Accapi Group Launches Shopatron-Enabled Ruff Wear Online Store in the UK

SAN LUIS OBISPO, California, December 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Accapi's launch of a stand-alone online store for the Ruff Wear brand in the UK has got a lot of tails wagging. Through a partnership with Shopatron, the world's leading eCommerce provider for brands, dog owners in the UK can now access and buy Ruff Wear's popular line of dog gear online. Ruff Wear UK is the first company in the UK to launch a pet products web store with Shopatron.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101109/SHOPATRONLOGO)

According to the Pet Food Manufacturers Association's 2011 study, the UK has 7.3 million dog owners, accounting for 22% of all households. So it's no wonder demand in the UK for the Ruff Wear brand has grown considerably. The brand provides "dogs on the go" the gear they need for just about any activity-protective coats and booties, harness packs and lifejackets, portable bowls and beds, plus a wide selection of leashes, collars and toys. All Ruff Wear products are crafted from durable materials with close attention to quality and comfort.

The Accapi Group partnered with Ruff Wear in 2010 for distribution of their products into the UK. Because the Ruff Wear brand enjoys as much loyalty amongst its retailers as it does with pet owners, Accapi wanted an eCommerce solution in the UK that included retailers in the online sales process. Shopatron was the natural choice, given their eCommerce expertise and proprietary order exchange which allows online orders generated on the Ruff Wear website to be fulfilled by authorized Ruff Wear retailers.

"The response from our retailers has been very positive in supporting the distribution of the brand in the UK," said Andrew Geere, CEO of Accapi. "With Shopatron's retail-integrated fulfillment model, Ruff Wear's exclusive UK retailers service all sales generated on the UK Ruff Wear website. We project the website will increase our Ruff Wear sales to consumers, some who couldn't previously find items locally, and give our wholesale distribution a boost."

For more information about Shopatron, visit ecommerce.shopatron.com or call +1-866-625-5050.

About The Accapi Group

The Accapi Group is a UK-based distributor of premium brands in the outdoor, country and pet industries, including Nexus apparel, Kurgo, Planet Dog and Muddies, Superlite and Grub's boots. They have been working with Ruff Wear since 2010. Ruff Wear, the leader in performance dog gear, apparel and accessories, is based in Bend, Oregon. For more information visit: http://www.ruffwear.co.uk/ or http://www.accapigroup.co.uk/.

About Shopatron

Founded in 2001, Shopatron is the only eCommerce solution in the world that can drive more online sales while, at the same time, increasing a company's sales through the retail channel. Working with over 1,000 brands and 18,000 retail partners across more than 35 industries, Shopatron offers an innovative and flexible approach to eCommerce that matches the unique needs of branded manufacturers and multi-channel retailers.

With Shopatron's eCommerce solution for brands, Coex Freedom, manufacturers sell on their website and send orders to their retail partners for fulfillment. This solution eliminates channel conflict, builds retailer relationships, grows distribution and increases overall sales for the brand. Shopatron's solution for multi-channel retailers, Coex Private, allows retailers to fulfill orders from all inventory centers, including both retail stores and distribution centers. Shopatron's distributed order management model also enables in-store pickup to drive foot traffic into brick-and-mortar locations for additional services and add-on sales.

Shopatron clients include top brands such as Louisville Slugger, Suzuki, Polaroid, Mizuno, Ducati, JL Audio, American Tire Distributors and Sport Chalet. The company is headquartered in San Luis Obispo, Calif.