Maginus powers multi-channel retail success for Co-op Electrical


  • helps drive 30 per cent increase in business for Co-op Electrical
  • new Maginus-enabled solution delivers significant added value and flexibility for Co-op Electical’s expanding customer base

Manchester, 09 November, 2005 – Maginus, the specialist multi-channel solution provider for Retail and Distribution, is now live at Co-op Electrical Shop, the major joint venture operated by United Co-op and the Co-op Group. Maginus’ powerful multi-channel e-business solution gives Co-op Electrical full control of its core sales and fulfilment processes, and has helped the business to increase sales by 30 per cent.

Deploying Maginus is part of a major Co-op multi-channel project to balance its business across its web and call centre channels. Following the implementation of a Maginus software solution and the re-development of the web site by Maginus, Co-op Electrical has succeeded in growing the proportion of business conducted through its web site from 35 to 70 per cent, vastly reducing the load on its call centre.

In re-developing the www.coopelectricalshop.co.uk web presence, the company was determined to balance any enhancements in efficiency with an improved customer web experience. A key focus for the Co-op Electrical shop was ensuring that the user interface and the overall customer experience combined to provide customers with a quality retail interaction. Deploying Maginus has given it comprehensive control over multi-channel sales, fulfilment and service, meaning that visitors to www.coopelectricalshop.co.uk benefit from real-time information on availability and delivery dates.

For example, using Maginus, products can be automatically taken off the web site if they’re not available in the warehouse – there’s no point customers getting frustrated by ordering goods that aren’t available. Customers are also given the ability to select their own delivery dates, with Maginus providing a link into the third party logistics provider so they can find out what days deliveries are being made to their postcode area.

“The Maginus multi-channel solution provides a single point of control for multi-channel sales and fulfilment activities, integrating every process from order to delivery, and delivering the real-time intelligence that organisations need to drive performance and service improvements.” commented Harry Manley, Commercial Director at Maginus. “By keeping all the Co-op Electrical product content data and business rules in our solution, it has a single system to keep up-to-date, whatever its suppliers come up with or whatever happens in the marketplace. This saves time and money, lets it stay responsive and gives it a clear edge on competitors.”

Co-op Electrical also uses its Maginus solution to provide a reliable delivery promise online, ordering electronically either on its own outsourced warehouse, in the Co-op’s retail store supply chain, or directly from suppliers.

Following the success with electrical products, the Co-op and Maginus are working together on other online propositions, firstly for beds & furniture.

About Co-op Electrical Shop:
Co-op Electrical Shop is a joint venture operated by United Co-op and the Co-op Group – the two largest Co-op Societies in the UK. Together the Societies employ over 85,000 people with annual sales over £9 billion. CIS Insurance, The Co-operative Bank, Smile, Sunwin and Priory Motor Group are a selection of the Societies’ many businesses. The Co-op Electrical Shop offers a wide range of quality products from renowned manufactures representing optimum value for money to all our customers.

About Maginus:
Maginus solutions enable retail and distribution companies to drive revenue and increase customer satisfaction by providing comprehensive control over multi-channel selling and fulfillment. The company’s integrated suite of powerful CRM, Financials and Supply Chain software helps organisations to market, sell and deliver the products their customers want via a broad range of channels including catalogue and mail order, telesales, the Web, trade counter and store operations. Originally founded in 1972, Maginus brings over 30 years’ of in-depth customer experience to the retail and distribution sector whilst it’s innovative eXtensible Architecture gives a flexible, customisable technology platform that can adapt to meet changing business requirements. Find out more about the company at www.maginus.com

For more information, please contact:

Janice Mawhinney
Maginus Software Solutions
Tel: 0161 946 3816
janice.mawhinney@maginus.com

Cheryl Billson
IBA - PR for Maginus
Tel: 01780 721433
cbillson@iba-europe.com

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