BLOOMINGTON, MN (BRAIN)—QBP is focusing its Internet strategy on the specialty bicycle retailer. Working with SmartEtailing, QBP is going to empower bicycle retailers to successfully compete online with competitors from outside the specialty channel that are vying to capture consumer relationships and market share.
“For several years consumers have clearly demonstrated their desire to do business with retailers inboth the in-store and online channels,” said Todd Cravens, QBP director of dealer development andservice. “National chains, pure play entities [online only] and retailers working through shopping portals like Amazon and eBay have attracted online demand and are grabbing market share from both the specialty retailer and the suppliers committed to supporting them.”
QBP believes strengthening the specialty bicycle retailer’s online presence is the best way to turn thisaround. “The specialty bicycle retailer is able to provide important value added services that consumerscan only obtain from local, brick-and-mortar stores," Cravens said. "This is the specialty channel’s ace-in-the-hole. If wework together to deliver a superb online experience at the bicycle retailer’s website, consumers canremain loyal.”
Retailers working with SmartEtailing will be able to deploy two new integration services called QBP Syncand QBP Fulfillment. QBP Sync expands the retailer’s website catalog to include thousands of additional products that are in-stock at QBP but not in their store. This greatly reduces the need for consumers tosearch beyond the retailer’s website to find the products they want.
”When using QBP Sync, the retailer’s inventory shows an availability status of 'In Store,' while QBP’sinventory is displayed as 'In Warehouse' (the retailer’s warehouse). Seeing which products are in theretailer’s store and which are in their warehouse guides consumer expectations and makes themconfident they can shop at that retailer’s website, even for items they plan to pick up in the store.QBP Fulfillment will be an optional feature for retailers wanting to provide their customers with theconvenience of online ordering, but don’t want to hassle with packing and shipping products. Inessence, QBP lets the retailer outsource packing and shipping tasks. The sale still takes place at theretailer’s website where they own the consumer relationship. QBP simply ships the products to theconsumer as if coming from the retailer’s warehouse.QBP urges retailers not to misconstrue fulfillment as a hidden agenda for QBP to move towardconsumer direct selling. “The last thing we want is to sell direct," Cravens said. “We depend on our retail partners to manage consumer relationships and deliver valuable services. QBP Sync and QBP Fulfillmentare services to strengthen the specialty retailer and extend the value of their store’s brand.”
QBP Fulfillment will be an optional feature for retailers wanting to provide their customers with theconvenience of online ordering, but don’t want to hassle with packing and shipping products. Inessence, QBP lets the retailer outsource packing and shipping tasks. The sale still takes place at theretailer’s website where they own the consumer relationship. QBP simply ships the products to theconsumer as if coming from the retailer’s warehouse.QBP urges retailers not to misconstrue fulfillment as a hidden agenda for QBP to move towardconsumer direct selling. “The last thing we want is to sell direct," Cravens said. “We depend on our retail partners to manage consumer relationships and deliver valuable services. QBP Sync and QBP Fulfillmentare services to strengthen the specialty retailer and extend the value of their store’s brand.”
