Welcome to SSAW.io
Our project aims to help independent luxury fashion designers and brands to market and sell their collections business-to-business (B2B) globally: and through this we give retailers wider access to new and innovative products, extremely conveniently and cost-effectively.
The New B2B digital sales channel
The B2B digital sales channel was so undeveloped before the pandemic, and has come to such prominence since Covid-19, that it really is a new sales channel.
Wholesale buyers never wanted to work digitally and resisted it for years, but in summer 2020 trade shows and showrooms were cancelled, buyer’s could not travel to see brands and sales reps could not physically meet buyers.
Since Covid-19 wholesale buyers have no choice, and they have learnt how to work digitally, and buyers have learnt fast!
A double edged sword: problem/opportunity
What started off as a problem has now been recognised and exploited by many brands as an opportunity.
Before the pandemic many buyers were resistant to being contacted by brands digitally, and it was very expensive to develop new points of sale. Whereas now, flexible and forward thinking brands have an extremely powerful and cost-effective channel to develop new markets globally.
The limitations of online marketplaces for B2B wholesale sales
SSAW.io are pioneers in B2B wholesale commerce. We started our business in 2015, initially creating online marketplaces. However, we soon realised that online marketplaces for wholesale B2B sales only ever generate small orders. There are two reasons for this.
Build strong relationships with buyers
A buyer may make a single purchase on an e-marketplace, or place a small wholesale order. However, to attract larger orders it is necessary to build up a relationship with a buyer and to get their trust. The automation implicit in online marketplaces actually acts as a barrier and works against this happening.
5 billion internet users worldwide, 900,000 new internet users daily, average internet use 7 hours a day per person
With these staggering statistics, we can see that the chances of a brand attracting a new buyer through random web browsing is 5 billion:1 which is almost no chance at all: whereas, the importance of developing digital channels is increasing by almost 1 million new internet users every day.
“Elevator” Pitch
When the Covid-19 pandemic happened, traditional ways of buyers and brands meeting in person became impossible: trade shows were cancelled, agents could not meet buyers; and buyers could not attend showrooms. Buyers never wanted to learn how to buy B2B using digital channels, but they had no choice. This video of our elevator pitch predates the Covid-19 pandemic, and it illustrates that Covid-19 simply accelerated a move to the B2B digital channel, that was already inevitable because of the many advantages of working in this way.
A sustainable B2B eco-system
Sales reps, brands and retailers all need up-to-the-minute information in order to maintain high-quality customer service, which builds relationships that yield recurring revenue and develop long-term value. It is a false economy to make a great first impression with a potential stockist, but not to follow-up with fast and accurate information, quotes and order fulfilment. SSAW.io’s platform acts as a hub for all stakeholders, laying the practical foundations for developing a cost-effective and sustainable B2B eco-system between brands and retail stockists.
Three parts of our service
Marketing
SSAW.io has built up a large contact base of the buyers worldwide and we research buyers contact information for specific brands. SSAW.io carefully and sensitively makes buyers aware of brands that will appeal to and excite their customers.
Showroom
A platform where brands and retailers can access and manage information about new collections, place orders, integrate with the supply chain and stock control all in one place. Giving complete information 24 hours a day, everyday!
Sales
A growing network of forward thinking retailers, agents and distributors who want new and innovative products with which to stimulate and excite their customers in partnership with established and emerging brands.
Spring / Summer
Autumn / Winter
SSAW is an iconic acronym for Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter, describing the twice yearly buying cycle where retailers place orders between 6 to 18 months before they take delivery.
This is the antithesis of fast-fashion, enabling brands to buy raw materials and production services cost-effectively and produce to sensible timescales with realistic prices and profit margins.
SSAW.io specialise in the fashion industry, working with a large community of brands, qualified business buyers, agents and distributors.
Our proposition and services includes: