We look at parent firm Online Commerce Ltd and the success of its collection of websites including DVD.co.uk
UNLIKE most other retailers which have one or maybe two brands, Online Commerce Ltd has several. Its empire includes DVD.co.uk, Blahdvd.com, Base.com and 101CD.com, along with a wholesale website for the trade. The company sells a wide range of products including CDs, DVDs, video games, books, electronics, clothing, as well as household, sports, garden and even DIY goods, while the firm is looking at even more markets to move into. It tells MCVthat its main website is now base.com as it stocks a wider variety of goods. That too has its own games section containing the
latest releases, consoles and also special deals – such as 60 per cent off certain titles. Online Commerce Ltd avoids going head-to-head with Amazon or Asda on popular products such as FIFA and Call of Duty, and instead focuses its discounting on other releases less touched by the big players. Online Commerce Ltd actually began selling DVDs before moving into video games in 2003. The latter now account for around one third of the total sales across Online Commerce’s websites. For hard-to-find games, customers have the option of buying them from alternate sellers, which are listed on
base.com’s many product pages. By having several websites instead of just the one, Online Commerce widens its reach. With 101CD.com for example, music fans are still able to grab the odd video game as an impulse purchase. So it means the business pulls in customers who might not go online with the incentive of buying a game. The company focuses on retail sales of games, as well as a host of other products. The sites reach the UK, Europe and the rest of the world.
INDIE MONTH WITH KOCH These five sites were compiled by MCV in association with Koch Media, distributor of video games, accessories, consumer electronics and DVDs. Koch: 01256 385200