Click here for our new website http://www.houseofcheese.co.uk
Christmas 2000
So did we get any orders through our Internet site? Yes, business was very brisk, particularly in the last two weeks before Christmas. We managed to cope, but only just, by working from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day for most of December.
This was our first Christmas with the Internet site, and we were unsure how it would affect our stocks during a period where stock control is inevitably a gamble. We bought extra stock for the Internet business and the gamble paid off. However, to ensure we have the lines you require, it is a good idea to place your Christmas order first thing in December, even if you state a later despatch date. We can then make sure we save items to avoid disappointment. Please note, your credit card will not be charged until the day of despatch!
For those of you who know our shop and us, trust is something you take for granted. It is very difficult to ask for this trust on the Internet but that is what we received from many customers. We have tried to give our Internet site a human face. We read recently that Internet sites which are an addition to an existing business are doing rather better than Internet-exclusive businesses, because we already know how to handle stock, customer relations, fulfilment of orders, etc. Customer satisfaction is very important to us and, without quoting all the e-mails and letters we received after Christmas, the following phrases appeared quite often - 'glad to do business with you', 'thank you for such a super service', 'I hear the cheese selection for my friend was magnificent', 'will be using you again', 'very clear website', 'brilliant website - lots of choice - easy to follow instructions'. Thanks to all of you who took the time and trouble to encourage us!
We were surprised at the number of orders placed from outside the UK for delivery to friends and family in the UK, but perhaps that is the nature of the Internet. We were also interested to see that many people placed orders from very remote areas of the UK, such as outlying Scottish islands - the Internet must have made a big difference to life here! It's a rather romantic notion to think of someone placing an order on their computer with snow and wind raging round their isolated crofter's cottage overlooking the sea …
Please remember that we shall be away from mid-January to mid-February, during which time our Internet site will be disabled for ordering (however, you can still browse our site). During this period, our real shop in Tetbury will be open on Fridays and Saturdays.
It just remains to wish you all the best for 2001 - and we hope that your New Year resolutions included eating more cheese!
