Grays to share its online secrets

Date: 30.04.2013

GraysOnline will reveal tips to this year’s Smart Conference on how to become agile enough to successfully ride the online wave

April 30, 2013

GraysOnline retail and auction business will reveal tips for becoming more efficient and agile to this year’s Smart Conference, Smart 2013.

CEO Cameron Poolman, who will deliver one of the keynote presentations at Smart 2013,
says supply chains will need to minimise costs and maximise opportunities as the online retailing wave rolls on.

He will share how the online revolution affected his company and how Grays’ operations and supply chain have been customised to suit the online sales channel.

Poolman says businesses need to trial and learn fast when customising their supply chains to ride the online wave.

"Don’t underestimate how difficult it can be to get the supply chain right," Poolman says.

"You need to design and develop the supply chain end-to-end and ensure efficiency and effectiveness."

"Ensure you are agile and flexible, trial and learn fast and then have the flexibility in your setup to grow fast."

Grays sells more than 120,000 consumer, industrial and commercial items every month to both consumers and businesses. The company pioneered the first online auctions back in 2000.

Poolman says online sales now account for more than 95 percent of Grays’ business and has dramatically changed its supply chain and operations.

"We had to consolidate and rationalise all our Sydney warehouse sites into one central distribution centre," Poolman reveals.

"Plus our increased national buyer base meant we started to hold larger parcels of stock, requiring additional storage and warehousing," he says.

Poolman adds the development of a drop ship program to extend Grays’ product range without the need for further warehouse space had also boosted the company’s growth online.

"We look to keep as many of our costs as variable as possible to cope with the peaks and troughs of demand," he says.

"Our continued growth with our more than 75 drop ship partners will extend our product range and depth and Grays, like all online companies, needs to look at how to maximise this potential." he says.

Poolman says he hopes Smart 2013 delegates will come away from his presentation with the confidence to invest in changing their operations and supply chain to meet the online revolution.

"The Grays story is a great example of how to adapt and grow in a changing market," he says.

"Anybody who sells online or is looking to build an online business will hear real life examples of what worked and what didn’t as an online business goes through the pains and excitement of growth."

Poolman’s presentation take place at the Smart Conference & Expo, at Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre , June 26-27 2013.

More than 100 local and international speakers are expected to attend.

View the full program and register