Housewares Business-to-business magazine for housewares retailers and their suppliers
After seven months in the making, housewares supplier Forma House has launched its new interactive website.
Designed as a platform to help support and promote customers, the company describes www.formahouse.co.uk as an destination for retailers to place orders and manage their Forma account.
The new facility offers a live link-up to its product management system, allowing buyers to see exactly what is available for dispatch at the point of ordering. Traders can access their order history, place repeat orders at the touch of a button, and add to a previous listing. In addition, users can post requests for credit, alongside a feature to download invoices.
Forma House business development manager Simon Maghnagi commented: ‘We decided to make a major investment in our online presence, primarily to make it easier for people to buy from us – my Dad’s golden rule for selling! Research told us that retailers particularly appreciate systems that save time and issue instant stock level information. This became a key priority for us during the development process.”
Other elements include a ‘Brands Page’ which showcases the company’s entire business portfolio, and a blog feature called ‘Focus on Designers’ which celebrates design and emerging trends in the homewares industry. Hanna Werning – designer of the Fantasy Collection for Sagaform – is the first subject in the spotlight, with an interview on the philosophy behind her work. Visitors can also enjoy a spot of retail inspiration via a ‘look book’ (initially focusing on Autumnal edits) leading up to the festive season. Plus, Forma House we will be posting a mix of its press coverage in print and online.
Finally, the ‘store locator’ function is a way for retailers to connect directly with consumers on the hunt for certain product lines. This system is set to link to stores’ customer service email addresses.
Simon Maghnagi said: “Quite often a consumer can get a little frustrated when trying to find a relevant stockist in their area that holds a particular item they are looking for. This system opens up the conversation between consumer and retailer. We hope to bring more and more of these innovations to the industry as we continue to evolve the site.”
