What does it take for a company to succeed in the fast moving world of eCommerce? Peter Allerstorfer, co-founder and MD of the current darling of the local fashion world, ZANDO, provides five important lessons he learnt since going live.

 

ZANDO (www.zando.co.za), one of South Africa’s new online fashion store is evidence of the online explosion that the South African market is experiencing at present. The website launched on the 23rd of January 2012, and since then this eCommerce domain is seeing 200 000 unique visitors a month. The site is fast establishing its position as one of the leading eCommerce players in South Africa, and with more than 300 local and international brands and 8 000 styles featured online, it’s easy to see why. Peter Allerstorfer, MD of Zando, shares his experiences.

 

Listening and engaging is key in an online business. The radical increase in our offering is testament to the growth that we are experiencing and has been a direct result of listening to what our customers want.

 

In support to the growth of ZANDO’s business, investing in human capital is a key focus for the business. Identifying and retaining talent is vital to the success of our company.

 

Paying attention to our customers’ needs directly affects what we sell. It allows us to offer the widest range, convenience, great service and fast delivery. As such, no decisions can be made without data. Access to data is essential for measurement, benchmarking and the bottom line. It’s all about the details.

 

Hard work, long hours and dedication to your business are key factors when growing a company. There are no shortcuts to success.

 

In a start-up/new eCommerce company, there are thousands of things to do, so it’s all about prioritising. Create a short list of the top 50 things you need to get done on a daily basis and don’t waste your time on things that are not important. This enables you to have razor-sharp focus.

 

To find out more about ZANDO, visit the online store at www.zando.co.za or follow ZANDO on Facebook or on Twitter (@zando_co_za).