Aero Commerce hails potential after revealing Zip partnership

An ecommerce platform has joined forces with a payments processor in a move bosses say will help “partners and merchants grow”.

Aero Commerce is working with global buy-now-pay-later provider Zip.

Officials say retailers using the Aero platform can seamlessly offer Zip at checkout, allowing customers to pay over four interest-free instalments.

Aero – based in Middlesbrough – works with a network of more than 90 partner agencies that integrate the platform into ecommerce sites they build for national and international brands.

Zip is chosen across many retail sectors, from homeware and entertainment to fashion, sport and travel, and recently launched in the UK, having been founded in Australia in 2013.

It processes $7.5 billion in payments every year and has already reached agreements with several major UK retailers, such as Boohoo and Homebase, and has further agreements with football clubs Celtic and Crystal Palace.

Richard Bendelow, Aero chief executive and founder, said: “Zip is an excellent addition to the UK buy-now-pay-later market and we were pleased to work with them to embed its four-payment product into Aero and help them manage its roll out to our Aero agency and retailer network.

“The flexibility of Zip’s payment solution provides consumers with a strong checkout choice, which in turn helps drive up conversion rates, average order values and customer retention for retailers.”

Belinda Mackey, Zip senior partnerships manager, added: “We share the same values and ambition as Aero’s team – to bring our retailers customer-focused technology that improves brand experience and drives growth.

“We’re perfectly positioned to help partners and merchants grow as we bring our global capability to market.”

One of the first companies to have benefitted from Aero’s partnership with Zip has been North East retailer Wave Direct, which sells inflatables across the home, sport and leisure markets.

Tom Jeffrey, managing director, added: “By working with Aero we’ve been able to easily build in more features and services, which provide a better shopping experience for our customers, as well as drive our business performance.

“We’re excited to offer Zip as a payment option because our customers want this flexible way to pay and it’s another great reason to shop with us.”

Picture caption: Aero Commerce’s Richard Bendelow, left, with the firm’s chief technology officer Matt Burton