Nationwide Jewellers will finalise its trilogy of online resources for its members at the JAA International Jewellery Fair in Sydney next month when it launches its online networking forum, 'In The Loupe'.
Nationwide hopes the forum will enable members to exchange information on current bestsellers as well as promotions and other topics of interest.
Nationwide managing director Colin Pocklington said Nationwide first launched an online forum in the late 1990s, however the software supplier withdrew the product, leaving the buying group searching for an appropriate model to replace it.
“A few forums that we looked at were either very expensive, or were not compatible with our website,” Pocklington said. “When we launched our ‘In the Loupe’ weekly emails [supplier specials and Nationwide news] early last year, we decided to look more actively for a forum solution. The web designers who are creating the websites for members recommended a perfect solution and installed it in a matter of a few days.”
Pocklington said one of the great benefits of such a forum is it enables Nationwide members to quickly source products and solutions to problems from their peers.
“Almost every day there are members trying to find an item to satisfy a customer request,” he said. “We receive, and broadcast by email several of these requests every day. The forum will enable this to happen much more efficiently.”
Nationwide’s other In The Loupe offerings are its weekly emails to members featuring supplier specials and also a housekeeping update with all the latest group events and news.
Pocklington said for the remainder of the year, Nationwide’s focus would be on ensuring its members were getting the full benefit of these services.
“There is a still a minority percentage of members who are not opening these emails. We need to let them know about the missed opportunities with supplier specials and the like,” he said.
“The important step now is to show members how to get the most value out of using this technology.”
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