GOOD BUSINESS May 1998

WONDERWORLD ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB

You have already found WONDERWORLD (Ed -in fact we were 7 Wonders in 1998) on the Internet! Our new site is mushrooming just like the nuclear cloud pictured below. There is plenty to see even though both site and concept are very much under construction. We have much to learn about the real potential of this exciting new medium.

Our long term plans include posting pictures of new stock as soon as it becomes available.  This means that retailers who are members of the “on-line community” need not wait for Myles or David to make a “Real Time” visit before they see it.

We will place downloadable product information and point of sale material, including pictures, for retailers to use. Some will be complete to just print it off, mount it and use. Alternatively you will be able to grab chunks of text or images to incorporate in your own publications. Some of this material will be password protected to give you exclusive access to the resources. If the public wants to source some of the products which are advertised on the web-site we will be able to e-mail them with the address of their nearest stockist.

NOTHING WRONG WITH CREWE

It’s a great place. But moving our warehouse there did prove more disruptive than we  anticipated. We do apologise if any of your orders arrived late or jumbled. We are now fully unpacked, trained up and ready to provide the quick efficient service which you have come to expect.

Urgent problems, orders or enquiries can be dealt with by Juliet or Neil on our new Freephone number – 0800 0747219.

TESTING TIMES (1)

We are appalled by the totally unnecessary nuclear tests carried out by India’s new BJP government in the Rajasthan desert, not far from our producers in Jaipur. India does not face any substantive military threat in the area. The tests are dangerous populist gestures intended to prop up a fragile government coalition. We protested against British nuclear weapons. We expect better from the nation of which gave the world Buddha, Ashoka, Gandhi and many more. If you are in the UK you may hit this link for a pre-prepared letter of protest to the Indian High Commissioner in London which you may care copy into whatever word processing package you have, format, sign and send off. A good discussion of the issues is located at the: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban website.

EXHIBITIONISTS

For the first time year WONDERWORLD will exhibit at a major UK trade show – the Home and Gift Show in Harrogate from July 19th. We will be previewing exciting new designs in all areas of our range including new block print fabric designs by talented young designer Lucy Hinton.

Our stand is E116. As as a visitor to Home & Gift 98, you can move around, venture out in
the sunshine or even go home early. We inmates are entombed for a week. So be nice,
come and say hello.

TESTING TIMES (2)

Giving you new lines is absolutely vital. As wholesalers we know that “anything new sells out”. Unfortunately in the past we have then assumed that anything that sells out of must be a success and should be quickly re-ordered. This was not always wise for us, or for you.

NOW we are introducing a more intelligent process of market testing to help us to identify genuinely successful lines. That means the lines that work for our retailers, not just for us.

New lines are procured in small quantities. Retailers who take them on get phone calls from us after a number of weeks enquiring how the new lines have performed. Winners can then be ordered confidently in quantities likely to fulfil demand, while losers are forgotten and our financial resources focused on proven lines. If you get a call from us, we thank you for your co-operation. We expect that you will see the benefits of this exercise too.

OLD GREY BEARD

Another top tip from Dave Hogg, WONDERWORLD's own in-house encyclopaedia of the retailing arts.

Snap the elastic band effect, or turn it in your favour! Bored husband s, wives and children drag your prime prospect customers out of the shop long before they really want to go. A toy box, a coffee machine, recent copies of “Total Football” or “Cosmopolitan”  all help to keep the clan happy while you – CLINCH THAT SALE.