At 365Drills we were once told by the MD of a very large plumbing retail chain to PROVE the market exists for our value for money diamond core drill kit.

Prove it and we will stock it.



So we set out advertising using ebay as one of our routes to market. Sales to date have been over 1500 kits (with zero complaints) and so we are proving that there is a market by first of all advertising and then selling our commercial diamond core drills.

But now the situation is that ebay is considered "downmarket" by buyers of the retailers. Mention ebay to these buyers and they instantly turn up their noses. Yet ebay is a 100,000 million people avenue for sales.

So now in our advertising to the big chains we actively avoid mentioning ebay as an income stream for PORSADRILL.

Cant win



At least we have the lovely Nicki to help us advertise our toolbox essential item !

Having experience with eBay selling at a power seller level, I too think that using eBay in a pitch can give the wrong impression to anybody above an eBay buyer. And I wouldn't assume buyers for firms are eBay buyers at all. And I doubt they'd even know the statistics (or care to be told them) face to face.

I'd simply include a total sales figure and the price they're sold at instead. You have your website, it sells, so if eBay is part of your online sales, "your online sales total X amount" and that's where it ends.

I wouldn't nudge away a brand manager at your stage now either Richard. I bet if you contacted a few marketing firms, you'd find you could re-brand (keeping the name however, so perhaps more of a re-impression?) your product and re-do the website, brochures, marketing spiel, and all related things, and end up with a real push on the UK-factory, UK-employee's, UK-company, UK-stockists, budding UK-exporter yada yada yada. Perhaps food for thought. I'm sure initial investment isn't attractive but the reward with investment and a change over a couple of years (so lower investment) could pay dividends?

Maybe it's an issue out of my league though.

Maybe it's an issue out of my league though.

Not at all !

Anyone is free to comment. In fact its why we post these things up. One of the strengths we have is that we are a UK based manufacturing company. We make good product.
One of the weakness we have is our marketing. We are a bit hit and miss.

One of the advantages of internet forums is that anyone, novice or expert - are free to comment. And in fact I find that some of the best comments come from non experts.
Example: We went through a lot of colour choices for the drill guide plate. We were "advised" that metallic was cool and modern. So we picked a metallic finish with grey fleks in it.

Result? Packaging disaster.... It was down to a small tile shop owner (thank you Sue) who said
1) Yellow is the colour of the construction industry. Its the colour for most tools.
2) Yellow can be seen easily so if you drop tools you can find them.
3) It sticks out a mile on shop displays.

So that one comment changed the drill plate from metalic grey to bright yellow. And the bonus is that yellow is a cheaper colour to batch produce.

Comments from a wide range of people are WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME.

PS: Back to the point and yes the ebay sales will now be merged into a more general "We sell x pieces per year, per month per week per day" to buyers. Ebay doesnt get a great mention.

Yeah I'd have said colour-wise yellow was a really wise choice (well done Sue whoever you are!). And contrasting colours generally help catch the eye, be it a potential buyer in a shop, or a trader who's skittled his toolbox and bits have gone under the van.

Whatever the pros and cons of Ebay it has not affected our exports. We have just posted up this message:
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TOOLS: 365Drills are pleased to announce an agreement to supply Turkey with PORSADRILL from today (Spring 2011) onwards

Being able to export goods is great for the UK. The first order is for 100 finished packs of every size in our 37 size range. (Total order 3700 pieces)

Our factory can produce 60 units per hour so thats 62 hours of work giving employment to two local lads for nearly 8 weeks or two months.

I know its not exactly massive in the scale of things and having two employees for two months is hardly going to dent the unemployment figures but I am pleased we are able to say we are doing our small part, growing AND exporting goods OUT of the country.

The first batch of the 3700 piece order will leave our factory in two weeks.

Our trading partner is KRISTAL TILE CUTTING TOOLS.

Please note they DO NOT SUPPLY THE UK

so there is no conflict naming them on this forum.


***NOT AVAILABLE TO THE UK MARKET***

Exporting PORSADRILL to KRISTAL gives us direct access to some big players in Europe
Here is their portfolio:
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Today the biggest hypermarkets, importers, wholesalers and ceramic companies are the continuous customers of Kristal that has also representatives in Greece, Germany, France, Israel, Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

Kristal exports to European Countries, Russia, Israel, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Jordan permanently and continue to add new markets.

Kristal has a philosophy. That is “to improve the quality, deliver in time and keep the reasonable prices”.

Customer satisfaction is very important, so Kristal follows the feedbacks of its customers and develops new ideas accordingly.
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For those of you who have been following the fortunes of 365Drills and PORSADRILL you will know we get a TERRIBLE time with UK retailers. There is simply huge resistance and apathy from decission makers in stocking the brand. Whilst I am frustrated at the home market I am pleased we can add Turkey to the portfolio of six countries we currently export to.

For those who dont know: We export to Malta, Australia, Ireland, Isle of man, France and South Africa.

We are also working to supply Croatia/Slovenia but until there is real money in the bank we will not announce their name or details.


Whilst the home market is resistant to PORSADRILL the rest of the world is placing orders.

Finally: And I am a bit green on this one. We need to complete Export paperwork forms
ATR-1 Certificate

I have tried to work out what I need to do. ATR website:
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The ATR.1 Certificate is a customs document used in trade between EU members and Turkey, to benefit from cheaper rates of duty.



The legal basis for the use of the certificate is the EU-Turkey Customs Union. Products not included in the customs union are steel & coal and some agricultural products.



It is also worthwhile to note that the ATR.1 certificate is not a certificate of origin, but rather a status certificate. It therefore certifies that the product has been put in free circulation either in the EU or in Turkey, which means that the product had gone through the importation procedure in either country.

I think I have some weekend reading to do ON THIS SITE !

Many thanks. Yes we hope to start off with a really good first order (we are being VERY careful how to pack - so no mistakes) and then will probably go and meet our new contacts later in the year.

Fingers XXXXEDDD

Originally Posted by Dan

Having experience with eBay selling at a power seller level, I too think that using eBay in a pitch can give the wrong impression to anybody above an eBay buyer. And I wouldn't assume buyers for firms are eBay buyers at all. And I doubt they'd even know the statistics (or care to be told them) face to face.

I'd simply include a total sales figure and the price they're sold at instead. You have your website, it sells, so if eBay is part of your online sales, "your online sales total X amount" and that's where it ends.

I wouldn't nudge away a brand manager at your stage now either Richard. I bet if you contacted a few marketing firms, you'd find you could re-brand (keeping the name however, so perhaps more of a re-impression?) your product and re-do the website, brochures, marketing spiel, and all related things, and end up with a real push on the UK-factory, UK-employee's, UK-company, UK-stockists, budding UK-exporter yada yada yada. Perhaps food for thought. I'm sure initial investment isn't attractive but the reward with investment and a change over a couple of years (so lower investment) could pay dividends?

Maybe it's an issue out of my league though.

So we set out advertising using ebay as one of our routes to market. Sales to date have been over 1500 kits (with zero complaints) and so we are proving that there is a market by first of all advertising and then selling our commercial diamond core drills.