I'm Having A Baby!

....well, not really. Not in the tiny-human-in-my-belly way. But I am waiting for the launch of the website, which is nearing the end of its beta testing. My Bespoke Chair is my baby in every other way; from its conception back in February I have been dedicated to its growth and development. There's been excitement, worry, sleepless nights, painful decisions, anxiety but also that feeling that you're doing something really worthwhile for the future.

With a week left until launch day, I'm at that impatient stage; the time cannot go fast enough. I'm bored of planning, waiting and speculating. I want to get stuck in. A mix of trepidation and unbridled excitement. I can't wait to show her off to you all - and yet, I'm concerned you won't like her, or get her, or want to play with her.

Comparing a chair design online with the real thing.....

But I have a funny feeling you'll be delighted.....and the statistical signs are that we are ready for a new way to buy furniture.

I read an article today in the Australian Financial Review about the surprise hit in online retail; furniture sales. Consumers are becoming more comfortable "buying before trying", and online furniture sales are set to rise nearly 16% this financial year.  They have already grown 12.1% in the past five years, so the signs are positive.

Fashion and shoes have been the traditional Stars of the e-commerce world. For the past 15 years, online fashion has set the standard. Competitive pricing, generous returns policies and the throw-away nature of fashion mean that we feel confident spending on-line. (And online payment security has improved too) Furniture retailers have been slower and less innovative - lumbering giants by comparison. But pure, online furniture retailers are more nimble than their traditional, bricks-and-mortar counterparts, even those scrambling to set up a web presence.

What does this mean for My Bespoke Chair?

1) We are innovators and we are the first.
2) We are capturing the zeitgeist of social media, online shopping and mobile, smart technologies.
3) We can benefit from established consumer confidence in buying big ticket items online.
4) We can offer quality, service and pricing impossible in mass-market chain stores or upmarket furniture stores.

Our next post will be once My Bespoke Chair makes its safe arrival into the online world......and then the hard work really begins! I hope you'll be a part of our community and join our adventurous journey.

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