Thanks to the Internet and e-commerce platforms, for many SMEs the world really can be their oyster. We explore how two different companies have enjoyed business growth thanks to a collaboration with e-commerce platform ManoMano, a European online leader in DIY, gardening and home improvement.
Dreams Living sees business growth beyond expectations since collaborating with ManoMano
Since launching on ManoMano in 2019, UK based garden and indoor furniture online retailer Dreams Living has expanded distribution in the UK and is planning to enter Europe for the first time. The large and growing customer base of ManoMano has led to rapid sales growth in a short period, with a 93.6% uplift in sales from February to July 2019.
By May 2020, overall sales had peaked at £1m in the UK with outdoor furniture accounting for 95% of total sales and 50% of total sales arising from customers purchases through ManoMano.
Collaborating with ManoMano
Dreams Living was established in March 2014 to provide top quality garden and indoor furniture at affordable prices. Having been approached to collaborate with Europe’s largest home improvement and garden marketplace, Dreams Living recognised the advantage of ManoMano’s cross-border customer base and the opportunity for increased market exposure across Europe.
Utilising ManoMano’s unique cross-border platform
The e-tailer joined ManoMano’s cross-border platform earlier this year with the ambition to expand operations across Europe, with plans now in place for territorial growth early next year. Dreams Living has set its sights on launching initially in France, followed by Italy and Spain, now operating three large warehouses in preparation to sell and deliver products.
ManoMano provides sellers with the opportunity to outsource the shipping of products across European markets, enabling them to focus solely on the core business growth objectives. Mano Fulfilment handles the logistics of customer purchases from storage to delivery to ensure optimal customer experience. Specifically, Dreams Living has seen significant improvement to the speed in which it can provide refunds and deliveries, resulting in an uptake in overall sales performance.
Personalised support from the start
ManoMano’s dedicated Account Manager was on hand to support the e-tailer in relaunching the brand on the marketplace in July 2019 by providing personalised, efficient solutions and market insights and data, in order to help inform key business decisions for improved business performance.
ManoMano’s advanced technology and digital marketing efforts also help to provide greater visibility and increase traffic to Dreams Living’s product offering. The e-tailer has benefited from an upweighted focus in customer-facing promotions and newsletter advertising.
Expanding to a greater range is advantageous for customers
Since launching on ManoMano, Dreams Living has introduced several new lines to its outdoor furniture category and also significantly expanded the indoor furniture category in 2020 to offer a greater range of products. ManoMano’s customers also benefit directly from the curated garden furniture collections sold exclusively through Manomano.
Union Mart Ltd achieves cross-border expansion with ManoMano, driving increased sales, product development and job creation
Launching on ManoMano in 2019 has been crucial to the overall growth of Union Mart Ltd’s business and market presence. The partnership has provided a unique opportunity for the specialist garden, workshop and automotive machinery supplier to achieve cross-border expansion, placing the independent UK retailer directly within reach of its target audiences and elevating its position within European markets.
ManoMano facilitates European expansion
Union Mart Ltd joined ManoMano’s international logistics platform in Autumn 2019 and as a direct result saw unprecedented sales growth, with ManoMano customer purchases accounting for 20.5% of its monthly turnover by March 2020. The partnership also stimulated job creation to meet demand and today Union Mart Ltd has more than doubled its employees.
For Union Mart Ltd, ManoMano handles the logistics of customer purchases from product translation to storage and delivery, as well as delivering accounting, customer care and translation services. This international offering ensures optimal customer experience, enabling the UK-based retailer to expand operations beyond the UK to France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
Personalised support and insight to inform business decisions
ManoMano has supported Union Mart Ltd throughout its progressive growth, with dedicated Account Managers providing tailored business guidance, market and data driven insight to enable the retailer to make strategic, informed business decisions.
Union Mart Ltd recognised ManoMano’s difference as a selective marketplace; it empowers and engages customers through its vast home improvement and garden offering, enhanced by the provision of inspirational content and expert advice.
This has resulted in Union Mart Ltd confidently increasing and developing its product offering beyond its traditional catalogue to maximise the opportunity to reach new customers. Today the e-tailer now offers over six brands and hundreds of products. It is continuing to explore new product launches alongside working towards curating a new range of electric DIY tools exclusive to ManoMano and its customer base.
Dan Defries, Account Manager at Union Mart Ltd, said: “Being involved in DIY and automotive machinery commerce, we knew we had to be a part of the ever-growing and loyal community ManoMano has created over their years in the marketplace.
“Being welcomed into the DIY enthusiast community was exactly what we needed – to be put directly within reach of our target audience like never before. ManoMano was founded and built on this community which has been incredible for our reputation, as well as our sales, which has been crucial to our overall growth.
“ManoMano’s USP as a provider of advice and inspiration to customers, alongside the nature of the marketplace, felt a natural fit for us. It has offered a platform that puts us as a seller directly in touch with our main target audience. ManoMano has enabled us to expand further into the European market with confidence and ManoMano will be a key part in our progression in the future.”
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