A market-leading car accessory business owes much of its success to a Kendal e-commerce and web firm.
System Potential helped launch the e-sales site for The Roof Box Company well over fifteen years ago.
Now ‘Roofbox’ employs more than 25 staff and is recognised as one of Britain’s leading providers of roof racks, roof boxes, bike carriers and what they describe as “other load carrying stuff”. They are also specialist dealers in car boot liners and seat covers, pet carriers, snow chains and vehicle tyre socks.
They are the UK distributors for many of the world’s most innovative car accessory manufacturers, and they operate by mail order only, with no shop or showroom. We are very proud of our collaboration with them, helping them through good and bad trading conditions.
said SYPO managing director Alan Jewitt.
The Roof Box Company’s managing director Martin Gray said:
We are lucky to have excellent suppliers and dedicated staff, but we could never sell such volumes without SYPO’s technical skills, bespoke software, and close support. Their software also integrates our websites with our Sage accounting system; there are lots of automated processes, and we’d be lost without them!
SYPO has some 200 customers ranging from major enterprises to solo operators; the aim is always to simplify the process of trading via the internet, and to increase efficiency.
The artist and illustrator Evelyn Sinclair uses their services to showcase her work. Past clients include the award-winning Barking Mad Dog Care at Kirkby Lonsdale, Mickledore Walking Holidays, and The Lakeland Cottage Company, for whom SYPO ran the website and booking system.
What makes SYPO stand out from the crowd is their attention to customer service.
If you are going to sell online, it’s important to let customers feel there are real people at the other side of the screen. We have a policy of complete open-ness and honesty with our customers.
says Alan Jewitt.
It’s a philosophy echoed by Roof Box. What stands out for a newcomer to their website is not only the range of products on offer, but the rolling panel of customer feedback comments: “brilliant service” and “five-star shopping experience” are highlighted.
SYPO can also offer 24-hour back-up for online traders. Alan added:
It’s not possible to do e-commerce as a one man band. You need back-up, otherwise you would never sleep or take a holiday, because your customers expect you to be there.
Alan and his team, stress that they are not website designers but web developers, though they include some designers among their customers. Since last winter’s floods they have been helping businesses whose shop premises were damaged, by enabling them to keep on selling online. And they have just launched a drop-in “surgery” session on Friday afternoons when anyone can call in for advice, even without an appointment.