Tobias answers questions from the organizer Carpathia Consulting as part of the application launch for the Swiss E-Commerce Award 2015. Read the exciting interview and find out how Stadtlandkind fared last year... much
Interview from December 16, 2015
Newcomer Award 2014 winner stadtlandkind.ch in conversation
An interview with Tobias Zingg, co-founder of stadtlandkind.ch and what winning the Newcomer Award 2014 means for the start-up from Eastern Switzerland:
How has business at Stadtlandkind.ch developed in the current year?
2014 was another year that far exceeded our expectations. We were able to grow both in
sales and - what seems almost more important to us - in the product range.
How did winning the Newcomer Award 2014 affect you?
We had no idea! We originally applied for the award to get a taste of competition, to see how the big names do it and, to be honest, we were just looking forward to the fantastic drinks reception in a convivial atmosphere. The fact that we won was completely unexpected for us and the reactions afterwards were correspondingly surprising - a pure supplement to what was already a fantastic year. Furthermore, the positive press reports gave us a new voice in the international media - we were certainly reassessed and taken more seriously by the press, partners, associations and, above all, our competitors.
What innovations have you been able to implement in the online store in recent months?
The implementation of the partner area, for example, is a direct result of the award. We receive many inquiries and can now make an ideal selection for us from a large number of potential partners. We also want to mention the expansion of our product range and the resulting complete overhaul of the brand overview. We were able to implement a large part of our shopping list and purchase our favorite brands. As a result of our efforts, we are even more customer-oriented and offer different shipping methods, as well as text messages for special occasions, and you can see the available items per size directly on the home page via mouse-over. We have also invested again in improving performance and asked about the origin of the checkout process - 98% say where they know us from. We have made countless adjustments to SEO and introduced worldwide shipping.
Do you even have time for detailed market research and analysis?
Yes and no. We work very closely with HSG St. Gallen in this area. We are currently working on two very exciting market analysis/observation projects with Stadtlandkind as our client.
For 2015, we are also planning to present the Startup Award for newcomers and endow it with CHF 5,000. What do you think of this innovation?
I think it's absolutely great! I believe that start-ups and newcomers should be kept separate anyway. I also don't consider an international retailer entering the Swiss market to be a newcomer. An award for start-ups endowed with a sum of money would of course attract even more applications and motivate start-ups to enter.
What advice would you give to comparable start-ups and newcomers for 2015?
The most important thing in a start-up is the team and the different skills and qualifications of the individuals. Clearly divided areas of responsibility with assigned areas of expertise. At Stadtlandkind.ch, we even have a function chart, which has proved very useful.
Another decisive success factor is our partners. We can rely on a large network of partners who support us on a daily basis. MS Mail Service AG in particular, as a logistics/e-commerce specialist, makes a significant contribution to our success.
It is also important to remain true to yourself. To strictly adhere to the chosen path for a defined period of time and then to pause again and again, decide on changes together and then observe how things develop again
Evaluate as many KPIs and data as possible that are available and do not neglect ongoing competitor analysis, market observation and market research.
What are your plans, what's next?next?
Our current project is currently consuming a lot of energy - our own Kindish brand will be launched in spring 2015 and we hope it will be a success.
