Catch Group has today announced it’s venturing into offline retailing, confirming the launch of the first Catch branded retail store by the end of the year.

The move follows the e-commerce group’s recent launch of luxury travel site Bon Voyage and Catch Marketplace, as it looks to step up expansion and deepen its offering for the retailer’s over five million customers.

“We believe the Catch retail store will have a better offer than other mixed and specialist retailers both from a merchandising and pricing perspective,” said Nati Harpaz, CEO Catch Group.

The retailer is currently seeking a 1500-2000Sqm commercial  property in Melbourne.

The store will carry around 3000-4000 products, across multiple categories, including the relaunched Pumpkin Patch brand.

The expansion offline is a natural extension for the retailer, according to Harpaz, who said the move will allow the group to target new customers.

“Online retail still represents a small percentage of overall retail sales,” he said.

“Having a physical space is still the best way to acquire new customers and then, over time, migrate them to our online stores.

“In our view, there is no online or offline, it’s just one retail, as as such, it’s important to be where our customers are and provide them with the choice to shop where and when they want. Whether that is online, on a mobile device via our apps, or in store.”

Catch Group will also introduce a range of new delivery options such as click and collect in-store, and shop in-store with home delivery.

The retailer said it plans to expand its retail footprint further with additional stores around the country.

Read more about Catch Group’s bricks and mortar foray in this week’s magazine.

Nati Harpaz, CEO of Catch Group, is the chairman of Octomedia, Inside Retail’s parent company.

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