E-business adviser boosts online revenue

A Shropshire marketing and e-business solutions provider is offering traders a way of boosting their online revenue as the credit crunch affects retail sales on the high street.

Shrewsbury-based BeVivid has developed a cost-effective package of website development and new product branding aimed at importers and wholesalers who are keen to develop extra product lines without upsetting their existing retail customers.

Peter Riches, MD at BeVivid, explained: "Based on our e-commerce and marketing experience there is an opportunity for importers who supply the high street to maintain their business relationships with retailers and do all they can to support them, but at the same time there is a real need to survive and adapt to the e-commerce environment.

"From visiting the Spring and Autumn fairs I have a firm belief that many wholesalers are missing a golden opportunity: a prime example is Rebound Sports, a client who was regularly importing from the Far East - he came across a product that he believed could be sold direct via the web rather than through his wholesale channels.

"Following our initial research we designed a logo, helped with trademark registration, designed retail packaging and created an e-commerce website".

Rebound Sports, described by the company's MD, Dave Riley, as a "tennis style innovative racket and ball game" was the first product he developed using the BeVivid model.

Commenting on its success, he said: "Product sales have gone from strength to strength since we established the website at www.reboundsports.co.uk.

"In fact, the high demand inevitably led to retail contracts with the likes of Lakeland, Marks and Spencer, Scotts of Stow and the Great Little Trading Co.

However, we have vowed never to undercut our retailers and because of that they're happy for us to sell direct through our website.

"We will be taking this successful formula a step further with the launch of a new range of products later in 2008, based on cricket, football, darts and the Olympics".

Riches was keen to point out that the solution is not designed as an overnight fix but takes time to mature where tools such as search engine optimisation register the website with the likes of Google, Yahoo and MSN.

He concluded: "Businesses considering an idea now may have something in time for Christmas 2008.

"If 2007 is anything to go by where online sales in the last quarter were GBP17.6bn, up 82 per cent on 2006 and 4.4 million people bought goods over the internet on Christmas Day alone, there is definite potential".

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