H&M delays launch of online retailing in U.S.

Swedish fashion retailer Hennes & Mauritz will postpones its launch of online retailing in the U.S. until next summer,

the

Wall Street Journal

reported.

This marks the second time that H&M has delayed online retailing in the U.S., the report noted.

The company, which is controlled by the Persson family, said it needed more time to fix problems related to security, information technology, logistics and payment and wanted to focus on a planned global online rollout, the

Journal

article said.

H&M also said it would introduce a chain of upscale stores aimed at women, called “& Other Stories,” next spring, the article said.

H&M’s main competitor, Spain’s Inditex — also a family-controlled company — has already debuted online selling in the U.S. and plans to add products from its Massimo Dutti and Zara Home bands to its U.S. Internet offerings, the

Journal

article said. (Source:

Wall Street Journal,

Sept. 27, 2012.)