Natalie Massenet

Melissa Campanelli is Editor-in-Chief of Total Retail. She is an industry veteran, having covered all aspects of retail, tech, digital, e-commerce, and marketing over the past 20 years. Melissa is also the co-founder of the Women in Retail Leadership Circle.

OK, as a journalist, I’m not supposed to show any allegiance to a brand. I'm supposed to be unbiased and straightforward with just the facts, ma’am. And most of the time I am. But I’ve been reading a lot about the cool stuff online luxury retailer Net-A-Porter has been doing lately, and I can’t contain my excitement. Here are three reasons I think it's a great company:

Luxury e-commerce destination Net-a-Porter launched out of the London flat of founder Natalie Massenet in 2000, a time when few thought $1,000+ dresses and shoes could be sold online in any significant volume. It was the tail-end of the dot-com bubble, and Net-a-Porter survived its burst, turning a profit for the first time in 2004, and selling to Swiss luxury goods holding company Richemont at a value of $533 million in 2010.

Luxury online retailer Net-a-Porter is hoping to tap into the demand for expensive childrenswear, home furnishings and cosmetics with early-stage plans for three new websites. Net-a-Porter, founded in June 2000 by Natalie Massenet, already sells designer clothes and accessories for women, as well as menswear via MrPorter.com, launched a year ago, and the discount designer sector with TheOutnet.com that launched in 2009.

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