The CEO of Sorted is targeting US expansion with £30 million in Series C investment – and says the firm will ‘hire at pace’.
The delivery platform has also acquired fellow Manchester firm Clicksit, an automated returns startup, giving its retail customers access to post-purchase experiences for the first time.
Adding six employees, it takes Sorted’s team to more than 115 people – the majority of which are in technology roles.
“We will continue to hire at pace over the coming months,” Carmen Carey, who took over as CEO in September, tells BusinessCloud.
“We have recently moved to a hybrid working model, allowing staff to work from home, or from our new London and Manchester office spaces. Adopting this approach means we can recruit the best talent, nationwide.
“In terms of international expansion, the new funds will help support our US ambitions and maintain our very strong growth trajectory.”
Clicksit has a growing number of US returns management customers and will bring further international presence to Sorted. The parent company has made its name serving enterprise customers including ASOS and Asda and says the acquisition will also bring industry-leading delivery experiences to the SME market for the first time.
Carey, described as a specialist ‘transformation CEO’, says the company’s growth trajectory has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Retailers have been increasingly demanding better delivery and returns experiences to differentiate themselves and improve the customer experience,” she says.
A non-executive director at Sorted for the past two years, she migrated into the role of CEO after securing board and investor support for its growth plan. The £30m investment was led by Chrysalis Investments and Arete Capital Partners.
Sorted says its existing products – including post-purchase tracking and communications platform SortedREACT – will undergo considerable development.
Thomas Hill, CEO at Clicksit, will become product director for returns within Sorted, while the Clicksit name and brand will remain active.
“Sorted’s acquisition of Clicksit has come at a pivotal moment for the retail industry,” said Hill. “Customers are now expecting – and demanding – faultless delivery and returns experiences as standard, regardless of whether they order from a large multinational brand or a small business.
“Sorted’s acquisition of Clicksit will empower retailers and brands to provide industry-leading customer experiences at a time when the trading environment is more competitive than ever.”
Shaz Sulaman, founder at Solid Bond Capital and chairman and main investor in Clicksit, commented: “News of the investment and the partnership between Sorted and Clicksit is a great fit for both businesses, and I am proud of Thomas’ journey so far.
“As new shareholders in Sorted Group, we very much look forward to seeing Carmen and the team grow the business and serve the new growing global customer base.”