AMIDST concerns bricks and mortar shops are going by the wayside, one Warrnambool business has overcome retail issues with a strong online presence.
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Sandra and Glenn Smith have owned Jean Jail for 19 years and in 2013 daughter Casey Pearce along with Chanelle Maher established a successful online store, selling clothing and accessories to customers across the world.
The business has more than 110,000 likes on Facebook and nearly 17,000 followers on Instagram. Mrs Pearce, a qualified primary school teacher, said: “A couple of years ago we found there was a lack of different styles and affordable, quality dresses for the younger age group.
“We started at the back of the shop on the computer and it got so big. Chanelle came into the business and we founded the online store together. It was 18 months ago we started, but there was lots of pre-planning before that. We are lucky we have found our customer and know who they are. We had a great customer base from the shop. They were supporting us from the start.”
Mrs Pearce designed the website with help from outside sources.
“I update it all the time,” she said.
“There’s a lot of hard work. You have to be committed to it. Every hour that I’m not sleeping, I’m thinking about it.”
Every day emails and queries come from across the world and some of the challenges include long working hours and ensuring the technology on the website is correct.
Miss Maher said being innovative online was important.
“You always have to have new ideas and think of new things to do,” she said.
“You have to be 100 per cent committed and have a passion for it.”
Mrs Pearce said the shop now employs around 15-20 people and they have recently outgrown their CBD warehouse and have moved to a larger space in the Homemaker centre.
“We have an amazing team,” she said.
“They are like family and some have been here for over 10 years. They want to grow with the business. Eventually we plan to hire more people.”
Mrs Smith said the online store had provided a welcome boost to the shop’s profits.
“It was definitely getting harder, from 19 years ago. You have to be pro-active.”
Jean Jail send their clothes across the world, with buyers in New York, Dubai, Canada and Africa.
Mrs Pearce said they have big plans for the future.
“We want to be in the top 10 retailers in Australia online.”