Online marketplaces offer independent bricks-and-mortar retailers an impressive platform from which to sell not but nationally, but globally. Would any of these be appropriate for your store
downyourhighstreet.com
Who it’s for
Any bricks-and-mortar retailer able to facilitate their own orders. The sectors it covers are far-reaching, from fashion and gift to homewares and toys, health and beauty.
What they have to say
Dan Whytock, director of Down Your High Street (DYHS), says: “We believe independent shop owners deserve a level playing field that provides them with all the tools to build their online presence to a national status.
“We aim to serve the high street and that is why you have to have a bricks-and-mortar store for us to work with you. The only requirement is that you are able to facilitate your own orders. We encourage retailers to offer discounts for click-and-collect on local orders as getting a buyer in to a shop can lead to further sales.
“There are no start-up costs and you only start paying commission when you make a sale. Exclusively for Bira members, commission starts at 5%. At no extra cost we will sync up your own website and Epos so that you can see live updates on your stock quantities.
“One of our greatest assets is our PR and marketing support. We have really good relationships with national TV and have recently had fashion retailer Artichoke of Ely (a Bira member) promoted on ITV, and they had a massive increase in sales through our platform.”
What their members have to say
Sarah Simonds, owner of Artichoke, says: “We heard about Down Your High Street through Bira just before Christmas and our website advisor told us it would help with our own SEO (search engine optimisation), so we thought we’d give it a go. We only have a few items that we upload to the site, basic items that we have stock behind and a variety of sizes available, like jeans.
“In just two days we received 350 orders for our range of jeans that were featured on the ITV show Lorraine as a result of us being on DYHS. Presenter Mark Hayes wants to support independents, but requires national availability.”
trouva.com
Who it’s for
Trouva operates on a ‘quality over quantity’ mentality. The team looks for boutique owners who share their passion for great design and unique products, and are driven by a strong aesthetic. Obviously, they need a bricks-and-mortar presence. Sales commission varies but is typically 22%.
What they have to say
Mandeep Singh, CEO and co-founder of Trouva, says: “Signing up to Trouva is a win-win situation for independent retailers, even if they already run their own ecommerce. Their own websites are great for attracting existing customers who already know about them. But by being part of Trouva, they are opening themselves up to a truly global customer base, turning their offline shop into an online powerhouse. With over 40 of our boutiques achieving over £100,000 in sales directly through Trouva.com, the opportunities for growth are substantial.
“Trouva is on a mission to help independent retailers to thrive, not just survive. By providing these small businesses with the technology, scale and marketing resources they need to sell effectively online, Trouva is enabling our network of independents to reach a wider global audience and compete with the ecommerce giants and chain retailers.
“Upon joining Trouva, shops gain access to our state-of-the-art technology platform, which enables everything from live inventory management through to logistics including click-and-collect, express shipping and worldwide delivery. Our built-in live inventory tool allows retailers to easily upload products to a dashboard and manage stock online hassle-free, whenever and wherever they want. They’ll also benefit from increased exposure through our extensive in-house PR and marketing activity.
“As a result, while we’re handling operations and assisting with promotion of products online, our independent boutique owners are free to focus on what they do best - building a beautiful offline experience and sourcing the very best products worldwide to stock in their stores.”
What their members have to say
Holly Wilson, owner of Prep cookshop, who was featured on the cover of our Jan/Feb issue, said: “Having an online offering is essential these days in order to succeed. As a business owner, I was faced with the choice between investing in building my own website or launching a second bricks-and-mortar shop. Being a part of the Trouva community meant I could do both, it enabled me to open another store while also building that all important online presence. I get a lot of sales when I’m not open, which means thanks to Trouva, I’m winning business I’d never normally have.”
atterley.com
Who it’s for
Atterley’s team scouts the top independent fashion retailers globally to create a directory of over 650 stylish boutique brands. Sales commission is in the region of 15%.
What they have to say
Mike Welch, chairman of Atterley, says: “For years small independents have been marginalised by big retailers, who rely on exclusivity from brands for margin and differentiation.
"So often brands that are nurtured by smaller boutiques end up being cherry-picked by big retailers who take control of the pricing and margin opportunity.
"This means buyers in an independent store need to buy better, keener and faster.
“Our success today has largely been due to our embracing these buyers and their incredible vision and work ethic. A boutique customer enjoys searching a boutique environment with its curated brands, eclectic collections and hard-to-find styles. At Atterley that same customer can now shop that range multiplied, discovering more from the boutique alongside collections from a community of global retailers.
“Our boutique partners are able to sell their collections globally to over 90 countries. Supply chain and scaling opportunities are afforded by the consolidation that Atterley provides to its partner boutiques. So often on their own, they just could not justify the associated costs. Our team focuses on the acquisition of customers and delivering a first-class service level without distraction.”
What their members have to say
Zoie Walker, owner of 32 The Guild in North-ampton, says: “Atterley provides us with another online platform and gives us incredible exposure to thousands of people who may not have discovered us otherwise. Atterley’s branding and marketing strategies are contemporary and fun, which suits our ethos and customer demographic perfectly. Our whole experience has been a positive one. All our queries are promptly responded to and we feel their service genuinely offers support and promotes growth of small indies."
