Spring 2007

Rebelio, the latest wunderkind of the web retailing scene, has burst on to the UK market through a wide-ranging fulfilment contract with Swift FM.

Not only is Swift providing the stock management and the fulfilment back end; its premises in Rugby are also listed by the Rebelio web site as its UK trading address.

Rebelio, a consumer electronics and high-tech retailer, was founded in 2005 by group chief executive Luis Krug, and has quickly expanded into half a dozen countries including Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. It is already said to be turning over 50 million euros a year.

Its UK launch focused on cameras, MP3 players, car audio and video cameras, but new categories such as satnav are being rolled out week by week.

Swift FM's head of operations, Mark Bridges, points out that because Rebelio is carrying a very wide range, 'stock is very fast-moving and we have to be geared up to take on a new line at very short notice.'