“Bought locally, ordered online and delivered to your door.” That sums up what Poptotheshops offers South Wales residents. Poptotheshops, which was launched late last year, currently serves four high street areas, who each sell between 3300 and 4500 products using the internet shopping service. 292 shoppers have registered so far, and 36 shops have signed up. One shop actually left the system, because its owner didn’t want the ‘aggravation’ of extra work caused by extra sales. More stores will be joining soon, and Poptotheshops’ founder, Will Seward, hopes to expand beyond Wales as soon as possible.
Seward came up with the idea after being dismayed about being too busy to shop at local stores. Most local shops have shorter opening hours than the big chains like Tesco and Walmart, which can make it hard to support local retailers. On Poptotheshops, customers can shop day or night, selecting products from the local butcher, baker, fishmonger, greengrocer and off-license, before checking out in one go. Similar to online shopping at supermarkets, customers can save favourite products and specify when they’d like delivery to take place. Delivery is free for customers. Poptotheshops covers its costs (and will hopefully generate a profit) by charging retailers 10-15% commission.
Besides supporting the local economy and keeping the high street alive, PTTS also sees other benefits: independent stores often offer great local products and produce that aren’t available in nationwide stores, consumers save time otherwise spent in supermarkets and helping small retailers thrive decreases the control that supermarkets have over pricing, produce and suppliers. We like the ‘still sold here’ aspect, and believe consumers will be more likely to support neighbourhood retailers if it’s convenient to do so. One to set up with your local high street! If you're based in the UK, you might want to contact Poptotheshops: their system was designed to enable territories to be created, and for those to be coordinated by a single person. Territories can be as small as a postcode area, or as large as a county.
Website: www.poptotheshops.net
Contact: info@poptotheshops.net
I know someone who uses this service in Newport and thinks it's fantastic. I'm just waiting for poptotheshops to come to London so that I don't have to make do with supermarket shopping any more, as unfortunately that's the only place i can get my food outside of office hours these days. Great business idea!
Very Great service but do they really make money with a 10 to 15% commission ?
I think this is an excellent service, but just can't see how they make a worthy ROI with low comission and free delivery etc. - as the cost of logistics must be very high compared to such low comission margins.
Any ideas?
This is good idea. i have a same question same like Rich. how the 10-15% is affordable for the gain. I think this is a free service for consumer. so we can charge only with supplier. how much the supplier will get from an order?
any ideas
Thanks
- Thamizharasu S
The delivery will be taken care by the appropriate shop or yours?
What a great idea. I've seen similar business ideas where an e-company provides a portal for fast food delivery, but this is even better. It seems that there's money to be made by uniting small businesses under one sales umbrella.
Tracey | May 18, 2007 10:12 AM