Body Shop and Nike utilise Aussie developed retail tool

Andrew Gorecki, wanted to develop quality software specifically for the retail industry so he launched Retail Directions in 1993 to develop and supply unified retail management systems to retailers.

Today, Retail Directions has a host of global popular consumer brands as customers. 

"Retailers spend a lot of money on IT. They believe that good technology must cost a lot of money but that's not always the case," said Gorecki, managing director of Retail Directions. 

"You can't run our software in manufacturing. It's not a software that does everything  like other - jack of all trades master of none - products."

Recently the company deployed its store management system to Bendon in the shops first Uk outlet.

Bendon is a lingerie brand portfolio that includes Elle Macpherson Intimates, Stella McCartney Lingerie, Bendon and Fayreform.

Gorecki claimed the technology supports front-end,  back-end as well as communications with head office.

The system is part of Bendon's global retail system - also provided by Retail Directions - and communicates in real time through a message queuing mechanism from a central database in Auckland, New Zealand, he said.

"We first got involved with Benedon in 2006, when it needed a system for its branches and head office in New Zealand," said Gorecki.

"Then we brought the system to their Australian office and the new implementation takes us overseas into the UK."

Retail Directions has provided its system to the Body Shop in the UK, since 2001 which was extended to the Body Shop's branches in Europe.

"The growth in our business has been word of mouth," said Gorecki.

"In this day and age its not difficult to set-up our system overseas and then support our customers.

"We use the internet and we also send our people to visit customers every couple of months."

Currently Retail Directions employs 50 people in its Melbourne office.

"We have one sales person and then everyone else does the useful work, including six people in our 24/7 support centre," Gorecki said.

"Our goal is to convert retail IT into a commodity for our customers."

Retail Directions was established in 1993 and is based in Melbourne.

The software developer's customers include; The Just Group (Just Jeans, Portmans, Dotti, Peter Alexander etc.), Nike, GNC Live Well, Harris Scarfe, Fletcher Jones, Cotton On, Noni B Limited, Jeans West, Betts, Forever New, Bendon, Kookai, Herringbone and kikki.K.