Last week saw a very enthusiastic group of people gather for the launch of eDecorshowcase.com, an exciting new internet address that features interiors, exteriors and building suppliers, contractors and services providers. This latest entity of leading technology innovation company Alien Technologies will revolutionise the way in which business and consumers in this industry communicate and trade with one another. With the focus of this new millennium being so much on e-commerce, it is not surprising that Alien Technologies have taken e-commerce to its next logical step - Network Economy.
Says Voula Philippides, Joint MD of eDecorshowcase.com, "It is with great enthusiasm that we have developed eDecorshowcase.com the first `Vertical Community` and platform in South Africa for the decorating, design, building, renovating, interiors, exteriors, gardening and lifestyles industries. It is a portal developed to create an industry specific vertical market `community`, and also to provide global exposure on the Internet within a common-interest community."
This community is a focused environment for buyers and sellers in the above-mentioned industries to meet, exchange ideas and trade online. It also enables access to a specialised target market, both on a business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) level. A very exciting component of the launch was a presentation by David Braun Photography, which showed how users of eDecorshowcase.com will be able to conduct 360 degree virtual tours of rooms and objects. This interactive facility will include sound and enable navigation into different rooms and different sites.
eDecorshowcase.com is a creative and innovative new business concept that provides a gateway to the most effective online exposure for the decorating, design, building, interiors, exteriors, gardening, renovating and lifestyles industries; functioning as a large Internet `portal` that is the industry`s definitive showcase. Each partner has their own storefront, which is the business centre that enables them to get a complete online business experience.
There are many benefits for B2B and B2C in conducting business this way:
Gives business global reach with online catalogues and company breaking news accessible to prospective clients, consumers and virtual industry connections
24-hour flexibility
Direct link from portal to company storefront webpage
Huge savings on printed media
Business process accelerated
Instant access to industry specific information, products and services from desktop - anywhere, anytime
Constantly informed of particular areas of interest, e.g. interiors
Complete forum of the industry
Adds Margarita Haitas, Joint MD of eDecorshowcase.com, "This new entity will be instrumental in enhancing the performance and exposure of business in this sector by means of participation. Professionals from across South Africa, Africa and around the globe will be able to congregate at our site to exchange ideas, and monitor industry events."
The site consists of the eDecorshowcase.com main portal; acting as the `community` - it is home to three vertical sites:
eInteriornet.com:
interiors industries - furniture, lighting, interior designers, architects, carpets, fabrics etc
eExteriornet.com:
exteriors industries - gardening, pools, outdoor furniture, carports, landscapers etc
eBuilditnet.com:
building industries - bricks, concrete, glass, tiles, contractors etc
The main portal site offers the subscriber many added benefits
News - editorial features written by industry experts, `breaking` industry news, industry articles, product and services information, new services, product reviews.
Calendar events - exhibitions (national or international; searchable by product or country) special events, sales.
Career Centre - Information on all training schools related to the three vertical communities, posting of CV`s, job listings and searching for career opportunities and employees.
Classified - Displaying sales of `almost new` articles for sale, etc.
Market Place - a virtual Shopping Mall, retailers can participate in secure e-commerce. Also featuring an `industry` specific auction area.
The success of companies in this new millennium depends on their ability to adapt to new business channels and opportunities, such as the World Wide Web. To quote a well-respected authority on the subject:
"We are on the brink of a new REVOLUTION, and crossing a technology threshold that will forever CHANGE the way we work, learn and communicate with each other." - Bill Gates
Concludes Philippides, "We at eDecorshowcase.com feel that this specific commodity industry is ready to exploit the e-commerce model due to the trends, designs and variety of product ranges available at any given time."
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