Leading high street fashion retailer French Connection has expanded its digital market.

The popular fashion label has announced the activation of a new online service that allows customers to rate its products.

Utilising the social commerce platform Bazaarvoice, French Connection hopes that by encouraging consumers to go online and rate their offerings, customers will be able to share their shopping experiences with their peers to enable the public to make better-informed decisions, while the initiative will also have the added benefit of a likely reduction in the number of returns.

The retailer can also keep abreast of what its customers are saying and tailor their services accordingly, such as using descriptions from reviewers to shape their own presentation and description. The move is the first of several new marketing strategies from French Connection, which is also looking at the addition of an online video sharing service for customers to model items in addition to other digital engagement such as a soon to be released mini-series that will feature on You Tube.

The digital revolution is part of the present ‘The man and the woman’ advertising campaign that will use a series of short films to showcase the forthcoming autumn collection, where viewers can click on the featured items to purchase online. The move is all part of a greater push to bring in-store facilities to in-home, as many customers do not have the time or opportunity to spend hours trying on sizes and models in fitting rooms to make their decision.

The hottest fashion accessory this summer is undoubtedly the chic new Apple iPad. Now, thanks to the kind folks at Carrentals.co.uk, you could soon be enjoying the summer season in style with the launch of the new ‘Carrentals Video Challenge’.

To be in with a chance to take home the latest must-have in technology, the 16GB Apple iPad, or even shopping vouchers from John Lewis for runners-up, you will need to source your own car-related video which will make the team of judges at carrentals laugh. This will need to be posted on YouTube, before you send an email to the dedicated website at the Carrentals.co.uk YouTube page which uses ‘Carrentals Video Challenge’ in its subject line.

It’s free to enter so get filming, and make sure you submit your entry before the September 30 deadline, with the winner to be announced on October 14. The complete terms and conditions can be found at carrentals.co.uk/video-comp.

Carrentals supremo Gareth Robinson says: “We know what an important role video plays on the Internet these days, which is why we wanted to bring together a selection of the best car-related clips for people to watch all in one place. The videos can be on anything relating to cars, but have to make the Carrentals judges laugh and they must be legal, safe and comply with all terms and conditions for the entrant to be in with a chance of winning an iPad.”