Founded 3 years ago by two former WPP executives, the Horrea agency takes a strategic stake in the capital of CosaVostra, an agency recognized for its digital expertise and its influential podcast, The BasketFrance’s first e-commerce podcast.
If the financial details of the operation remain confidential, the co-founder of Horrea, Cédric Massonnat, insists on the fact that it is not a simple financial investment but a real industrial project: “We bring our know-how in managing service businesses and our ability to have an impact on the market”. The new group aims to transform the way brands interact with their consumers by combining creativity, technology and storytelling.
The two agencies highlight their complementarity, CosaVostra bringing its expertise in creativity and transformation of brands into media while Horrea stands out with its know-how in consulting and e-commerce operations. “We support our clients from the start to the end of their e-commerce transformation, from design to daily operation in a world where everything is becoming e-commerce”specifies Cédric Massonnat.
Towards a new business model
The concept of ‘Creative Commerce’ proposed by this alliance promotes a contemporary approach to online commerce: “traditional e-commerce is no longer enough, we must create experiences that captivate consumers”. This involves not only selling products but also creating memorable experiences that engage customers on an emotional level.
Among the agency’s prestigious clients, the Champagne Bollinger house was able to reconnect with its clients thanks to an application developed by Horrea which offers club members exclusive content, private events and unique products. “We created a club where fans can access experiences otherwise inaccessible, like private dinners or exclusive vintages”explains the manager. Horrea also supports the Nespresso group on key stages of the e-commerce site, such as the home page or the coffee page, which are critical audience hubs for the coffee specialist.
To meet the needs of its customers, Horrea has developed 360° support: “We don’t stop once the platform is launched; we operate these experiments over the long term”specifies Cédric Massonnat. The agency even acts as an e-commerce delegatee as with Campari – for its Aperol brand – by ensuring the direct management of all derivative products in Europe.
“Everything is becoming e-commerce”
The digital market is undergoing a significant transformation with international players like Publicis, WPP and Havas consolidating their positions through acquisitions, while facing the rise of specialized groups such as the French EDG (European Digital Group). In this competitive context, Horrea is positioning itself in the e-commerce vertical by emphasizing its unique expertise in this area.
“We want to distinguish ourselves with specific solutions to the challenges that brands encounter in their digital transformation”says Massonnat. This specialization allows Horrea to effectively address the varied needs of companies seeking to optimize their e-commerce performance while navigating a complex environment where innovation is essential. In this market, the digital commerce vertical “remains underexploited and poorly consolidated” despite the presence of specialists in digital marketing, CRM or even Paid Search.
Beyond the French market, Horrea has European ambitions by capitalizing on their expertise in e-commerce and their ability to create unique customer experiences. “We have already established strong partnerships with international brands (Nespresso, LVMH, Campari Group, editor’s note) and our objective is to increase our influence on the European market”he declares. Ultimately, the group wishes to become the preferred partner of brands seeking to develop on the European market.
