Customization and Control of Store Design Helps Tradeshow Display Company Grow
We'd rate the customizability features on ProStores as our favorite. ProStores makes sales conversions easy. We've never found another e-commerce solution as robust and simple to use.
Datch Haven, Owner of www.advatumdisplays.com
From the Ground Up
Advatum Services, Inc., started out like so many other business ventures-in a basement. In 2004, Datch Haven and Doug Cornell, co-founders of Advatum, decided to go underground while working for an online Persian rug distributor.
"The fact that people were buying Persian rugs online blew our mind," Datch said. "We thought that if you could do it for rugs, you could do it for anything. We left our steady paychecks and set up shop in Doug's basement."
The numbers weren't in favor of the young online consulting company, which had zero connections and zero dollars. But Datch and Doug understood the potential of ecommerce and approached retailers with the offer of establishing an online revenue stream.
Advatum's first client needed help selling an inventory of tradeshow displays. Just when business was picking up, a flood wiped out the client's warehouse and the owner decided to quit. Datch and Doug felt they found their niche selling quality tradeshow displays online, and decided to make a run at it.
"We contacted manufacturers and transformed into a tradeshow display provider overnight," Datch explained. "Our growth has been phenomenal. Advatum went from zero to $1.7 million in sales in just two years. In addition to our home office in Toronto, we now have a division outside San Diego."
Keeping it simple with ProStores
Advatum was named Canada's ninth fastest-growing company by Profit magazine in 2007. But before this success, they were just a start-up looking for a Web hosting company that could provide solid ecommerce solutions. Advatum first heard about ProStores at 2005 eBay Live!
"We had some reservations about ProStores, mainly in regard to the level of customization they claimed," Datch said. "That has been completely answered. We have total control over what we show-absolutely love it. Our site has gone through several phases and is constantly being tweaked and improved. ProStores helps our site stay succinct and functional. We keep it simple."
To get started with ProStores, Datch and Doug poured over the manuals and talked with ProStores tech support every couple of days. "They really helped us get set up and still do today. ProStores tech support is incredibly helpful and always sends a follow-up email, which is a nice touch. They also take the need for tech expertise away, helping to automate much of our operations and saving us countless hours and dollars."
If you build it, they will come
Advatum utilizes all of the traffic generation tools ProStores offers, including the automated feeds to major shopping comparison sites. Advatum dabbled in Google AdWord, but found that the best traffic doesn't find you through paid advertisements.
"People trust the Google algorithm, not the sponsored links," Datch said. "It's very important to be found organically, and ProStores search engine optimization (SEO) tools have helped us get on the first page of Google for many critical search words. Its truly priceless."
Making green while working green
While selecting the right ecommerce solution has helped them succeed, Advatum believes doing business the right way keeps them growing. Advatum is dedicated to "working green" by minimizing impact on the environment, including using recycled business supplies, reducing office energy consumption, and sourcing power from emission-free sources. They also believe in business karma-do right by clients today and be rewarded in the future.
"Happy clients come back. Happy clients talk to their friends. Repeat business is very important and constitutes about 30% of our sales. Not overpricing, guaranteeing our products, and always taking care of our clients-we wouldn't have it any other way," Datch concluded.
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