Hello,

Here is some more coronavirus-related news - with a slightly different angle...how technology and logistics have been paired up to save smaller businesses from corona closure.
 
It's a story of two companies who might not usually have worked together, pairing up to help save businesses from closure by offering them a unique service - an ecommerce website built in a couple of weeks that links to logistics.

It's already saved a large South East farming company from closure - all background is included below for you.

It may provide you with a good news story, an idea for something around thought-leadership, opinion, or case study - just let me know if you need anything else from us to be able to run something.

I can provide it to you quickly and easily.
 
Speak soon,

Sarah 
 

Sarah Hawes

07748 631100 | izzypr.co.uk

Digital company partners with logistics firm to offer online sales and delivery - after saving company from collapse

Logistics isn't usually found on the service list of a digital agency but forward-thinking Kayo has done just that.
They've partnered with distribution experts Alan Firmin to give clients not only the online sales via a custom-built website, but the logistics for delivery too, so they can start to sell again, knowing they have the means to deliver quickly and easily - if they didn't before.
Clients can also add an app too which will fully integrate.

The idea was hatched after Kayo helped save a farming company from closure, delivering a website in a week.
Managing Director Richard Pilton, said: "Currently, the large companies are monopolising online sales because they have the ability to sell online and deliver. We wanted to give smaller businesses the opportunity to do just that and open again."

BACKGROUND
Coronavirus lockdown meant that Watts Farms was left with warehouses full of food and drink at its 10 sites across Kent, Essex and Bedfordshire.
Due to the food service industry grinding to a halt, restaurants, hotels and schools were cancelling their orders, so the £400,000 stockpile of food was looking like it was going to waste and 150 jobs would be at risk with such a huge loss.

They needed to do something and fast, and so they turned to digital experts Kayo and asked for the usually impossible - a website in a week to offer domestic online sales and local delivery to sell as much food as possible before it started to spoil.
Whilst the website was being built, Watts Farms was working on delivery logistics, using their vans and staff for home deliveries rather than commercial ones.

A month after thinking their 68-year-old family business might be facing collapse, 14,000 orders have been taken via the website. The initial £400,00 stockpile was saved, plus more has been ordered in and sold on top, with the online sales their sole route to market now.
2,000 orders were taken in the first fortnight, worth £100,000.

The e-commerce is linked to logistics, offering full automation for deliveries - a totally new side to the business, turned to in response to the coronavirus situation.

Customers included supermarkets with higher demands and local people unable to get to the supermarkets, find what they needed or not wanting to go out.
The business, jobs and stock were saved and with the sudden diversification opening up a whole new market for the company, Kayo thought of the idea of offering a website and logistics package, suitably named The Garden of England.

Managing Director Richard Pilton, said: "After working with Watts Farms, we realised that some businesses needed not only a website, but logistics too. We're in unprecedented times where some companies are being forced to be storage companies due to them being unable to sell or deliver their goods. This needed to change.
"When we emerge from isolation they'll have taken a big leap in going digital - something they may not have thought of before or were hesitant in doing; they've now been pushed.
"We spoke with logistics experts Alan Firmin to see if it was possible and we are now able to offer websites with a click and delivery system in place, online store, payment gateway and fully accessible on mobile, tablet or desktop.
"We can also provide an app alongside it too."

The reductions are made possible by smaller businesses sharing deliveries with others - instead of setting up their own logistics.
It's better for the environment too - less journeys will be made with less of an impact.

The reductions are made possible by smaller businesses sharing deliveries with others - instead of setting up their own logistics.
It's better for the environment too - less journeys will be made with less of an impact.

ENDS

The website can be viewed here:
https://shop.wattsfarms.co.uk/

Kayo, Watts Farms and Alan Firmin are each available for further comment or information - please request via Sarah Hawes at Izzy PR:
sarah@izzypr.co.uk
07748 631100

An image of Kayo's MD Richard Pilton is included for use, along with their logo too.