Selling Online Today - Inspiring Chats With Successful Ecommerce Sellers

Michael is a Northern Irish trade man that runs Kenco Spares and been operating since 1960 and since then started an eCommerce business in 2002 selling on multi-channel platforms such as eBay and Amazon. As well as having an online eCommerce store Michael also has a bricks and mortar store also called "Kenco Spares" in Belfast that has everything to do with domestic spare parts for most appliances such as Kenco and Dyson, dish washing machines, dryers etc.

Ellen from Scuba Choice sells everything to do with scuba diving and started her eCommerce business in 2011 with her father, she is now running the multi-channel eCommerce business with 8 people on a day to day business all from starting from business from scratch in the garage.

David from Run Active has 2 aspects to his website, one is for the performance running market and his second eCommerce business expands into the niche market for his other multi channel site Muddy Kit for people that endure the tough muddier events & races. As well as running successful eCommerce websites David also owns bricks and mortar stores which supplies to the casual jogger to cross country.

Brendan from Homeline Furniture was started by his father by creating a bricks and mortar store in 1991 in County Tipperary, Ireland and evolving into the world of eCommerce multi selling covering your house needs from top to bottom.

Roisin from FRCathcart is a special person I helped way back set up their now booming eCommerce website, and have massively progressed since then and I hope will continue to do so! The FRCathcart business started 40 years ago as a brick and mortar store in Northern Ireland and they supply everything from home and garden to hardware and building supplies. The store mainly sold building supplies until the credit crunch occurred, so as a family business they decided to diversify what they offered and delved into more a of a lifestyle store.

Ecommerce business Lente Designs has been running for over 6 years by herself with casual staff over busy periods, Lente Designs started very slowly running 3 days a week. The couple not happy with their day to day jobs decided to plunge into making their own business. Taking a risk and taking out money on their credit card and buying fabrics to make their own designs for the niche market of iPad & tablet covers, designed by themselves along with help Lente Designs aims to provide quality cases for a little cost as possible.

Andrew runs Engineers Mate with 3 other directors, starting in 2011 the eCommerce business is relatively new, they have 2 branches; one in Dudley and one in Halford, they also have 2 trade counters as well as trading on multi-channel platforms such as eBay, Amazon and their own website. Starting with their first order on 28th August 2012 they planned for the business to be completely online on their website, but then delved into eBay and Amazon to expand their eCommerce dominance.

Michael has been in the supplement business for approximately 11 years starting way back in 2004. Finally in 2008 he took the chance to buy out the owner of the company so he could pursue his own eCommerce adventures. In 2011 he took the chance to open up a store in East London which runs alongside their own multi-channel websites and has now been running for 4 years and it’s been very successful. His multi-channel websites are his own personal website and Amazon, the Amazon marketplace covers many European countries such as France, Germany, Spain & Italy. The family run business focuses their lives around health and fitness so the company is a joy for them to work with. Please take your time to check out Supplement Warehouse!

Simon from Duke Gifts started his eCommerce business in 2014 and is regarded as an entrepreneur as his company has exploded within one year. He sells on his eCommerce website, on eBay and on Amazon. He sells over 200 products a month online and focuses on selling personalised products on multi channel ecommerce eBay, Amazon and his own website. 

D for Dog began life in June 2004 as a dog photo gallery and shrine. Jenny Prevel took inspiration from her dogs Boycie and Berkeley to grow the site considerably since then to include dog news, events, articles and funnies, plus deaf dog information, a friendly dog forum, and of course an online shop for dog accessories.

DJM Direct is based in Nelson, Lancashire and many years ago Jay (The radio guest) worked for a small business in Huddersfield and sold DIY products, contracts etc. In 2004 his father bought the company but failed to succeed and 4 sectors were liquidised, after experimenting with different products and finding the right products, they decided to move into to a 10,000 sq. ft. warehouse in Lancashire and continued expanding and looked for other means of selling and went onto Amazon, their own eCommerce site and in 2013 they expanded the warehouse to 20,000 sq. ft., and have turned over 2 million last year and have started their own brand just over 12 months ago.

Daniel started Shellac Nails in November 2012 with help from an Enterprise Ireland New Frontiers Course which works with start-ups. Initially planning to supply medical statistical data to global pharmaceutical companies. He had a talent for sourcing products from external markets and with a hint that Shellac Gel was the next best thing to hit the market, Daniel took the plunge to start his own Shellac Nails business.

While having a current job Chris decided to plunge onto making a side eBay business for some extra cash, starting from purchasing a £100 badge maker to now having over 30,000 sales. Ranging from nearly every type of button design available Chris runs a successful ecommerce business. He made his eBay store in 2005 but didn’t actively using it for his MyBadge App business until 2012. 

Red Herring Games was started by Jo in 2007 in Grimsby and built from the ground up. Red Herring Games is a fascinating business all to do with mystery murder, dinner events, party accessories, gifts, bits and pieces, and it was all because she wanted to raise money for her own coffee shop!

HardwareIreland was started by Alan and is now seen as the online presence of expert hardware Crumlin. They have been serving their local area for the past 15 years from their store, but have recently taken to the internet to expand their eCommerce service!

CutiesandPals' Gavin’s wife and himself were looking to start a business together, it was mainly due to having had an apartment in Spain which they flew to quite regularly that they found that hand luggage was very boring, so Gavin and his wife came up with their own idea of making more colourful luggage with pretty designs, and through doing research they found that there was very little in the children’s market for luggage, and from there that’s where the started the brand cuties and pals!

Ok! Kimonos was started by Brendan, who has spent 8 years of his life dedicating himself to Jujitsu, started a Brazilian Jujitsu company that specifically focuses on the niche of children’s Jujitsu wear, but also goes into adult clothing, ranging from shorts, uniforms and other apparel, pretty much everything that you need to compete and train Brazilian jujitsu.

Hellobabydirect was founded by Trevor Ginn in 2007 in London’s East End, Truman Brewery. Trevor had started Hellobabydirect as he had just became a father, and only then had he realised how much there was out there that he actually had to buy! HelloBabyDirect has since moved to St Albans in 2011 and currently operate out of a 2000 sq ft warehouse and handle over 200 orders every day. 

Badlands has been established since 1986 and is one of the largest independent music stores in the South West of England. They have a worldwide reputation for excellent service! And as you can see from their feedback - they have over 40,000 happy eBay customers. They also run a Bruce Springsteen fan club and have, for many years, been running trips to see him in concert in Europe and the U.S.A. Initially they did this in conjunction with other travel agents but in 2002 they set up their own travel agency (Jump Travel Ltd.) in order to improve their quality of service. They seem to have succeeded as they take 1000’s of people away each year and have many regular customers who travel with them to many shows. As well as Bruce they have also organised trips to see Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, U2, Morrissey, Brian Wilson, Eric Clapton, Tom Waits, The Who and many more in recent years.

Podcast guest Mike from daisybabyshop chat to me about his ecommerce business. Daisybabylaces has been providing top quality and value for money parenting products since 2012. They specialise in baby accessories and parenting mother accessories and include items such as baby slings, baby wraps, baby bean bags, breastfeeding, new parents, baby changing, baby clothing, home for parents and babies, travel and out and about, mei tai slings, hooded baby wraps and slings, ring slings, wrap slings, breastfeeding covers, support pillows, toilet training, bed time, baby proofing and safety, baby carriers, cots, travel cots, travel cases and nappy bags, nappies. Mei Tai is one of their baby product specialities. They offer cheap and affordable baby accessories for baby parents. They strive to have the best customer service and you as a valued customer, it also allows for personalised baby accessories and items.