Online retailer Naturshop sets up in the UK

Conrad Cranfield and his wife, Natalie, owners of the Mount Maunganui-based Natureshop, have been in England since September to set up the new distribution and customer-support system.
They found a suitable warehouse in the small seaside resort of Rustington in West Sussex, just along the coast from Brighton, and hired four staff.
Sixty per cent of Natureshop's online sales have occurred in Britain and another 10 per cent in Europe.
"They are more willing to shop online over there and the product we supply is good quality for the colder weather," said Natureshop general manager Rico Piagesti.
A recent report by Boston Consulting Group said the internet was worth £100 billion ($209.6 billion) to the British economy, making a larger contribution than transport or utilities, as the country becomes "a nation of digital shopkeepers".
The internet accounted for an estimated 7.2 per cent of gross domestic product and this could rise to 15 per cent within five years, the consulting group said. Britain also emerged as the largest exporter of e-commerce goods in the world.
Mr Piagesti will be replacing the Cranfields in January to run the overseas operation, which will service European, British and North American customers.
Founded in September 2007, Natureshop is introducing new products into the Britsh market and Mr Piagesti said Rustington would become a bigger logistical centre than the Mount.
Natureshop is adding KEEN footwear, Green Baby and Nature Bay organic clothing and other natural products. They will join other branded products such as Icebreaker pure merino wool garments, Silkbody natural silk clothing, Snugs sheepskin slippers, Bowron sheepskin rugs and Fairydown bedding.
Most of Natureshop's sales leads come through search-engine performance and online marketing through its three websites.
Up till now, it takes six working days to send product to customers in Britain and North America from the Mount. The new distribution centre in Rustington will provide an overnight service in the British market.
"It reduces costs and makes it cheaper for us," said Mr Piagesti.
After operating for three years, Natureshop has topped $5 million turnover and, last week, was named the country's fastest-growing exporter.
With 1106 per cent growth in that period, it was listed as the second fastest-growing company on the Deloitte Fast 50 index, and it was also the fastest growing retail or consumer products business.
Hamilton Deloitte partner Doug Wilson said Natureshop achieved its outstanding success in the Fast 50 this year because it was able to clearly identify a niche global market for high-end natural products, and be focused about how best to target consumers.
Mr Cranfield said the awards gave his company the credibility to buy greater numbers of quality brands to offer customers.
Construction company Cook Brothers was again named in the Top 50 with growth of 162.33 per cent - and its office in Tauranga helped maintain the momentum. Last year, Cook Brothers was ranked 48th, and this time 49th. Cook Brothers commercial manager Nigel Silvester, based in Tauranga, said his firm was the only construction company in the Top 50 - and the closest to the building industry was Hamilton's Eco Insulation, ranked 13th.
Cook Brothers, established six years ago by engineers Dave and Ben Bulling, made its first move out of Dunedin by setting up the Waikato/Bay of Plenty regional office in April last year with four permanent builders.
Eighteen months later, the regional office in Tauranga operates a team of 20, including 16 full-time builders, a project manager and quantity surveyor.
"Our work has increased 400 per cent in that time - 80 per cent commercial and 20 per cent residential," said Mr Silvester.
It is working on nine projects, including a $1 million Performing Arts Centre at the Mercury Bay School in Whitianga, a $1 million administration block at the Melville High School in Hamilton, an Omanu Primary School staff-room upgrade, shop fit-outs at The Base in Hamilton and Bayfair Shopping Centre, and a new house in Bethlehem.
"We have a full order book through to February and I'm pretty sure we can double our work next year," said Mr Silvester.
"Last year was tough for the construction industry and we broke into the (local) market during the middle of winter - and we've just gone from strength to strength.
"It was a bit of a gamble but it was worthwhile coming to Tauranga, and a lot of our work is from the schools."
It opened offices in Queenstown and Auckland this year.