One of the UK’s oldest business product catalogues for the storage industry has gone digital. The BIG BOOK, first published in 1945 to sell racking and shelving products by Birmingham based Welco, is now one of the first business catalogues to embrace the digital age and put its 30,000 item range on 926 pages on the world-wide web- making it one of the largest digital editions ever created. Welco, Europe’s leading supplier of industrial and commercial office and workplace products, was one of the country’s first virtual companies when it started selling from a catalogue. The company’s decision not to hold stock, but to connect its customers with thousands of supplies, was seen as an innovative business model.
Six decades on, and with BIG Product BOOKS, for education, health and industrial markets, Welco’s chief executive Adrian Reeve has invested in www.welcobigbook.co.uk where customers can buy on line.
The decision followed extensive research with organisations throughout the country. Feedback, particularly from government, health and educational departments, showed a significant desire to move to more environmentally friendly purchasing methods.
Reeve said “Welco has always been environmentally aware. Our catalogues are printed on recycled paper and stock from replenishable forests. The move to a digital BIG BOOK, fitted with the company’s image as innovative and technology friendly. We produce and mail nearly one million catalogues each year. We have added the digital version as a new channel to our customers.”
The digital BIG BOOK was first trialled in 2007 when a 52 page short version was introduced with the main printed catalogue. The full 926 page 2008 industrial version hits customer’s screens this month, with individual health and education editions to follow in May.
Welco
Tel: 0800 954 9001
Email: sales@welco.co.uk
www.welco.co.uk
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