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~ Founder ~

COLUMN

‘STAGE 0’

s I am writing this column, we are halfway through May, and I am still in
lockdown – “Stage 0” as they call it here in Catalonia. That means sitting
Aat home and hoping things will get back to, let’s say “normal”, soon. I truly
hope when you read this that we are on our way back to more or less regular life.
Either way, the COVID-19 outbreak will definitely leave scars, both humanly and
economically.

My thoughts go out to the people who have lost loved ones and to those who have
seen their life’s work and business fall apart. I count myself lucky as someone who
works in the online sector. Eleven years ago, I co-founded Salesupply. At that time,
the economy was going through a deep (financial) crisis. However, online business
was growing, and it has never stopped growing since. Even now, during this crisis,
we have to be grateful that we have the internet and the possibility to buy and sell
online.

What has become very clear during this COVID-19 crisis is that companies who
refused to set up online or were too slow to adapt to the
online world are currently struggling. For me, this proves that
you have to sell multi-channel to take advantage of the whole
market. A good example is our cover story on Schuhe24, a
German company which helps small fashion retailers - with COLOFON
only physical stores - to sell online through the Schuhe24
platform. The platform takes care of all the requirements that
a normal small fashion boutique is not able to cover, espe-
cially boutiques that simply do not have the money to invest FOUNDER & PUBLISHER JEROEN LEENDERS
in IT or that do not have the people to list the products with
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF THOMAS VAN MOSSEL
good photos, generate traffic, online promotions etc. Thus,
Schuhe24 enables small retailers to benefit from a broad audi- EDITORS SANNE LEENDERS, LAURA MARTIN
ence who would never have visited their physical store.
GRAPHIC DESIGN & LAYOUT NICO HOEIJMANS

Schuhe24 is not the only example, and every crisis brings new
opportunities. A crisis can stimulate our creative minds to
invent innovative technologies. This can improve people and
WEBSITE: WWW.CROSS-BORDER-MAGAZINE.COM
the planet every day.

I wish you the best and hope you keep reading, as it is a great
If you are interested in learning more about sponsorship or
way to develop the creative mind. advertising opportunities or you would like to discuss creating
a customised plan to meet the needs of your company, please
contact: [email protected]
Jeroen Leenders,
The Cross-Border Magazine is owned and published by Salesupply BV.
Founder Cross-Border Magazine
No person, organisation or party can copy or re-produce the content
[email protected]
of the Cross-Border Magazine or any part of this publication
without a written consent from the editor-in-chief or publisher.
The publisher, authors and contributors reserve their rights with
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