| I went to a business network event today and one of | | | | David then has the products made in China to a high |
| the many interesting people I met was a business | | | | standard with quality materials and has them shipped |
| woman called Lucy. | | | | to Lucy's e-commerce warehouse where they are |
| Lucy is the Sales and Marketing Manager for an | | | | received in bulk and then dispatched to David's |
| e-warehousing company which offers customers the | | | | customers individually. David never sees the |
| opportunity to conduct e-commerce in any industry | | | | merchandise and never has to open a box or post a |
| where a large operating base would normally be | | | | parcel. |
| required. Her business makes it possible for a business | | | | He set his business up with an on-line shop designed |
| to be run from a modest office, even a spare | | | | and built by a local Coventry website designer. |
| bedroom or study, while at the same time offering | | | | Case Study 3. |
| customers bulk distribution of large consignments. | | | | While visiting a relative in Hong Kong who runs a PC |
| Lucy's business means her customers can sell a truck | | | | repair business, Sue saw a business opportunity when |
| full of products without ever seeing or touching the | | | | she saw how her cousin was able to buy parts and |
| merchandise. | | | | accessories for such incredibly low prices in bulk. Sues |
| Case Study 1. | | | | cousin said that he would introduce her to his supplier. |
| Laws Hygiene Supplies is a business run by Colin from | | | | Sue started her little venture by trading on e bay and |
| his home. Colin does not have the use of a garage, | | | | after just 6 months demand was so high she decided |
| warehouse, storage building, or depot he only has a | | | | to have her own website and grow her new business |
| small garage at home. Laws Hygiene buys-in | | | | to keep up with demand and to make the whole |
| wholesale cleaning materials and chemicals from | | | | buying process much more straightforward for her |
| manufacturers and then sells and delivers the products | | | | customers. She needed an e-commerce on line shop |
| to customers such as butchers, restaurants, nursing | | | | website and she wanted it designed, built and launched |
| homes, factories, auto repair garages and many other | | | | as quickly as possible. Sue needed the site to be |
| businesses. | | | | reliable, easy for her to operate, and she wanted to |
| Laws Hygiene's customers place orders using | | | | engage a local Coventry Wesbsite Designer who |
| e-commerce on Laws online shop. Colin checks the | | | | was reliable and easy to talk to and who could visit |
| orders every morning and then goes to the | | | | her easily. She also wanted to know what the cost |
| e-warehouse and loads his van with stock from his | | | | would be right from the start so there were no hidden |
| storage area. Once his stock levels drop below a | | | | surprises when the final invoice was submitted! |
| certain threshold he is alerted automatically by e-mail. | | | | Sue found exactly what she was looking for and |
| He can then choose to order further stock which will | | | | Stephen from the local Coventry web designers |
| then be delivered to the e-warehouse where the staff | | | | visited Sue at a time to suit her and her requirements |
| will receive it and store it in the correct location. This is | | | | were discussed. An outline design was agreed and |
| where e-warehousing comes in. Law's Hygiene are | | | | then content was supplied by Sue to Stephen. The on |
| capable of operating on a large scale without the | | | | line shop was launched 28 days later and Sue |
| massive overheads of a huge warehouse. This is | | | | informed all of her existing customers of her new |
| made possible with an online shop e-commerce | | | | website. She then inquired if could help with e-mail |
| website which only cost £999, and renting storage | | | | marketing and Stephen set up an e-mail marketing |
| space and material handling for an affordable fee. | | | | tool on her on line shop for a very reasonable price. |
| Laws Hygiene could have their orders delivered by the | | | | Now Sue was receiving so many orders that her |
| e-warehouse but prefers to deliver themselves so | | | | garage at home was unable to store the merchandise |
| they have regular face to face contact with their | | | | in a safe and secure way. She mentioned this to |
| customer. | | | | Stephen and he was able to recommend Sue to |
| The company that Lucy represents has a secure | | | | Lucy who could provide Sue with a virtual |
| 35,000 square foot facility which is equipped with the | | | | e-warehouse and distribution centre. This solution not |
| latest bar code and track and trace systems to | | | | only gave Sue her garage back for her beloved car, it |
| ensure accurate fulfilment of orders. The systems are | | | | also allowed Sue to concentrate on running her new |
| fully scalable, so they will do low volume say 1 pick per | | | | business instead of making up parcels and jiffy bags |
| week up to thousands of orders a day. The service | | | | to post out to her customers. |
| they offer is tailored to their customers' requirements | | | | These are 3 examples of how a business can benefit |
| Case Study 2. | | | | from a virtual large organisation while operating from a |
| Another example customer is David Lees who runs a | | | | modest base. Make the most of the services offered |
| business which offers made to measure suits and | | | | by other businesses which can help your business to |
| shirts, and handmade shoes. These luxury items of | | | | succeed. |
| clothing would cost a fortune at high end outfitters, but | | | | All of Lucy's e-warehouse customers operate an |
| David takes the order on his e-commerce | | | | e-commerce on-line shop which they need to be |
| website which includes measurements which the | | | | reliable and they need instant support when they have |
| customer has made themselves or they may have | | | | a problem. |
| been measured by a tailor or seamstress. | | | | |