The early 2000s began with big expectations for internet services. The internet had already become an indispensable part of life, and there were significant developments such as broadband, mobile internet, and e-commerce. Amazon pioneered e-commerce and showed the world the way, but nobody knew how profoundly it would impact the business world. Tradeplace was founded in 2001 as an ambitious e-commerce platform focusing on data exchange and transactions between manufacturers and retailers.
Elektro Stolz GmbH is a family business run by parents and son. This specialist retailer, with branches in Heinsberg and Geilenkirchen (both in Germany), is one of the innovation-oriented retailers that has been using Tradeplace since 2002. The first services to be used were the e-ordering portal and the repair service. Today, Elektro Stolz’s online store also obtains product information from Tradeplace’s Product Information Management Service (PIMS). This service always provides the most reliable product information, as it comes directly from the manufacturer.
Tradeplace’s Product Information Management Service (PIMS), this service always provides the most reliable product information, as it comes directly from the manufacturer.
The late 1990s saw major market changes in the retail sector, characterized by a rapid expansion of large specialist stores. The year 2010 ushered in a new era in which large online market platforms started to establish themselves. However, smaller specialist dealers in countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland were able to survive and continued to offer a full range of services with an emphasis on contact with customers, who valued detailed and competent advice.
A specialist store like Elektro Stolz will do everything to fulfil its customers’ specific wishes – that’s the strength of the company. ‘We’re as free as a bird and can offer customized solutions to meet every customer requirement. This is precisely what makes the differences; it’s how we offer added value. We take full responsibility for the result in all of our services,’ says Ludwig Stolz, owner of Elektro Stolz. This concept is proving popular, having been awarded particularly good ratings on independent evaluation websites. ‘Although there are only a few hundred ratings, it’s clear that all these customers appreciate the service and give it the highest rating,’ explains Stolz.
‘We’re as free as a bird and can offer customized solutions to meet every customer requirement. This is precisely what makes the differences; it’s how we offer added value. We take full responsibility for the result in all of our services,’ says Ludwig Stolz
Armed with its extensive knowledge of the equipment and a flexible approach, both so typical of a family business, Elektro Stolz has been able to build good relationships with the manufacturers. This strategy paid off during the pandemic, when the company was able to realize a further increase in sales and customer satisfaction. Tradeplace has a supporting role in this, as the constantly available range of services can ensure reliability and speed. This shows how manufacturers and trade are complementing each other perfectly in these challenging times.
Personal, in-store sales are still very important for a local specialist retailer. Elektro Stolz is also a certified repair partner for all major brands in the household appliance sector, having invested heavily in this area via training, software, and hardware. Elektro Stolz visits customers’ homes (within a 50-kilometre radius of the company) to carry out repairs and install or replace appliances. Elektro Stolz’s website underpins this service – especially now during the pandemic. Potential customers often first find out information via the website and then enquire with the specialist staff at the physical store, or by telephone or e-mail. This interaction leads to a solution that fits the customer’s needs. As a partner of installation companies, Elektro Stolz GmbH also offers further added value by supervising all work related to built-in appliances on construction projects such as kitchen installations.
‘Customers are increasingly thinking more about the world they want to leave their children and grandchildren,’ says Stolz. Elektro Stolz recommends that its customers only dispose of an appliance when it’s no longer economical to repair it.
Many customers are becoming increasingly environmentally conscious – they know that disposing of old appliances isn’t sustainable. This is a big reason to buy new appliance from a specialized trader. ‘Customers are increasingly thinking more about the world they want to leave their children and grandchildren,’ says Stolz. Elektro Stolz recommends that its customers only dispose of an appliance when it’s no longer economical to repair it.
Tradeplace continues to support the trade by continuously adding new manufacturers, so that retailers don’t have to work with multiple e-commerce platforms. Stolz says that Tradeplace is the best system he knows for the electrical trade. The services are available at any time, and with Tradeplace as a partner, Elektro Stolz gets the most out of the exchange of digital product information, availability queries, and online orders. Plus, as a specialized retailer, it can also respond flexibly and very quickly.