Access suppliers through retail portal

“We went live at the beginning of August and have acquired around 2000 registered users on the site. In a niche market with a primary target potential of around 15 000 users, we are extremely happy at the rate at which retailers are signing on,” says Stephen Bateman, Reach Retail's operations manager. “Users need not even register to get into the site and play around. Registration is only required when a user wants to access the events and favourites pages.”

In any search, a user is guaranteed to have a result. “Too often we see search engine-based sites that deliver ‘no results found' messages after a search is done. This frustrates users and often results in that user not returning to the site, so it was important to us that every search delivers a result.”

There is ‘Contact Me' button when viewing a preferred supplier, which sends a mail to the particular company's head office, as well as the regional office in the region that the user searched. “This dramatically cuts down response time in terms of follow up, and ensures that head office quality control in maintained,” continues Bateman.

The site offers three levels of exposure for retail suppliers:

1. Free of charge listing - company name and telephone number in one area and one category. This is randomly selected so exposure is not guaranteed, but user satisfaction is.
   
2. Preferred supplier listing - suppliers guaranteed results in their area and categories. Click-through link to company information page, plus direct link to supplier website, for a nominal cost.
   
3. Banner advertising on site's magazine style pages.
   

Visit www.reachretail.co.za for more information.