Top 50 in e-commerce announced

1a-JaneCay_editedBirdsnest founder Jane Cay has been named as the number one online retailer in a recent top 50 in e-commerce report.

An early adopter of e-commerce, Cay has transformed her womenwear brand from a small bricks-and-mortar operation in Cooma, NSW to an e-commerce powerhouse with more than 140 employees.

You can view the entire list of Internet Retailing’s top 50 in e-commerce for free in a report here.

Birdsnest is now turning over $20 million each year, with 94 per cent of total sales coming from e-commerce.

“Its great fun, its all about the people and any industry is made up of little humans running around doing the best they can with the small amount of time they’re given,” Cay said.

“To be recognised in a room of people who I’ve found to be so incredibly generous, we’re all terrified on this journey and we’re helping each other out … thank you.”

Cay was in good company in this year’s top 50 list and joined by some of the industry’s most high-profile veterans.

John Winning Jr, CEO of Winning Group, claimed the number two spot this year for his impressive work maintaining and expanding his family’s multi-generational retail business.

Winning has a big 2018 planned, with work underway on a new network of company-owned trucks following an outstanding Christmas period for both Winning Appliances and Appliances Online.

“It’s an absolute honour to be part of the top people in e-commerce in Australia and to be recognised as Internet Retailing’s top two people on their list. I’m incredibly proud of the Appliances Online team and what we have been able to achieve together in our 13th year of business,” Winning said.

“When I began Appliances Online in 2005, online retailing was in its infancy and I was faced with a challenge to educate people about the opportunities of e-commerce and how you can offer traditional customer service in a modern context.

“And now look at how far we have come as an industry; we should feel proud of how many successful e-commerce companies Australia has produced that are doing well locally and internationally.

“I would like to congratulate everyone who made the list and a huge congratulations to Jane Cay, Founder and CEO of Birdsnest, for being the top person in e-commerce for 2018. You are a great inspiration,” he continued.

He was followed by Adorebeauty’s Kate Morris, who launched her pureplay business in 1999 when she was 21 and recently bought back a stake in her business from Woolworths. She expects her business to turn over more than $25 million this year.

Morris is also a tireless advocate for women in the retail industry and has called on the sector to re-assess its approach to gender equality.

Coming in at number four is Flora & Fauna founder Julie Mathers, who founded her own beauty and lifestyle brand in 2014 after stints with Coles, Masters Home Improvement, John Lewis and Aeon.

Mathers is a believer in ethical business and has built her Flora & Faua on a foundation of sustainability, in both the way that it sources its products and how in how it interacts with customers post-purchase.

Domino’s head of digital Michael Gillespie came fifth and was recognised for his efforts spearheading Domino’s digital leadership in the quick-service restaurant sector.

Gillespie has proven himself to be capable of keeping up with CEO Don Meij’s ever-changing vision for the pizza giant, overseeing drone delivery trials and new digital platforms such as voice-assistant D.R.U.

Top 50 People in E-Commerce

  1. Jane Cay, Founder/CEO, birdsnest
  2. John Winning, CEO, Winning Group
  3. Kate Morris, Founder/CEO, Adore Beauty
  4. Julie Mathers, Founder/CEO, Flora & Fauna
  5. Michael Gillespie, Group chief digital officer, Domino’s Pizza Enterprises
  6. Nathan Bush, Group digital manager, Super Retail Group
  7. Nyree Corby, Founder/CEO, Fame and Partners
  8. Tony Nash, CEO, Booktopia
  9. Lucy Glade-Wright, Co-founder/CEO, Hunting for George
  10. Mark Teperson, Chief digital officer, Accent Group
  11. Andrew Gibbs, GM, Multichannel, Petstock
  12. Angus McDonald, GM, Multichannel, Supercheap Auto
  13. Elizabeth Abegg, Co-founder/director, Spell & The Gypsy Collective
  14. Adam Kron, GM, Catch Group
  15. Mark Coulter, Co-founder/CEO, Temple & Webster
  16. Patrick Schmidt, Co-CEO, Global Fashion Group
  17. Sven Lindell, CMO, Temple & Webster
  18. Jo Harris, Co-founder, Hunting for George
  19. Justin Dry, Co-founder/joint CEO, Vinomofo
  20. Julia Simmonds, Founder/CEO, Itchy Baby Co.
  21. Christian McGilloway, Chief technical innovation officer, Retail Zoo
  22. Jane Lu, Founder/CEO, Showpo
  23. Nathan Huppatz, Director, Directshop (Costumes.com.au)
  24. David Shafer, Executive director/COO/CFO, Kogan.com
  25. Ben Hare, Director/COO, TinyMe
  26. Lana Hopkins, Founder/CEO, Mon Purse
  27. Andre Eikmeier, Co-founder/CEO, Vinomofo
  28. Mike Wilson, Co-founder/director, TinyMe
  29. Kristy Chong, Founder/CEO, Modibodi
  30. Nadia Lotter, Brand director, Samantha Wills
  31. Erica Stewart, Founder/CEO, Hardtofind
  32. Ivan Lim, Co-founder/CEO, Brosa
  33. Wayne Baskin, Deputy CEO/CTO, Booktopia
  34. Pip Edwards, Co-founder/creative director, P.E Nation
  35. Audrey Khaing-Jones, Co-founder/COO, GlamCorner
  36. Dean Jones, Co-founder/CEO, GlamCorner
  37. Martin Hosking, CEO, Redbubble
  38. Jen Geale, Co-founder, Mountain Bikes Direct
  39. Basil Karam, CEO, Life Interiors
  40. Andrea Gonzalez, Global IT manager, commerce/experiences, Treasury Wine
  41. Carl Jackson, CEO, The MySale Group
  42. Irene Falcone, Founder/CEO, Nourished Life
  43. Mark Gray, Head of marketplace/cross-border trade, Catch Group
  44. Ruslan Kogan, CEO, Kogan.com
  45. Sandy Abram, Founder, Wholesome Hub
  46. Luke Jecks, Founder/CEO, Naked Wines
  47. Anna Forster, GM, operations/supply chain, Lux Group
  48. Dean Salakas, CEO, The Party People
  49. Amanda Green, Head of e-commerce, L’Oreal Australia
  50. Jodie Fox, Co-founder/chief creative officer, Shoes of Prey

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