BackDate:24 April 2012
Trusted Shops and IMRG combine to create single European trustmark
- Global online shopping just got safer
- Retailers’ markets just got bigger
- Agreement strengthens trust in pan-European ecommerce
Trusted Shops, Europe’s market leader for the accreditation of online shops, is teaming up with IMRG (Interactive Media in Retail Group) the UK’s industry association for e-retail and its ISIS (Internet Shopping is Safe) trust scheme to create a standard European trustmark and strengthen both initiatives.
This alliance will promote trust in ecommerce throughout Europe as consumers can easily identify and buy from accredited retailers with complete confidence.
This merger will strengthen the Europe-wide trustmark that retailers can use to expand their markets into new countries without having to ensure a strong physical footprint. At the same time, consumers can also access a wider range of products by shopping with European retailers.
“The need for a strong, single European trustmark is clear,” commented
Jean-Marc Noël, Managing Director at
Trusted Shops. “Online retailers throughout Europe need to expand their market and target customers outside of their own country. Without ecommerce, this is a prohibitively expensive venture; safe, secure online shopping gives these organisations the opportunity to sell to more customers, and gives shoppers the confidence to buy.”
“We have compelling data which shows that the future of retail customer relationships is online,” commented
James Roper, CEO,
IMRG. “Our research reveals that retailers need to address the security and certainty concerns of their online audience – which is international now, not just within the borders of a city or country. This alliance between Trusted Shops and IMRG strengthens both trustmark schemes and will enable European growth for internet retailers.”
Retailers that go through the accreditation process will be able to assure full buyer protection to consumers, making it easy and safe for them to shop online with complete confidence. Detailed audits and safe ecommerce practices will ensure that consumers can make purchases through websites carrying the trustmark, safe in the knowledge that their experience will be as safe as if they went into a high street store.
Malcolm Harbour MEP and Chairman of the European Parliament's
Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee welcomed the strengthening of the Trustmark Online initiative: “Our Committee has been calling for more intensive efforts to raise consumer confidence to boost internet shopping especially across Single Market borders. This new collaboration should have the scale to promote Trustmarks to consumers and encourage more take up by retailers."
About Trusted Shops: Trusted Shops is the leading service provider for secure Online shopping in Europe. Since the company was founded in 1999, over 10,000 retailers have been accredited. Trusted Shops offers a comprehensive service for the benefit of both - shop operator and consumer, which encompasses Customer Rating, Legal Compliance and Money-back guarantee.
About IMRG:IMRG (Interactive Media In Retail Group) is the UK’s industry association for e-retail. Formed in 1990, IMRG is setting and maintaining pragmatic and robust e-Retail Standards to enable fast-track industry growth, and facilitates its community of members with practical help, information, tools, guidance and networking. Consumers can be confident when dealing with IMRG Members because all have committed to operate using methods that are Honest, Decent, Legal, Truthful and Fair, and have undertaken to not bring the industry into disrepute. The strength of IMRG is the collective and co-operative power of its members.
For further details and information, please contact us at:
Press Contact:
Trusted Shops GmbH
Colonius Carré
Subbelrather Str. 15c
50823 Köln
LEWIS PR
Tel.: 0207 – 802 26 26
E-Mail:
trustedshopsuk@lewispr.comwww.trustedshops.co.ukOlaf Groß
Tel.: 0221 – 775 36 329
E-Mail:
olaf.gross@trustedshops.dewww.trustedshops.de