NEWS
Phil Wrigley (left) with Steve Jones (right)
New website creates ‘even playing field’ for retailers
UK-only shopping portal lets businesses make their sales pitch directly to customers
By Nicky Trup
BRITISH RETAILERS are being offered the chance to bid for business online, using a new website that lets customers specify what they want before stores compete to sell it.
Ortso.com, which recently secured
a six-figure investment from retail veteran Phil Wrigley, went live on December 1st after being trialled for a year. Consumers list the products they are looking for and retailers then submit offers. While some shoppers may have a specific item in mind, others can be more general.
“It’s about allowing retailers to
compete on an even playing field,” Ortso’s chief executive Steve Jones told PCR. “We only allow verified UK businesses, not foreign firms that import their products at a very low price, and in some cases are not selling genuine products. “We allow the retailer to make their sales pitch directly to the customer, rather than just creating an ad. Retailers can see each other’s offers, which allows them to be competitive with their pricing.” The site currently has around 1,000 registered retailers, primarily
“So far retailers seem very positive and motivated – they want alternatives to eBay and Amazon, which are doing a very good job, but they want other
methods.” Steve Jones, Ortso
independents and specialists, and products are usually a mix of new and older stock. Electronics and computers are the biggest category, making up around 35 per cent of purchases. Ortso usually takes a seven per cent commission, but the firm is planning on offering commission-free periods to encourage more retailers to sign up, and a national advertising campaign will be launched in the New Year. “So far retailers seem very positive
and motivated – they want alternatives to eBay and Amazon, which are doing a very good job, but they want other methods,” Jones said.
Best Buy kicks off e-tail drive
Multinational big-box retailer opens UK’s first Facebook store, aims to compete with Amazon and
Play.com with online transactional portal
BEST BUY has begun a serious drive into the e-tail space as it aims to replicate its reputation for good in- store customer service online. The retailer launched the UK’s first
Facebook shop last month, allowing users to browse thousands of products without leaving the social networking site. Should they want to make a purchase, however, they will be transported to Best Buy’s new
transactional website, which has started taking orders for the first time since the chain made its UK debut back in April. DeVere Forster, Best Buy UK’s managing director for online, told PCR the delay was about ensuring the service was “as similar as possible to our in-store shopping experience”. “Providing a great customer experience is our top priority, both in
store and online. We have taken the time to develop our online store to ensure that it meets our exacting standards,” he said. When asked how Best Buy planned
to compete with e-tail giants Amazon and
Play.com, Forster said the firm was “very competitive online”. “We offer our compelling price match policy in stores and online and we check over 40,000 online prices across our
competitor set every day,” he added. “We’ve been delighted with the
feedback so far. Customer feedback has shown that Best Buy is not only meeting but exceeding expectations in terms of value-for-money, providing the latest products, offering exclusive deals and a great overall experience.”
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