Incartek Gadget Webstore Administration Programme
Statement of Requirements
Background
Incartek (Ink Cartridge Technologies Ltd) is my company, with a background in the development and distribution of ink cartridges. Since 2005, when my business with the Chinese ceased, it operated a number of websites selling photographic paper, software, albums etc. This was quite successful and I sold the business in 2011, and retired. I guess I have become restless, and need a new challenge. However in setting up something new my aim is to do as little as possible myself, and to outsource both the development and operations of the business.
Objective
• Passive income from the sale of gadgets along the lines of Pro-Idee.
• Target customers – 45-75 age group, 60% male, ABC1 socio group.
• Totally automated – customer order, payment, fulfilment.
Product Range
Flagship Products
• About 12-20 products
• Appeal to target customers
• Gadgets with good USP’s
• Not too widely distributed
• Good margins - 40%+
• Favourable personal relationship with suppliers
• Dropship
• £45-£250
• Upsell potential
Catalogue Products
• 500+ products
• Mass market
• Full lines from Dropship sources
• Must be complementary to flagship
Business Statistics
• 3000 customers
• 1000 products
• 50 suppliers
• 70 flagship product orders per week
• 400 flagship product orders per week
Website Status
We have purchased a package from onlinewebtraders.com. This is a comprehensive offering comprising:
• Webshop hosting inc email etc
• Templates (for gadets)
• Products
• Infrastructure
We are not wedded to this. If a developer has something better (for the UK market) then we would be willing to change.
Website Development Programme
We have issued a statement of requirements for developing our webshop. Proposals are awaited, and it is planned to make a decision as to our proposed partner by 7 May 2014.
Our target go-live date is 1 July 2014.
• 1/10/14
Website Administration Programme
We are looking for a partner to administer our web business.
This will include
- Ensuring orders are processed correctly and efficiently
- Handling customer queries
- Handling returns
- Placing orders on suppliers for fulfilment
- Following up with suppliers if there are problems
- Ensuring timely, and efficient delivery to customers (using the suppiers’ fulfilment services)
- Ensuring that all payments are received and processed
- Ensuring that suppliers are paid
- Reports to Incartek Management
My estimate of this workload is 15 hours per week.
Selection Criteria
• Perceived ability to meet requirements
• Track record
• Resources and qualifications
• If not UK based (our preference is for UK based), then the location should be imperceptible to the customer. This includes colloquial and regional English etc.
• Price (lowest criterion)