London, David Aubrey and Kenneth Jay Lane. The site features an ‘online stylist’, which suggests purchases based on budget, outfit and occasion.
Plasti launches
NATIONAL: Italian accessory phenomenon Plastichic has unveiled an online store for the Australian market. Launched in the lead up to Christmas, the online store offers watches and bracelets from the Classic, Framed and Timeless ranges as well as the latest IceCube line, a unisex offer produced using soft vinyl rubber and a stainless steel back for watches. Consumers who purchase more than three items are offered free delivery nationwide. The domestic website is at www.plastichic.evolveshop.com.au.
Torque the talk
MELBOURNE: Iconic designer Jenny Bannister has teamed up with stylist Philip Boon to launch Fashion Torque, a weekly fashion discussion staged in Melbourne. As part of the initiative, a Facebook page has been set up to provide an overview of panelists and talking points for each instalment. Industry is invited to join the pair every Thursday from 6.30pm at Globe Cafe in Prahran. Entry is free, with previous panelists including prestigious retail buyer Sarah Gale and creative Anthony Capo. Updates can be found by searching ‘Fashion Torque’ in Facebook.
The big hits
NATIONAL: Online auction website www.ebay.com.au continues to dominate visits to Australian shopping websites, snaring 22.45 per cent of clicks for the week ending November 20. This was followed by www.ebay.com at 4.17 per cent, www.amazon.com at 2.1 per cent and price comparison website Getprice at 1.31 per cent. Clothing retailers didn’t luck out however, with ‘Big W’ the fourth most searched term for online shopping and ‘Kmart’ at number 10.