Electrocomponents Joins Leading Industry Players to Shape the Future of e-Retail

OXFORD, England, January 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

- IMRG Senate Membership Reflects Electrocomponents Commitment to eCommerce Innovation

Electrocomponents plc (LSE:ECM), the world's largest high service distributor of electronics and maintenance products, announced it has become a Senate Member of IMRG, the UK's industry association for global e-retail.

"We're delighted that Electrocomponents has joined our prestigious list of 22 Senate Members to help us promote standards and best practices in the industry," said James Roper, Chief Executive at IMRG. "The expertise that they bring from their specialist area will prove invaluable as we continue to shape the future of e-retailing. Electrocomponents will play an important role in the Senate thanks to the company's innovative online strategy and focus on continuous improvement."

As a Senate Member Electrocomponents, trading as RS Components and Allied Electronics, joins other industry leaders such as Microsoft, Tesco, DHL and John Lewis Partnership, to realise the community's vision to maximise the commercial potential of online shopping. The Senate directs activities, steers policy, governs codes of practice and provides leadership for IMRG membership and the wider e-retail community.

"As a leading industry player in the eCommerce arena, we are committed to providing our customers with a sophisticated and innovative end-to-end online experience," said Keith Reville, General Manager eCommerce, Electrocomponents. "Our eCommerce strategy has transformed the way we do business and the service we offer to our customers. We've capitalised on new technologies to improve performance such as more customised information and marketing programs, and the rapid introduction of new products. We feel that our experience and the results we have seen from our approach to understanding our customers will be valuable to other IMRG members and we welcome the opportunity to contribute and benefit from our Senate membership."

About IMRG:

IMRG (Interactive Media in Retail Group) is the industry body for global e-retail. Formed in 1990, IMRG is setting and maintaining pragmatic and robust e-retail standards to enable fast-track industry growth, and facilitates its community of members with practical help, information, tools, guidance and networking. Consumers can be confident when dealing with IMRG Members because all interact in an environment where they are encouraged to operate using methods that are Honest, Decent, Legal, Truthful and Fair, and have undertaken to not bring the industry into disrepute. The strength of IMRG is the collective and cooperative power of its members. For more information please visit http://www.imrg.org/ or email market@imrg.org.

About Electrocomponents plc

Electrocomponents is the world's largest distributor of electronics and maintenance products serving 1.5 million customers worldwide. Through operations in 27 countries and 17 warehouses, the Group distributes 500,000 products ranging from semiconductors and optoelectronics to power tools and protective clothing. The product and service portfolio supports the entire product lifecycle from R&D through pre-production to maintenance and repair, shipping around 40,000 orders on the same day they are received.

RS Components and Allied Electronics are the trading brands of Electrocomponents plc. The Group is listed on the London Stock Exchange and in the last financial year to 31 March 2010 had revenues of GBP972.6 million. For more information, please visit the website at http://www.electrocomponents.com

    
    Further information is available via these links:

    Twitter: @RSElectronics

    Tweet: Electrocomponents Joins @imrgupdate to Shape the Future of
    e-Retail http://ow.ly/3zXgA

    Hashtags: #ecommerce

    RS Components on Linkedin
    http://www.linkedin.com/company/rs-components

    Relevant Links:
    Electrocomponents plc
    http://www.electrocomponents.com

    RS Components
    http://www.rs-components.com
    
    Editorial Contact:

    Andrea Barnard
    Electrocomponents
    andrea.barnard@electrocomponents.com
    +44(0)1865-207464