Aug 27 2014
Intershop, the leading independent technology vendor for omni-channel commerce solutions, today announced that its leading e-commerce platform, Intershop 7, has been selected by GutterSupply.com - a division of Rain Trade Corporation-the largest online-only US manufacturer and distributor of rain gutters, tools and accessories for high-end homes and building contractors.
The deal, struck jointly with new North American partner Orchid Digital Solutions reflects a growing trend toward online sales in the building materials industry.
The construction industry is making a major comeback after the building bust of 2009. Gutter Supply’s focus on quality, service and online sales is helping the fifty-year old specialty supplier capitalize on the building boom and expand offerings; but that growth has been stifled by a home-grown e-commerce platform that couldn’t scale. Faced with a bulging product line including SKUs in a variety of metals, shapes, colors, sizes and configurations, their home-grown e-commerce platform could not keep up with product innovation and increasing market demand.
“Our current platform is difficult to update and does not give us an easy way to do promotions,” said Mike Milliman, President of Gutter Supply. “We sell to businesses, contractors and discerning do-it-yourselfers. The Intershop platform will allow us to further grow by creating distinct experiences for B2B and B2C customers,” added Milliman.
Moving to the Intershop platform which can handle B2B, B2C, multi-channel, multi-touch point and multinational means that GutterSupply.com can scale and expand in any direction while maintaining their brand and improving the customer experience.
“We’re seeing increased demand in the building materials segment,” said Jochen Moll, CEO at Intershop. “This increased activity is from a combination of growth in commercial and residential construction combined with overall e-commerce growth in manufacturing and distribution segments,” added Moll.
Orchid Digital Solutions, a consultancy specializing in B2B e-commerce, will provide GutterSupply.com with strategy, design, and implementation services and plan for a go live date by the end of the year. “We’re pleased with Intershop’s growth and expansion of its partner ecosystem here in the US,” said Brian Carpizo, Managing Director, Orchid Digital. “They have a fantastic product well suited to companies with complex business processes and hybrid sales models like GutterSupply.com,” added Carpizo.