Yuppiechef in line for E-commerce site of the year. Cast your vote now!
by Fred on 30/09/08 at 10:07 am
7 comments
It was around 2 1/2 years ago that Andrew and Shane were sitting in the studio together, discussing projects. Shane and Andrew had come up with a cool business idea, a classic name “Yuppiechef” and decided to give it a full go. They realised that e-commerce was a baby in South Africa, and had huge potential to grow up into a fully-grown strapping athlete (SA e-commerce still has some way to go!) – and hence this site was born.
I’m writing this because I’ve just cast my vote in the SA E-Commerce Awards 2008, and realised that Yuppiechef deserves the support of the Ideate audience. (By the way: The voting closes today!)
Consider that:
- The business started with zero budget, zero funding, zero debt, from a lounge in Plumstead, Cape Town. Every web designers entrepreneurial dream!
- Yuppiechef’s first Christmas, 2006, they made a whopping 1 (one) sale in the month of December.
- Yuppiechef employs great technology, great brands, lovely people – add to the fact that Shane and Andrew have built a fiercely loyal community of Yuppiechef followers with a self-funded marketing effort.
- Yuppiechef adopted a strategy of PR (click here to read the story) for credibility, and free delivery to lower the barrier and spur word-of-mouth.
- There is a hand-written card in each box thanking their customers for their order. No short-cuts with the packaging, even on the smallest orders.
- Every e-mail, live chat or phonecall is answered by a real person who is passionate about the products and the brand.
- Yuppiechef have built a brand and a community, rather than just competing on price or convenience. They’ve handed out thousands of aprons, badges and prizes. They’ve created a lively Facebook fan page and an entertaining blog.
- In a short space of time, Yuppiechef have racked up some cool awards: won best home and garden store in 2007 SA E-commerce Awards, and won Sunday Times Food Entrepreneurs of the year in 2008.
And now, I have it on good authority that international expansion is now on the cards for early 2009! Yuppiechef will soon become a global South African brand to be proud of. Go now and vote! Yuppiechef deserves your support.
Fred Roed is the marketing guy in the Ideate crew. He runs a web marketing company called World Wide Creative and loves writing about people out there doing marketing right. View more articles by Fred.
Ryan
Sep 30th, 2008
Vote cast – great looking site. Good luck!
Darren
Sep 30th, 2008
It’s not often you see such excellent justification for a vote. Very convincingly written, Fred.
Good luck to YuppieChef, and it seems that with fans as passionate about them as you’ve described here, they should do well.
naeem
Sep 30th, 2008
nominated!
C’mon return the favour
– Autostyle.co.za won 2006 & 2007.
We store also had similar beginnings (the physical store) back in ‘97 –
Tis a longgggg heartwarming story – will email it to you one day
Fred
Sep 30th, 2008
Thanks guys,
I’m a little biased since I’ve been working with these hooligans for some time, but independently of the relationship, I sincerely believe this is the best e-commerce site in SA at this point.
I believe we’ve got the makings of a truly international SA brand here, so I’ll be well stoked if YC can win it this year.
@naeem, looking forward to catching up with you at the HC in Oct. You can let me in on some of that long story…!
Fred
Sep 30th, 2008
P.S. Only a few hours left – VOTE!
Tyron
Oct 1st, 2008
insprational
Marc Rogatschnig
Oct 1st, 2008
…i soul searched, navel gazed and eventually have to admit that the amateurs you are up against simply could not be in line for a prize – YC Kiss the Tools! Good luck and i think the closing date is 31 Oct??