A SHIPLEY-based online retailer has announced a major investment of £2.5 million.

SportsShoes.com will enhance its technology infrastructure and expand its IT team to 21 people. 

The firm's investment forms part of the online running shoes, running clothing and outdoor gear retailer’s ongoing strategic expansion plan.

The news comes after SportsShoes.com announced it was investing £2.5m in a 10,750 sq ft creative and tech hub called Unit 2 next to its Shipley head office and warehouse facilities.

Established in 1982 by former Bradford City player Bruce Bannister, the online retailer offers customers more than 17,000 products from 150 global running and outdoor brands.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: SportsShoes.com has started work on a 10,750 sq ft creative and tech hub called Unit 2 adjacent SportsShoes.com has started work on a 10,750 sq ft creative and tech hub called Unit 2 adjacent (Image: SportsShoes.com)

Running brands include Asics, Nike, Adidas, Hoka and New Balance, whilst Haglöfs, Montane, Rab and Patagonia are among the outdoor names.

The recent IT recruits include a head of engineering, a data and analytics manager, an IT operations manager, a product manager as well as a junior support manager and four developers.

SportsShoes.com has also invested in a new ecommerce platform and has further bolstered its internal IT infrastructure.

Jon Cleaver, SportsShoes.com’s chief technology officer, said: “We want our website and online retail experience to be best-in-class, so we have invested significantly in people, processes and technologies to enable us to achieve that objective.

“We are also dedicated to continuous improvement and will be utilising the new internal infrastructure and software to ensure it further drives SportsShoes.com’s innovation, ambition and expansion plans.”

The IT team will be based in the company’s Unit 2 creative and tech hub, which is due to be ready for occupation by the end of the year.

The new facility will accommodate an additional 100 people over two floors and SportsShoes.com is anticipating recruiting more coders and developers in the near future as the business grows.

Dan Cartner, SportsShoes.com’s head of marketing, added: “Our marketing and IT teams work as a collective to ensure we create an outstanding retail experience both online and offline.

“This investment further enhances our ability to connect with, and serve, our customers and athlete community by being even more responsive to their needs.

“It means we can play an even bigger role in helping people achieve their own running, outdoor and fitness goals at whatever level that might be.”

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