The Very Group Appoints New Marketing Director

Announced 30 September, The Very Group has appointed Beckie Crane-Stanion as its new Marketing Director.

In her new role with the brand, which operates digital retailers Very and Littlewoods, Beckie will lead the brand, creative and marketing at the group, overseeing its interaction with customers across all key channels. She will also be responsible for managing various teams across brand, marketing and Hellostudio – the firm’s in-house creative agency.

Commenting on her appointment, Beckie says: “I’m incredibly excited to join the team at Very. It’s such an iconic retailer with years of heritage and experience of supporting families. There is no better time to have a focus on how we serve this customer as we evolve the Very brand for its next exciting phase.”

Sam Wright, Chief Customer and Commercial Officer at The Very Group adds: “Our customers are at the heart of what we do and we’re proud to be able to offer a great range of products with flexible ways to pay across our department store. Beckie has joined the business at an exciting time as we go into the next iteration of our brand journey, aiming to increase reach and grow our brand even further.”

Creatively bold strategies

Prior to joining Very, Beckie most recently spent a year at jewellery expert Abbott Lyon as its Global Brand Director – responsible for leading its evolution from a jewellery brand to a global lifestyle and gifting destination.

Beckie also brings experience from Frasers and an agency where she worked with big brands like UEFA, The FA and the NFL – a career that has explored marketing strategies in the fashion, sport and beauty industry.

Online retailers are on the rise

With over a hundred years of history, Very has worked towards positioning itself as the most trusted ecosystem for families. The brand focuses on three core pillars to achieve its mission – ease, choice and understanding.

However, now with the world gradually turning more towards digitalisation, customers’ shopping habits have changed and online retailers are having to reinvent themselves.

A 2025 Statista report revealed that online shopping accounts for approximately 21% of all global retail sales. With that figure expected to rise, more retailers will be looking at operating online.

A core example of this is fashion retailer Primark. Originally unavailable online and relying on word-of-mouth as opposed to advertising campaigns, it has reinvented itself over the past five years to keep up with demand.

Now featuring a click and collect option whereby customers can browse online and pick up their orders the next day from the store, Primark launched its first campaign last year which was distributed to TV, out-of-home and social channels.

As more businesses are turning to the digital route, Beckie’s appointment could help Very at a pivotal moment as she continues to lead the brand through competition.

Who are The Very Group's key partners?

• Carlyle – Carlyle is a US-based global investment firm that became The Very Group's controlling shareholder, ending the Barclay family's 20-year involvement. It had been Very's biggest lender, and it is reportedly preparing a £2 billion auction of the business.
• Adidas – German sportswear giant Adidas partnered with Very on a stockless fulfilment model, where some products ship directly from the brand to customers. The arrangement doubled the number of Adidas products available on Very, though the details come from older reporting.
• Dentsu – Dentsu, the Japan-headquartered global advertising and communications network, holds The Very Group's media agency account. This sits separately from the creative work led by The Gate.