View Entry
Company: Jaydons Ltd
Project: Trade Price - Direct to your Door
Dates: Feb 2007 to Feb 2009
Attachments: 
How did the project start?
This project was brought about through personal experience. Having to go to numerous suppliers whilst working for an SME - then spending precious time chasing up different order numbers, accounts and deliveries just to complete one single project.
What options did you consider?
We needed to create an e-commerce website for the public who could access it and purchase everything they required under one roof at trade prices. Saving them time, effort and money scouring numerous sites to get evrything they need. Offering customers "If we don't have it - ask jaydons" and we will try and get it for you. For a new business we have limited spending power compared to the 'big guns', so we know as time passes our spending power will increase, which means we can cut our prices further, which in turn generates more custom and so on... hoping that we will become an e-commerce leader.
What help and expertise did you receive?
Cash doesn't grow on tree's - so starting out alone, married and with three small children I approached Catalyst for assistance to help part fund the development of the e-commerce site, without which Jaydons would still be an idea in my head. With the exception of the e-commerce site development everything was done in-house, even all the policies.
Did you face any challenges or learn any lessons?
Thousands of hours were spent on development, adding products individually onto the site which took several months. The result is what you see today. Design was also an issue because we needed a professional yet attractive site because we retail not only to the general public but also to businesses and e-procurement buyers. So it had to be easy enough for all to use, offering a quick and easy passage to products and the check out. Yet not putting users off by flash images, promos and gizzmos that you get on some other e-commerce sites.
What are the outcomes and how has it improved your business?
We have over 30 different major suppliers providing us with: furniture, tools, kitchens, leisure & health products, electricals, garden, health & safety - with more to come in 2008; UK wide logistics; and stock availability at any one time in excess of £100m. Overall it has meant that an SME can compete for business with the 'big guns' and walk away smiling....
What are your plans for the future?
The teething period is over - now it is time to promote the business and achieve new heights. Increase in revenue is always first and foremost to help build a bigger and more robust business. National advertising in tabloid press should help increase hits to the e-commerce site to help achieve this. Finally, if someone 'up-there' is looking down on the business - a store open somewhere in the North East would 'top off' a very good year.
Readers Comments