 |
home |  |
|
ladies | |
|
gentlemen | |
|
children | |
|
celebrity sales | |
|
go platinum! | |
|
how to buy | |
|
how to sell | |
NEW AND ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONALITY - DESIGNED EXCLUSIVELY FOR SELLERS ON CLOTHES AGENCY!
JULY 2007
Since the launch of the New Clothes Agency the community has been bounding from strength to strength, and with thousands of unique visitors per day (and rising) the future looks to be a busy one!
Sellers, for obvious reasons, are an integral part of the community and Clothes Agency has been coming up with some wonderful new ideas that have been carefully developed to bring an even better selling platform.
Clothes Agency is delighted to announce the launch of this fabulous new programming (some of which may already have been spotted!), designed to bring even more success and help achieve sales goals.
All of these new features are already live and currently available - so, grab a cup of coffee (or something stronger), and read on.
International Postage
How It Used to Work:
Up until now, international postage has had to be requested by the buyer and charged for manually by the seller after, or just before, the sale is processed.
New Functionality:
Sellers will now able to include the additional international shipping charges directly within listings. This means that any buyer clicking on 'More Details' for a sale item, will instantly be able to view the totals including Domestic Shipping, as well as International Shipping.
How Will Sellers Be Affected?:
It will open selling windows to the world! Sellers can now choose to ship globally with no extra trouble (or the emails that have, to date, been required between the seller and buyer!)
What Sellers Need To Do:
i) Simply go my details, (within the my account section of the Member's Menu) and ensure that International selected in the shipping preference details. Save the changes.
ii) Then proceed to the selling catalogue (I'm selling it - within the sales menu of the Members navigation). Click on Edit Item for each item for sale and where there used to be one window for shipping, sellers will now see two. Add in the total shipping (not the difference between, but the total) for international postage and save the changes.
iii) Repeat the process for each sale item.
Seller's Country of Origin:
How It Used to Work:
How It Used to Work:
Up until now, there was no way of knowing where a seller was based. This was found to be slightly limiting to the success of some members.
New Functionality:
The system will now recognise where each seller is from. When a buyer clicks on 'More details' for any sale item, they will instantly be able to see the seller's country of origin.
How Will Sellers Be Affected?:
It will help buyers to recognise items for sale from within their own country, as well as help alert them to potential international shipping. Clothes Agency doesn't believe in springing surprises!
What Sellers Need To Do:
Nothing! As long as the correct country in the home address has been selected, (again situated in my details in the my account section of the member's menu) the system will do all the work!
No More Doubling Up By Mistake!
How It Used To Work:
Clothes Agency has been aware of how easy it is to accidentally double up in the listing process. Some sellers have clicked on the 'back button' (instead of completing their listings and then editing them) and, as a result have doubled their entries.
New Functionality:
A warning has been installed that will help prevent sellers from inadvertently logging two listings instead of one!
How Will Sellers Be Affected?
No more double listings - as long as the listing process is taken slowly, this should no longer happen!
What Sellers Need To Do:
Nothing - just heed the warning if seen during the listing process - and if editing a previous page of a listing is required, simply carry on until the listing is complete and then edit each listing from the I'm Selling It section - or the Listings Waiting To Be Set Live section.
Sales & Returns Policies
How It Used To Work:
Up until now, sellers have had one choice for their Seller's Sales and Returns Policies. This has either been entered via each listing, or, if a default policy has been stored within the account details, it has appeared automatically for each new listing.
New Functionality:
When a new listing is entered, sellers will be given two choices. Either the default policy can be selected, which will then appear exactly as it is stored in your account details, or a specific policy for a particular item can be entered. So from now on, the default policy will automatically appear for each item on sale within a seller's catalogue, unless specifically chosen otherwise.
How Will Sellers Be Affected?:
How Will Sellers Be Affected?:
It will make listing much easier and much neater! Not only will listing become more streamlined, but if there ARE reduced items in a catalogue that may require a slightly different policy, it'll allow the seller to enter individual terms for these individual pieces.
What Sellers Need To Do:
If a Seller's Sales & Returns policy is already stored within an account, (go to my details within the my account section and towards the bottom of the page, sellers will see a box entitled Selling & Returns Policy - this is where the default policy is stored) no action is required.
If sellers do not presently have a policy at this location - it is strongly recommended that one is entered now! Not only will it make future listing much faster and easier, but if no current default policy is stored, the policy in each listings will also remain blank!
Please note: If you have any items within your catalogue that reflect a different policy, (i.e. Bargain Basement or Ultimate Reduction items) it is important that you check these are to your satisfaction. Once this new function is set live, it will over-ride all present policies and insert your Default Policy into all your current items for sale.
Archiving
How It Used To Work:
Clothes Agency has not until now had any archiving facility. However, due to the increase in activity, visitors and sales this programming has been introduced to help with the 'housekeeping'!
New Functionality:
From now on, any items in I Sold It! will automatically fall into the archives after 730 days. This will not affect the majority of sellers for some time - but it is important that members are aware of it's existence.
How Will Sellers Be Affected?:
Items that have been sold for a period of two years (730 days) will automatically be archived by the system.
What Sellers Need To Do:
Nothing - the system will do it all automatically!
Platinum and Top Drawer Catalogue ID.
How It Used To Work:
Up until now, all the selling catalogues have been displayed with just the seller's names showing. It has been requested by members that Top Drawer catalogues are identified, as many buyers prefer to purchase only from private (and platinum) sellers.
New Functionality:
Because of the increase in visitors and activity within the Clothes Agency community, Top Drawer catalogues are now clearly identifiable with a (TD) after the selling name. Platinum members are also identifiable with a (P) after their selling name.
How Will Sellers Be Affected?:
As previously mentioned, many members prefer to buy only from private sellers, rather than managed catalogues. This will help them to easily identify private sellers across the community. As time goes by there will be fewer and fewer catalogues marked with (TD), this is a worldwide community and it is planned that these will be gradually phased out.
What Sellers Need To Do:
What Sellers Need To Do:
Nothing! It is all automatically programmed.
About Me - Open Up Your Community and Get To Know Each Other! Seller's Can Now Meet Their Buyers..
How It Used To Work:
Up until now, only seller's personal introductions to the community were being seen - this was available via the 'Meet the Seller' link on each item for sale. There has been no easy way to get to know the buyers, and so this has been addressed.
New Functionality:
Members who have chosen to fill in their short biographies (stored within my details in the my account section of the navigation) have the possibility of their introductions being posted in two places:
i) As sellers, the 'About Me' can be seen on each item for sale ('Meet the Seller');
ii) Buyer's introductions can now be seen by the seller once a transaction has been completed. To view this information, go to I Sold It (in the sales menu) and at the top of each item sold, click on 'Get to know each other; Meet the Buyer'.
How Will Sellers Be Affected?
In a beautifully positive way! This is a community and in communities it's great to get to know one another, helping to create the warm and friendly atmosphere for which Clothes Agency is so famous! The more members introduce themselves to each other, the more friendships can be made, (and the more active members will become - this can only result in more sales and purchases!).
What Sellers Need To Do:
Clothes Agency hopes that sellers will lead the way by example and introduce themselves to the community! It can be as detailed or as personal as is desired - perhaps a short biography, why Clothes Agency has been chosen as a place to trade and perhaps how the seller's sale items are stored and shipped. Why not share musical tastes and perhaps hobbies? There may be someone out there who has the same interests!
This information only has to be entered once and it is editable at any time. Click on my details in the my account section of the member's menu. Scroll down and towards the bottom there's a box entitled 'About Me'. Place the personal introduction here and save the changes. That's it - it really is that easy and the more open sellers are with other members, the more this will build trust and confidence.
Please note: Taking this small step of introduction to the community cannot be recommended highly enough. Clothes Agency has heard on more than one occasion that buyers are far more likely to purchase from sellers who are happy to introduce themselves, than from those who wish to remain secretive. It makes them far more comfortable and remember, buying off the Internet is still quite a scary prospect for some - so by showing a friendly face, it will make a world of difference to a selling reputation.. Just a tip!
Forum - There is Now A Direct Link Through To Seller's Catalogues!
How It Used To Work:
Members leaving posts in the Forums were identified simply by their User Name. The Forums were fairly simply written.
New Functionality:
Members leaving posts in the Forums now have the ability to receive messages via a convenient link - but more importantly - each post has a DIRECT LINK TO EACH SELLING CATALOGUE!
Not only that, but members can now subscribe to various posts and receive an email every time a fresh comment is left.
Not only that, but members can now subscribe to various posts and receive an email every time a fresh comment is left.
How Will Sellers Be Affected?
That's entirely up to each member! This will be a fabulous way of becoming active within the community and letting other members get to know one another! Leaving messages in the Forum will encourage others to click on the link that will take them directly to a seller's catalogue front door.
What Sellers Need To Do:
GET OUT THERE AND GET ACTIVE IN THE FORUMS! Messages won't write themselves and the more community spirit there is, the more other members will notice each other!
Please try to bear in mind that constant adverts for catalogues may not always get read - so why not contribute to the threads?; Start a few new ones!; Begin a debate!; Leave a joke; Share a family recipe; Tell us your funny pet stories; Ask advice - and give it!
There are so many things that can be done in the Forums and every post left can perhaps contain a small message at the bottom saying something like: 'PS - I've got some great things for sale - click on the link you see under my name to view my catalogue!'
Please try to bear in mind that constant adverts for catalogues may not always get read - so why not contribute to the threads?; Start a few new ones!; Begin a debate!; Leave a joke; Share a family recipe; Tell us your funny pet stories; Ask advice - and give it!
There are so many things that can be done in the Forums and every post left can perhaps contain a small message at the bottom saying something like: 'PS - I've got some great things for sale - click on the link you see under my name to view my catalogue!'
Encourage success - just get out there as much as possible!
USE THE FORUMS!
Messages - Timings Have Been Adjusted
How It Used To Work:
When a member left a message via the message centre, the time and the date were both logged. However, when the message was replied to, the newer message was over-riding the time and date of the original message and the same information was shown on both messages.
New Functionality:
The new message no longer over-rides the original message - the times and dates are now separated and logged as individual items.
How Will Sellers Be Affected?:
A closer eye can be kept on when messages have been received, as well as an accurate record of replies sent. This will help enormously with the administration of each enquiry made and the responses.
Please Note: Clothes Agency administration team may archive messages that are over six months old. This will be manually administered and messages that are obviously important will not be removed.
What Sellers Need To Do:
Nothing! The system will do it all automatically.
AND WE'VE SAVED THE BEST ONE FOR LAST...................
Sellers Now Have The Ability to Contact Buyers Who Have Items in Their Watch List!!!
(Not even Ebay offers this!)
How It Used To Work:
When a buyer has book-marked an item they're interested in, the item has been moved into the I Love It section of the purchase menu. Until now, sellers were unable to see if their items were being watched.
New Functionality:
When a buyer book-marks an item they will now be given two choices:
i) They will be encouraged to add the seller to their favourite sellers lists and even better....
ii) They will be given the option that, if selected, sellers will be notified that they're watching a particular item for sale. (They may choose to remain anonymous - but let's hope not!)
How Will Sellers Be Affected?:
If a buyer opts to allow the seller to see them, the seller will now be able to contact them via a simple link (which will be sent via the message centre).
Tip: To encourage a sale (after all, the item has already been bookmarked!), sellers may like to offer them the item at a slightly reduced price.
It's a fabulous selling tool and Clothes Agency encourages members to consider it as a great opportunity to build warm relationships within the community.
Tip: To encourage a sale (after all, the item has already been bookmarked!), sellers may like to offer them the item at a slightly reduced price.
It's a fabulous selling tool and Clothes Agency encourages members to consider it as a great opportunity to build warm relationships within the community.
What Sellers Need To Do:
Keep a close eye on selling catalogues! To find out who is watching an item, go to I'm Selling it. Then, from that section, click on More Details for each item for sale.
The option: 'See Who Is Watching Your Item' appears in the purple band within that screen. Click on this link and if a buyer has opted to be visible, their name will appear in a list, with the date and time of their selection.
To the right is a clear invitation to send message to the buyer. Click on this and the message screen will appear. Enter a title in the box. Then place the message in the box below and finally select send message.
The option: 'See Who Is Watching Your Item' appears in the purple band within that screen. Click on this link and if a buyer has opted to be visible, their name will appear in a list, with the date and time of their selection.
To the right is a clear invitation to send message to the buyer. Click on this and the message screen will appear. Enter a title in the box. Then place the message in the box below and finally select send message.
The message will then be sent to the buyer via the message centre facility. (Sent messages may be viewed by selecting my messages within the my account section of the menu - and by selecting the messages sent tab at the top.) The potential buyer will receive an email inviting them to check their messages. They will log into their account and will see the seller's message and if interested, reply!
Please Note: Some buyers may opt to remain invisible. If this is the case, the number of anonymous watchers will be shown, but will not appear in the named list. They will simply remain logged as a number in the Invisible User total.
The facility of an email alert will be added in the very near future to help sellers further monitor interest in their catalogues. In other words, every time an item from a catalogue is added to a potential buyer's Watch List - an email notification will be sent!**
Clothes Agency hopes that sellers across the community will benefit from these great new additions to the selling experience.
New ideas will continue to be developed to help achieve even more selling success - but this is a community so please do feel free to put forward any suggestions you may have - all thoughts are warmly welcomed via the Contact Us link!
Back to the main news page..
Clothes Agency hopes that sellers across the community will benefit from these great new additions to the selling experience.
New ideas will continue to be developed to help achieve even more selling success - but this is a community so please do feel free to put forward any suggestions you may have - all thoughts are warmly welcomed via the Contact Us link!
Back to the main news page..
       
|
