Sirius Buying Group, major buying group in the electrical appliance and kitchen retail sectors is delighted to report amazing results following the launch of its PIM (Product Information Management) System.

Specially designed to improve the online customer experience with a focus on driving more traffic to group members websites, the PIM System feeds the Sirius website with over 5.5K products, complete with technical specifications and visual assets from Approved Suppliers to the group. This is also available to all 185+ Sirius members to utilise across their own websites and it is already having great success.

Simon Cox, Director of Borshch Electric, Birmingham: “Borshch has been using the PIM system for 6 months now, implemented in January 2022 and it has been very useful to us. Before, we were having to manually fill out product features, technical specs, and source images for each model of appliance booked into our system, which became extremely time consuming and difficult. Having the PIM system now do all of this for us, instantly, has been an immense help and has saved us a huge amount of time that we can now use to focus on generating sales and new business instead.”

George Smith, Owner of A&B Smith Domestic Appliances, Craven Arms: “Before we signed up to the PIM system, we only had a very basic website with very few customers calling in. Now, working with PIM has led to thousands of products being listed on our website, with high quality images and detailed product information available to our customers. We now get calls every day and this is helping us bring in extra business, which has been the case from the moment it went live on our site.”

Liam Wilkinson, Director of Aztec Domestics, Chorley: “PIM – the acronym we have needed for so many years. To add a product to our website with good images and good content would usually take 30-45 minutes per product. With the PIM it is now a couple of clicks, and the rest is done for us and with more content than we would have ever added before. It is still early days for this PIM system, but it is already changed the way we do things, saving us countless hours adding products to websites and allowed us to focus our energies elsewhere.”

Joe Howes, Data & Digital Marketing Manager at Sirius Buying Group explains “We have had a product catalogue for many years, but it was previously limited in its distribution to Members who had a specific website platform. The importance of a web presence has become even more apparent over the last two years, and we felt it was necessary to support all our members by increasing their level of visibility online, as much as possible. We made the move to a dedicated, stand-alone PIM System that can integrate with many platforms, such as WordPress, Magento 2 and Shopify to ensure our maintained product catalogue is far more accessible.”

Steve Jones, Managing Director at Sirius Buying Group adds “As a direct consequence of the PIM System, many more of our members are now benefitting from the most current and comprehensive product content on their websites, without the difficulty and time constraints of keeping it up-to-date themselves. Our Approved Suppliers are also seeing huge benefits, as product specs are added and updated in one place, meaning they no longer have to send product updates to each individual Member in each individual required format – there is one format for all members, and it will update automatically! We are delighted to be able to create a business model that is simple, productive, and future-oriented, helping the independent retailer to profit from the latest digital resources to boost their business.”

It is evident that UK shopping patterns have changed across all sectors, demanding an Omni-channel shopping experience where brick-and-mortar stores work in tandem with online support systems with minimum effort.

Mark Veysey, General Manager at Sirius Buying Group says, “Treating the web as a natural extension of your retail space is a real game-changer right now, helping you to stay competitive and actively drive new foot traffic to your business in store and online. The PIM System is available to support our members online presence and in doing so, gift those who have signed-up with more time to spend on their business and not countless hours on digital inventory management.”

Property & Development Magazine | The Home of Residential Sector News

A new CRM software platform designed to make estate and letting agencies more productive has signed just over 700 branches even before its official launch.

Apex27 underwent a soft launch with the aim of perfecting everything before an official release. But the new system has proved so popular with agents it already has over 500 customers operating from over 700 branches and hosting over 200 agency websites.

Apex27 is a fully-featured, cloud-based platform designed to work the way agents work. It offers features including integrated call tracking, prospecting and market appraisal tracking, lead tracking, comprehensive reporting, customisable print marketing including brochure creation, social media sharing and 40+ valuable integrations all from a single, easy to use dashboard.

“Our aim at Apex27 has been to bring a fresh eye to estate agency CRM software. We set out with a clean sheet of paper to design a powerful platform that works the way agents work, offers features that really benefit them, and at a very competitive price,” commented James Wright, Founder at Apex27.

“The response from agencies even before our full launch has been absolutely amazing. I like to think it endorses all the work we’ve put into making Apex27 a completely new CRM offering which we believe is far better than anything available before.”

The Apex27 team have over 20 years experience in agency software. They previously created the EzAdsPro platform used by Knight Frank, Savills and Strutt and Parker and many other agencies.

Apex27 has already won plaudits from agents who have moved over to it and has attracted both small and large agencies UK-wide and internationally.

“Apex27 has significantly benefitted the operational efficiency of our business. Hours a week have been gained back due to the ease of use. Quite simply we are receiving a better service, better support on a better platform and for a lesser price,” said Jessica Mortimer-Collier of The Property Advantage.

Sirius launch PIM System. Major buying group in the electrical appliance and kitchen retail sectors is delighted to launch its PIM (Product Information Management) System and brand new website www.siriusbuyinggroup.co.uk – specially designed to improve the online customer experience with a focus on driving more traffic to group members websites, so consumers support and buy from the independent retailer.

Steve Jones, Managing Director at Sirius, says, “These newly created and ultra-beneficial resources are both exciting and important developments for Sirius Buying Group, ensuring we continue to do all we can to help our Members position themselves in the digital world and thrive. The PIM System feeds our Sirius website with over 5.5K products, complete with technical specifications and visual assets from our market leading Approved Suppliers, which is also available to all 185+ Sirius members to utilise across their own websites.

As a direct consequence of this digital group investment, our Members are able to have the most current product content on their websites, without the difficulty and time constraints of keeping it up-to-date themselves. It also greatly benefits our Approved Suppliers as product information can be added and updated in one place, rather than sending to each and every Member in different required formats.

We are proud to lead by example, as we encourage our members and the KBB industry to use the latest digital resources to their advantage. At a time when supply chain issues are proving challenging to the economy, while raising awareness to the end user on finding their nearest reputable, local independent.

The latest consumer research from Google indicates that UK shopping patterns have changed across all sectors so that a seamless Omni-channel experience is only going to become more vital. Recognising this, the new Sirius website is designed with clarity and ease in mind so that visitors can find what they need with minimum effort, whether they are consumers looking for a local retailer or retailers keen to see what the group has to offer. General Manager and Project Lead for the new Sirius website, Mark Veysey says, “We really wanted to optimise the flexibility of search on the website and make it mobile friendly so that all users can navigate with ease: which is why there’s a dedicated function to search for product type, name and number and an intuitive filter section for the consumer to find exactly what they require. In doing so, we’re able to provide end users the option to search however they wish in order to provide the best possible products for their needs

“We know that every business is unique and constantly-evolving and nowadays, consumers are extremely discerning when it comes to choosing suppliers of integrity. Trust, mutual respect and likability need to be conveyed through a positive and highly visible online presence, as we must recognise that retail now takes many forms from traditional bricks and mortar store to the Internet. With this in mind, by treating the web as a natural extension of your retail space and your digital offering will remain sustainable and actively drive new foot traffic to your business – be it online or in person.In my opinion, a website needs clarity and structure so your visitors always know where they currently are and where they need to go. Amongst the numerous services our members benefit from the PIM is designed to support them in achieving an online presence allowing them more time to spend on their business and it also removes the countless hours manually adding products to their website” adds Mark.

Are you ready to go to the next level in your business and reap the rewards of working in partnership with some of the UK’s most exciting and dynamic retailers and suppliers? Please contact Sirius on:

t 01395 277 103 | w www.siriusbuyinggroup.co.uk | e siriusoffice@siriusbuyinggroup.co.uk

Press enquiries, please contact Emily McCullagh, Managing Director at Publicity Engineers:

Tel 01992 478109 | e emily@publicityengineers.com | Lambourne House, 7 Western Rd, Essex RM1 3LD

Property & Development Magazine

Jones Digital, the UK’s fastest growing digital powerhouse for the KBB, interior design and new build sectors is proud to launch an exclusive range of Video Marketing Services: four custom digital media packages, designed to support the UK retailer with excellent cost-benefit ratio.  

Founder and Managing Director, Peter Jones says, “We felt it was the right time to build on the momentum gained with the launch of Jones Digital and respective 360° showroom tours by introducing a new menu of user-friendly digital marketing packages, which are designed to elevate and empower specialist KBB retailers and interior design studios across the UK.

Jones Digital Video Marketing-already known for providing first class multi-media brand solutions and engaging content online, we felt it important to continue to expand and define our business offering so that new and existing customers have the option to build our digital solutions into their ongoing marketing strategy, as needed.”

Working in partnership with Virtual 360° Tours Glos, Jones Digital has been able to respond to the ever-changing consumer landscape and ecommerce trends that are generating online sales leads for the independent to convert. We already know that serious customers will visit a virtual showroom up to 7 or 8 times, so retailers need to make sure they can engage with self-selecting clients who are keen to spend with them.

These types of bolt-on digital solutions offer an excellent ROI, as they will increase dwell time on a website and encourage customers to spend more time exploring their options with tags, links and videos of products for a more inclusive showroom experience from the outset.

Now available for retail customers across the UK, you can choose from the following custom Video Marketing Packages to keep your brand agile and support your customer’s journey:

1.      SHOWCASE COLLECTION: 90-second feature video, a 30 second sharable video and five 10 second bite-sized clips. These videos showcase your showroom and all of the leading brands and products available. The video reel will be inter-spliced with interview footage from a brand representative or business owner, providing you with a prime platform to discuss your brand story and company values direct to the customer. Priced from £1,500 +vat.

2.      SHOWROOM DISCOVERY VIDEO: 60-second feature video showcasing your showroom and all of the leading brands and products available, inter-spliced with interview footage from a brand representative or business owner, as outlined in Package 1. Priced from £1,250 +vat.

3.      EXAMPLE COOKING DEMO: 3-minute feature video, made up of short clips showcasing an industry expert demonstrating on nominated equipment while highlighting key features and benefits to the end user. Priced from £1,660 +vat, and note the fee excludes hiring a home economist/brand champion/chef, food and equipment, if required.

4.      EXAMPLE EVENT VIDEOGRAPHY: 90-second feature video showcasing the buzz and excitement following a real-time showroom event. Including interview statements from brand representatives, vox pop interviews that capture key information about the event and all of the products being showcased and/or announced. Priced from £1,300 +vat.

Peter adds “We have enjoyed phenomenal success in our partnership with Scott Currie and Virtual 360 Tours Glos, which is why we have launched these video marketing services to respond to the overwhelming demand and continue to work with some of the most well-known brands and charismatic figures inside (and outside) of the kbb industry.”

If you’re ready to take your business to the next level, please contact Jones Digital → Unit 17, Newhaven Enterprise Centre, Denton Island, Newhaven, East Sussex, BN9 9BA – United Kingdom | t 0207 486 1777 | w www.thisisjonesdigital.com

Property & Development Magazine

Construction and regeneration group Morgan Sindall Group plc will this week launch an innovative technology platform,the goldeni platform, which uses machine learning to provide social housing landlords and tenants with real-time, actionable insights to help them ensure their properties are healthy, legally compliant and more energy-efficient.

Using discreet interconnected sensors positioned throughout a home, the platform collects data on the internal environmental conditions in a property, including temperature, air pressure, light levels, humidity and carbon dioxide. goldeni also monitors heating systems, detects for water leaks and monitors electricity and gas consumption.

The goldeni platform has been developed by data scientists working for Morgan Sindall Property Services, the property maintenance division of the Morgan Sindall Group. Morgan Sindall Property Services currently looks after 200,000 homes on behalf of social landlords across the UK.

Morgan Sindall Property Services is the first property maintenance provider to develop an inhouse platform that can consolidate and interpret information from a number of commercially available ‘Internet of Things’ sensors in real-time. It provides social housing landlords and tenants with clear, practical recommendations. For example, goldeni monitors ventilation and will recommend opening more windows to ensure homes are less susceptible to mould, can identify water leaks in real-time, and spots when a boiler needs to be serviced, so that preventative action can be taken before a problem escalates. By tracking which homes are using central heating too often or too little, goldeni can also help users identify properties that are in fuel poverty or requiring additional insulation.

According to Inside Housing, in 2019 / 20 Housing Associations in England spent a combined £5.51bn on repairs and maintenance, with many Housing Associations experiencing double digit increases in their repair and maintenance costs year-on-year. By helping landlords and tenants identify potential maintenance issues before they occur and remediate leaks before they escalate, it is estimated goldeni could help social housing landlords save over £550m per year. This figure is likely to be even higher for providers who also follow goldeni’s recommendations about how to make properties more energy efficient.

The platform also has a crucial role to play in the path to net zero. goldeni provides practical recommendations in real-time for how to make properties more energy efficient, from using heating more effectively throughout the day, to suggestions on the best time to run energy-hungry appliances or improve insulation.

John Morgan, Chief Executive of the Morgan Sindall Group said: “Morgan Sindall is committed to developing and implementing innovations for our customers. The launch of goldeni, our first technological innovation for the sector, represents an important milestone not just for Morgan Sindall but also for Social Housing as a whole. By giving clues to potential issues within homes even before they occur, it can help those living in social housing have healthier, safer, more energy efficient homes, as well as saving Social Housing providers costs.”

“While we’re initially focusing on social housing, its ability to provide an instant overview of a building’s health in real time means that goldeni would just be as useful for commercial and private residential property owners as well, and that’s something we’ll be looking to roll out in the future.”

Phil Copperwheat, Information Systems Director of Morgan Sindall Property Services said: “This is an important moment for Morgan Sindall, as it’s the first time we’ve launched a bespoke, comprehensive software platform, developed entirely in-house. By using machine learning, we’ve ensured the platform constantly updates and improves itself, so the more customers use goldeni the more useful and insightful it will be. We’ve worked hard to make the interface as simple and intuitive as possible, so that customers can start to benefit from it straight away.”

Alan Hayward, Managing Director of Morgan Sindall Property Services, said: “For Morgan Sindall Property Services our focus is ensuring our data insight and innovations provide positive outcomes for customers and communities, improving their living environment and quality of life. goldeni will allow us to take a more proactive and preventative approach to reducing repair demand by flagging potential issues in real-time and helping us spot potential indicators of vulnerability such as fuel poverty.”

The sensors are sensitively designed and easy to install, and the platform can be accessed from any device. What’s more, landlords and tenants immediately benefit after installation, as the software platform makes preventative recommendations and identifies potential issues from day one.

Property & Development Magazine

From listing properties and finding tenants, to screening prospective tenants and much more, the uses of social media in the rental sector are wide ranging.

In the age of social media, personal information is fast becoming public property. Millions are now willingly sharing information which was previously confidential; photos, political views, work history and even whereabouts can be found in a few clicks. It’s now easier than ever to build a picture of someone’s habits and tendencies with just basic information.

The applicability to the rental market is obvious; 11% of landlords now routinely check social media profiles of prospective tenants as part of their screening process.

While this may seem more of a personality report and cannot replace hard facts like credit checks and criminal records, it helps build an overall picture of the prospective tenant which would be impossible to glean from information provided by traditional sources.

Many part-time landlords are also using social media to find new tenants, other than saving on letting agent fees, the benefits of finding a tenant in your social network, and therefore someone you implicitly trust, can be priceless. And even if you don’t know the person well, you can quickly build trust through mutual friends.

Using social media in a more traditional way also has huge benefits. Facebook has an advertising feature which allows targeting ads for rental properties towards specific audiences within their 2 billion active user base. While smaller landlords may find this too expensive, the wider reach may appeal to large portfolio managers. Of course, if you do go this route, you will lose the personal touch of posting on your own timeline, etc.

But social media has its risks, if you are using it to screen tenants, you should consider using it as a quick way to spot red flags, rather than relying on it to fully guide your decision making.

There’s also a question of ethics, is it fair to judge someone based on the few things they share online? Do you feel comfortable looking at a stranger’s profile without their consent? What if it was the other way around? Letting the prospective tenant know they will be checked online may allay some of these concerns.

However, you may feel about social media, it’s here to stay. Other than a few moral qualms, there’s no reason not to use social media as part of your screening process, indeed it is likely to become a generally accepted part of a modern landlord’s due diligence. The sooner you get onboard, the better.

Arthur Online is a cloud-based platform that enables property managers to respond instantly and solve problems fast from anywhere in the world, be it with tenants, contractors, property owners or letting agents. Since launching in 2015, it has helped thousands of property managers like Marc run their portfolios in the cheapest, most efficient way possible by using the full potential of new technology and cloud computing. See how Arthur can help your business by going to https://www.arthuronline.co.uk/private-rental/?utm_source=Property%20and%20Development&utm_medium=article