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~ We Are Pentagon ~

nyone familiar with Pentagon knows that Head of Sales and Operations at Playmobil, who recently
innovation is at the heart of everything we do. attended a session with us said: “I found the emergence
ATo keep up to speed with the latest emerging session very useful in helping to map out a marketplace vision
trends, we continuously evaluate how we can help brands that was largely in my head. The session provided clarity on
and retailers turn the dial on their cross-border trade to our existing strengths as a business and the areas that would
accelerate their growth. Last year, a new trend became need to be developed if the vision was going to come to life.”
evident to us. And it’s that brands and retailers were It is always incredibly rewarding to help nurture an idea
searching for the tools and expertise to develop their for a marketplace platform from its inception right the way
own marketplaces. Indeed, our clients were becoming through to delivery, and I feel very proud that we are already
increasingly interested in the opportunities encompassed seeing our work make a tangible difference for our clients. In
by marketplaces: adding inventory without taking risks, uncertain times like these, with COVID-19 disrupting the
working with third-party suppliers, and being able to offer sector in all sorts of ways, it has arguably never been more
more to the customers that know and trust the brand. important for brands to take the necessary risks to secure
What’s more, we knew that our expertise and experience their long-term success.
best positioned us to help brands take the leap into
developing a brand-new marketplace proposition. When executed in the right way and with a sound
understanding of a brand’s customer base, marketplaces are
Prior to launching Storesome, we completed our first undoubtedly an essential part of future retail. In fact, we were
marketplace project with Three – the UK’s fastest-growing already seeing the very nature of what it means to be a retailer
mobile network. This was an exciting and invigorating get completely transformed – even before the first outbreak
project to work on for three reasons. Firstly, our team of COVID-19. Amazon and eBay have both blazed the trail
could share its expert insights on how best to maximise the as marketplaces offering something the consumer didn’t know
network’s marketplace opportunity. Secondly, we had central they needed but now cannot live without. As a result, we are
involvement in developing sophisticated technology to seeing consumer behaviour changing to not just expect but
power the marketplace. Thirdly, we could see clearly how the also demand products from a digital one-stop-shop at any
robustness of our offering could be replicated and tailored time, anywhere. For any brands and retailers who have been
to enable our other clients to achieve similar success. It was slow to develop and deliver an e-commerce strategy, this kind
through identifying this gap in the market that the idea for of competition is daunting and often seems impossible to
Storesome came to life, as both Laurence Guy (CEO and replicate. However, the harsh reality of the situation is, as we
Founder, We Are Pentagon Group) and I could see that we have seen for some household names, if retailers don’t find the
had a compelling proposition that warranted a stand-alone tools and expertise to adapt, their physical store presence will
company and extension to the service, technology and multi- be left as struggling or vacant real estate for the foreseeable
marketplace integration already offered by Pentagon. future.

As with any new business, there are always challenges to But it doesn’t have to be doom and gloom! With more than
overcome in developing and maintaining a steady drumbeat a decade of experience at the forefront of the marketplace
of traction within the industry and building the momentum revolution, our team can help you and your team build your
needed to gain cut-through. However, we are immensely own marketplace and connect you with our partner suppliers
proud of how far we have come already since our launch to get you up and running. By creating your own marketplace
earlier in the year. To get a flavour of some of the activities we proposition, you will be able to offer your customers new
have been involved in, head over to our YouTube channel promotions, increased choice and ultimately greater
where you can watch some of the webinars on-demand that satisfaction by being their trusted go-to one-stop-shop for
we have hosted with partners including Shieldpay and the products they already trust and demand. If you’re ready
Cybersource – A Visa Solution. Each of our webinars is to unlock your brand’s marketplace potential and understand
centred on a specific topic to spark thought-provoking how this opportunity can accelerate its growth, our team
discussion and inspire attending retailers to consider their would love to hear from you. Alongside our free emergence
own marketplace vision. Being able to involve our partners sessions, you can also see our platform technology in action
with our digital content has been a fantastic way to engage by requesting a demo co-ordinated by our team. Get in touch
leading e-commerce professionals and discuss how they can today by heading over to our website at the following address:
join this marketplace revolution and get ahead of the curve to www.storesome.com and we’ll help kickstart your platform
maximise their return on investment. revolution. ••

Alongside webinars, we have also been offering brands
and retailers free emergence sessions to enable us to better
understand their objectives and help shape the strategy
needed to meet and exceed their ambitions. Alf Blohm,

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