Managed Ecommerce

[baxter1987]

Hi All,

Just thought I would post out a great service I have just signed up to called Managed Ecommerce.
I am looking to have an online shop done and these guys gave me a call last week. They offer a fully managed ecommerce service. They will design, build, administrate and run your shop for you for a small monthly fee. Was on the phone to them for about an hour as they explained how it all works. Basically like I said they will consult you on a design, build the shop how you want it and then do all the admin for you (which is good for me as I have like a 300 + lines) they will then do the online marketing for you (SEO i think its called among others) every month and re-do seasonal layouts etc for the store (or you can call them and say you want this or that changed), they will even advise on top sellers etc and how to push non sellers - your given someone called an e-branch manager dedicated to you which I thought was a good and he or she will be your point of contact for everything, mine is called Tom.

The best bit is that they will then send you emails with the orders that include the invoices, LABELS would you believe and everything you need...they said they can even arrange delivery although i think i have this sorted for myself... there is a lot more to what they do but just giving the jist of it.

Anyways naturally I went and had a look at other services that were similar and found that they cost an arm and a leg some in the thousands and some wanting a % of my sales (but its my store??)
These guys were really well priced about £200 a month which I thougt was really good as it leaves me free to run my bricks and morta shop.

if your having one done i strongly suggest just hearing these guys out, so friendly and couldn't have been more helpful - web companies scare me a bit for some reason but these didn't :)

There website is just their name i think managedecommerce with the usual .co .uk
Best,

Baxter

[Dominic Taylor]

And you joined just to tell us eh :p

[baxter1987]

its a really good thing - shop should be done in a week and from the research I have done ecommerce is bloody expensive!

[edmondscommerce]

And you joined just to tell us eh :p

interesting idea, but yeah - you do sound rather enthusiastic :)

[mattbetts]

Sounds very interesting - good luck with making it a success!

[quikshop]

if your having one done i strongly suggest just hearing these guys out, so friendly and couldn't have been more helpful - web companies scare me a bit for some reason but these didn't :)

A great bit of self-promotion there Baxter and welcome to the forum ;):D

[mattbetts]

Actually had a good look and seems pretty good... nothing like being over confident ;-)

[WhiskyFive]

Welcome Baxter and Matt ;-)

£200 a month for a basic store seems on the high side.

In fact it is way too high.

I looked at the site and thought it was generally very poor and no details on the software. You need to get the design up to standard before people will trust you to run their sites.

But....I did like the idea of the branch manager - basically a website manager for the store who is responsible for maintaining, updating, running and marketing the website.

That seems quite a neat idea...I can think of a fair few companies who have websites but don't have time to run them....and lack the expertise to do it well.

Paying £200 a month to someone to run the store doesn't sound that much now. I also don't see why you shouldn't charge a commission - that way you are aligned with the success of the store.

Also - if any of the stores are a success...then £200 to run a very busy store will quickly become unprofitable.

I'd suggest ditching the managed e-commerce side...you don't need it as you can run someone else's store, or project manage the creation of a new site. I'd link up with Shopify instead....or just run a series of Zen / CRE sites on your own server.

[baxter1987]

Oh but whisky five there not basic stores, they are custom built, and all completly different... the back end functions may be the same (usable and packed with features would be another way of putting it) however as the stores go and what can be done with the build is quite good. I have come accross many sites for many web development companies who's own site is no comparison to the great work they are sending out....its the age old thing of the builders house being a mess and the clients being a palace...but agreed worth working on.

The object of managed e-commerce is to deliver a cost effective solution to SME retailers... you are only subject to a 6 month term if you wish, in which the aim is to get the store built, online, marketed and trading (making money)
With platform builds for custom built stores in the thousands alone, the service offers those without a clue (to put in bluntly) or knowledge to get online and trading with the help of people who do know what they are doing.

I think the reason the service doesn't charge commision is because managed ecommerce see the profits of the company who own the store as their own..why take a cut on someone elses product..managed ecommerce just offers a helping hand for a price that wont affect the bottom line of the company in question.

Put yourself in the shoes of a small clothes shop for example (no pun intended)... going alone to open an online store whould be daunting and the cost of getting a premium custom built store online would cost thousands - if a company offered all that managed ecommerce does came along and started delivering results, wouldn't you be thankful?

All in all don't judge a book on its cover and have faith that in the cut throat, often precarious world of web design there is a service offering to help to struggling retailers. How they do it is down to the service provider - but quality and service is assured.

[cmcp]

So, baxter1987 works for Managed Ecommerce then.

[WhiskyFive]

Hmmm....little patronising that last message - we're commenting to help and did helpfully ignore the fake posts and blatant self promotion.

Well...I started an online clothes store, so I can picture myself in your customers' shoes....in fact I could have been one of your customers. Our sales were £300 in the first month and £100K by month 9.

And I'm telling you point blank that if you can guarantee increased sales with reduced costs and less hassle...then I would have paid you a commission on those new sales. If you feel you know better, then that's fine.

The alternative is hiring a website manager....a decent one is £35K.

I do hear you re the website. It is the story of the Cobbler's Wife. The agency I use doesn't even have a site!

[Ali-v-8]

ha ha ha ha ha
omg my sides are hurting;
I have read through that website and a ten year old could have done better.
No i am not going to pull mu punches.
according to them the nearest competitor offering the same service that they could find for hosting was £1,500.
Are they that stupid to honestly believe people are dumb and wont check

Oh no just realised, they are serious.

Thought this was a prank.

[peoplecompare]

hi, we run a number of sites 1 being an ecommerce and used these guys, they have been great. Nice guys and we have a decent store, not sure what bearing attacking their english skill has on what they are trying to do but for every intelligent comment you do get the pointless.

[Ali-v-8]

No true, their english skills have not been put into question
But your post i will.
http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?p=643533#post643533

For future post make sure when you promote your own service dont assume everyone on here is stupid.


hi, we run a number of sites 1 being an ecommerce and used these guys, they have been great. Nice guys and we have a decent store, not sure what bearing attacking their english skill has on what they are trying to do but for every intelligent comment you do get the pointless.

[peoplecompare]

I dont get it? what do you mean?

[paretowasright]

The mind boggles....some newbies on here must think we are all stupid and naive!

[Ali-v-8]

whats you name?

I dont get it? what do you mean?

[Place of design]

Oh but whisky five there not basic stores, they are custom built, and all completly different... the back end functions may be the same (usable and packed with features would be another way of putting it) however as the stores go and what can be done with the build is quite good. I have come accross many sites for many web development companies who's own site is no comparison to the great work they are sending out....its the age old thing of the builders house being a mess and the clients being a palace...but agreed worth working on.

The object of managed e-commerce is to deliver a cost effective solution to SME retailers... you are only subject to a 6 month term if you wish, in which the aim is to get the store built, online, marketed and trading (making money)
With platform builds for custom built stores in the thousands alone, the service offers those without a clue (to put in bluntly) or knowledge to get online and trading with the help of people who do know what they are doing.

I think the reason the service doesn't charge commision is because managed ecommerce see the profits of the company who own the store as their own..why take a cut on someone elses product..managed ecommerce just offers a helping hand for a price that wont affect the bottom line of the company in question.

Put yourself in the shoes of a small clothes shop for example (no pun intended)... going alone to open an online store whould be daunting and the cost of getting a premium custom built store online would cost thousands - if a company offered all that managed ecommerce does came along and started delivering results, wouldn't you be thankful?

All in all don't judge a book on its cover and have faith that in the cut throat, often precarious world of web design there is a service offering to help to struggling retailers. How they do it is down to the service provider - but quality and service is assured.

How many stores have they developed?
Where are the "real client testimonials"?
On what tangiable basis are you gauging the service?
Have they completed the site yet?
How long have they been trading?

[MartCactus]

its a really good thing - shop should be done in a week and from the research I have done ecommerce is bloody expensive!

You have to admit it is rather curious to turn up and register on a site to sing the praises of a supplier you've used WHO HASN'T DELIVERED YET.

Most people would wait until the service they'd paid for had been provided before signing up on forums specifically to sing their praises.

Ecommerce need not be expensive - as with most things in life you get what you pay for. I know people who use hosted shops that cost from a few pounds a week. Our own are many times more expensive, but you get much more for your money. And others out there are many times more expensive than ours.

[The Dreaded Lurgy]

1) It is blatantly dishonest to jump onto a thread asking for help and type out a stunning review of your own service from the viewpoint of a customer.

2) When caught out doing this it is then dishonourable to start an argument with those questioning your honesty and motives and try to impune their reputations.

http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=130386&page=3

Baxter1987 you are acting in such a way that you are really showing yourself up, please stop and think about it. You can still achieve your goals without employing slimy methods.