E-commerce awards success for BreezeMarine

NEWTON Abbot based website designer, BreezeMarine, has had one of its designs shortlisted for the annual e-commerce awards.
BreezeMarine, a subsidiary of Gamalan, entered online chandlery, Sailsport, in the e-business start up awards.
And the design was picked by the judges as a finalist in the South West regional awards.
The shortlisting follows on from another of Gamalan’s clients, Pro-Direct Soccer being shortlisted in 2002 in two categories, e-commerce and e-business.
Director of Gamalan and BreezeMarine, Peter Blackler, said: “It’s fantastic news for us. We’re all extremely pleased. The shortlisting of Pro-Direct Soccer was a big achievement as the site was pretty complicated and had to integrate with their office processes.

“ Sailsport is another big achievement. The company was formed two years ago by Tony Blackmore, who lives in Exeter and is the Flag Captain of Starcross Yacht Club, and is growing rapidly. As far as we know it’s the only online chandlery with no retail shop premises. Instead Sailsport trades on the internet and from a mobile van which goes round to events.
“ Tony’s moto is the chandlery which dares to be different, and he certainly seems to be succeeding.
“ The company was born out of Tony’s passion for sailing and is now a dinghy and small keelboat specialist, offering everything from nuts and bolts to spars, sails and technical clothing.
“ Because Tony has no retail premises, he can give his customers cheaper prices and they can also buy goods 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week rather than waiting for a shop to open.”
The site – www.sail-sport.com – is responsible for Tony’s business growing more than 100 per cent in his second year.
Peter added: “It contains many useful features such as an advanced search if people know the product they require. Alternatively, they can search by manufacturer or by category such as casual clothing, technical clothing, ropes and rigging or boat maintenance.
“ When choosing products, the customer is pointed towards other related items which they may require, which also saves them having to search through the site again.
“ There is also a secure payment system in place so customers feel totally happy about buying goods via the website. Customers can view their account at any time, view their shopping cart or proceed straight to the checkout.
“ The shopping cart links into Sailsport’s stock system enabling the company to know precisely what is in stock at any given time.”
The awards are run by the Department of Trade and Industry and are designed to recognise and reward organisations which have demonstrated excellence through the use of the internet and other information and communications technologies.
They are open to UK businesses, public bodies, registered charities and not-for profit organisations with fewer than 250 employees.
The winners will be announced and receive their awards at a lunch hosted by the South West Regional Development Agency at Hewlett Packard Labs, Bristol, on September 17.

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