Page 18 - CBM09

~ Rarewaves ~

native Japanese agent in our offi ce was wonderful. While phone for how long that will be the case. “Marketplaces are currently
and email are two very diff erent things, it is important for both still developing themselves rapidly, especially in countries like
to be aware of cultural nuances. A native person is, sometimes Indonesia, India and China. Th e array of product choices posi-
even unknowingly, capable to tions them fi rmly and for now,
provide the service our local platforms will grow. If delivery
WHILE WE MIGHT can keep up, they probably will
customers expect.” speed and shopping fl exibility

“In regard to logistics, we be strong in e-commerce for
NOT ALWAYS BE THE
are very careful selecting the many years to come.”
products we want to sell. We
only want to sell products we Rarewaves.com fi ts in this
CHEAPEST, WE REALISE
can ship in a maximum of market. “We aim to keep it
seven days, anywhere around that way, constantly adapting
the world, when using the ourselves to the changing envi-
postal service. Th at way, we PRICE IS IMPORTANT. ronment,” Evans states. Aspess
can off er a high-level delivery adds: “Th e entertainment and
experience to all of our lifestyle industry will exist for-
customers. We see this works. HOWEVER, WE BELIEVE ever. People love to read books,
Our fulfi lment operations are see movies and listen to music.
CONSUMERS WILL
growing so quickly, we decided Th e way they do that might
to outsource. We have two change, but there will always
warehouses, one in Hampshire be a way for us to compete.”
CHOOSE SERVICE OVER
(UK) and one in Chicago Asking where Rarewaves.com
(USA),” mentions Evans. “Th e will be in three years, they an-
best part is that we actually swer that they’ll be where they
We call on our suppliers when PRICE ALMOST ANYTIME are - managing their relations
have very low stock ourselves.
with their staff , customers and
needed. Th is keeps our storage suppliers, adapting themselves
costs low.” to the market and learning
and growing from mistakes. “Th at’s the best way customers can
Cross-border challenges experience our ever-improving service.” ••
Selling in 179 countries comes with challenges, both on plat-
forms as well as in shop. “For us, as pure marketplace sellers, it
is key to fi gure out the bureaucracy of some of the marketplace
platforms. Hot topic at this moment is what eff ects Brexit will
have on selling,” Evans points out, adding, “In the fulfi lment
department, changes are coming to the American market, as the
USA is looking how it can charge the correct custom fees on all
packages coming into the country from emerging markets like
China and India.”

To still provide the best service, Rarewaves.com tries to simplify
the playing fi eld for themselves and their customers, by provid-
ing local services and using native employees. It seems to be a
second nature for Rarewaves.com to optimise their policies to
perform best for both sellers and buyers. Evans confi rms: “We
need to be aware and able to adjust to the new ways of working
that marketplace platforms sometimes insist on every once in
a while,” Aspess says. “Th e current ecosystem of marketplaces
won’t last forever and it is up to us to prepare ourselves for the
future.”

Marketplaces, the ultimate future?
As marketplaces are fi nding themselves in the centre of e-com-
merce, they heavily infl uence the market; lots of retailers state
you cannot survive without them. Aspess agrees, but wonders

18