LYONSCG has Landed in London
We are very excited to announce that, as of Monday, August 4, we have officially opened an office in London, England! This office positions LYONSCG to better serve our customers and to reach a broader new market. The office is located at 55 Old Broad Street in the north of the City of London, the historic heart of the capital and one of the world’s leading financial services centers.
Our customers are increasingly interested in doing business globally, and the London office supports our clients’ business goals of reaching larger markets, and enables them to fully maximize their potential. A presence in Europe not only gives LYONSCG the chance to enable our customers to expand internationally, but also allows us to reach a new market that is currently underrepresented in the eCommerce industry. By positioning ourselves physically in Europe, we can better serve companies in a new market to realize their eCommerce goals.
Mary Clare Riordan: You’ve worked with customers in the US for a while and with European customers for the last several months. What are the biggest similarities and differences between eCommerce in Europe and the US?
Ashkan Farhadieh: “Whether you’re a retailer in Europe, the United States, Asia, or anywhere else, the fact is that the future of retail is online. It’s imperative for retailers to have robust sites online and to take advantage of the latest technologies and trends out there. The customers I’ve worked with in both the US and Europe are similar because they’re all concerned about their online presence and about implementing omni channel eCommerce solutions.
There are, of course, some cultural differences between the US and Europe, but beyond that, one thing I’ve noticed is that technologies available to US retailers are only now starting to become widespread in Europe. There’s a lot of opportunity for European retailers to take advantage of these platforms and services to really expand their businesses and fuel growth.”
MCR: What trends or issues do you see impacting customers in Europe?
AF: “Internalization should be a huge priority for European online retailers. There are almost 750 million people living in Europe with all different kinds of languages, cultures, and for some, currencies. Unlike the US market which has almost 315 million people alone, European retailers have smaller numbers within their respective countries, and in order to capitalize on a larger scale, they must build their sites to reach a wider audience. While internalization is typically a Phase 2 endeavor for US retailers, it is an immediate need for European retailers, and usually addressed in Phase 1. This means more complicated work earlier for European retailers. The need is there for European retailers to tap into a larger market, so building sites with a global reach is a huge necessity.”
MCR: Why do you think customers should look to LYONSCG to realize their eCommerce potential?
AF: “LYONSCG is an impressive firm that is fully focused on eCommerce services. I truly believe you would be hard pressed to find another agency that has the breadth of experience and capability to serve the mid-market through enterprise accounts on the Magento, Demandware, and hybris platforms.
We already serve a number of UK based customers [Warner Music Group and WWRD], so we have experience working with local teams and are familiar with the European business practices. Also, we enabled a lot of our customers to globalize their sites, and we understand what it takes to succeed on a global scale.”
MCR: What are you most looking forward to in London?
“I am very excited to experience a new culture and to gain a better understanding of European business. I am looking forward to working with new brands and clients, and to lead the efforts of LYONSCG’s new office.”
MCR: What will you miss most about Chicago?
AF: “Italian beef. Pizza. And of course, family and friends!”
MCR: Last but not least, which football team will you be cheering for?
AF: “That’s a good question. I don’t want to make any enemies just yet…”
