CREATION: Online buyers offered 'matching service' by
PromoDuck.com
<p>With B2B markets thriving on the Internet, it seems the timing has
</p><p>been right for the launch of PromoDuck.com, which acts as a search
</p><p>database for the gifts and premiums industry.
</p><p><BR><BR>
</p><p>Launched about two months ago, the site offers a free service featuring
</p><p>an estimated 35,000 items and 14,000 manufacturers.
</p><p><BR><BR>
</p><p>Ms Karen Wong, CEO of PromoDuck.com, said: "When agencies give
</p><p>briefings, it is very difficult for them to know exactly the product
</p><p>they want. They have a vague concept or a key word, but the challenge is
</p><p>to find the right product and to facilitate better communication between
</p><p>agencies and marketing managers. We are not creating a need here, but
</p><p>satisfying one that has been there a long time. We are adding
</p><p>convenience to the job."
</p><p><BR><BR>
</p><p>The concept may be exactly what the industry needs; however, the service
</p><p>is still in its infancy.
</p><p><BR><BR>
</p><p>While interested buyers can find the right item by searching with key
</p><p>words, getting in contact with the manufacturer and obtaining the item
</p><p>can be an enduring task.
</p><p><BR><BR>
</p><p>"At the moment we are only offering a matching service. We believe there
</p><p>is a big need for sourcing ... They (buyers) cannot place orders over
</p><p>the site. Once they identify the item, they place it in the enquiry
</p><p>basket and it is sent to the manufacturer. He then receives it and will
</p><p>send back the enquiry quotation, sampling etcetera. If they place an
</p><p>order, they have to arrange payment themselves and do all the paper
</p><p>work, as you can't do it on the site. So it is up to the buyer and
</p><p>manufacturer," Ms Wong told CReATION.
</p><p><BR><BR>
</p><p>The PromoDuck.com website has nine features, including the e-Premium
</p><p>Show, which acts as a virtual exhibition.
</p><p><BR><BR>
</p><p>Ms Wong added, "True, there are lots of virtual malls and exhibition
</p><p>booths on the Internet, but we have not found any that are designed with
</p><p>the buyers in mind. Buyers do not think linearly most of the time."
</p><p><BR><BR>
</p>
by
|
10/13/2000
With B2B markets thriving on the Internet, it seems the timing has
been right for the launch of PromoDuck.com, which acts as a search
database for the gifts and premiums industry.
Launched about two months ago, the site offers a free service featuring
an estimated 35,000 items and 14,000 manufacturers.
Ms Karen Wong, CEO of PromoDuck.com, said: "When agencies give
briefings, it is very difficult for them to know exactly the product
they want. They have a vague concept or a key word, but the challenge is
to find the right product and to facilitate better communication between
agencies and marketing managers. We are not creating a need here, but
satisfying one that has been there a long time. We are adding
convenience to the job."
The concept may be exactly what the industry needs; however, the service
is still in its infancy.
While interested buyers can find the right item by searching with key
words, getting in contact with the manufacturer and obtaining the item
can be an enduring task.
"At the moment we are only offering a matching service. We believe there
is a big need for sourcing ... They (buyers) cannot place orders over
the site. Once they identify the item, they place it in the enquiry
basket and it is sent to the manufacturer. He then receives it and will
send back the enquiry quotation, sampling etcetera. If they place an
order, they have to arrange payment themselves and do all the paper
work, as you can't do it on the site. So it is up to the buyer and
manufacturer," Ms Wong told CReATION.
The PromoDuck.com website has nine features, including the e-Premium
Show, which acts as a virtual exhibition.
Ms Wong added, "True, there are lots of virtual malls and exhibition
booths on the Internet, but we have not found any that are designed with
the buyers in mind. Buyers do not think linearly most of the time."
