BHETA's first Business Service Provider Forum welcomed members to Federation House on 19 November to showcase the association's added value and special rate business services.
The forum also saw speakers present a series of insights into the probable effects of currency fluctuations, forthcoming legislative change, the impact of counterfeiting, the future of cross border fulfilment and some of the best ways to maximise the potential of Amazon as a route to market.
AFEX's Trevor Charsley set out the likely scenarios for currency fluctuations between Sterling and the US dollar, and Sterling and the Euro, in the wake of different potential election outcomes and consequent implications for Brexit, and outlined potential hedging strategies to mitigate the effects of exchange rate instability.
Meanwhile, Salesupply's Vera Costa looked at the factors influencing the choice between cross border shipping and cross border fulfilment for ecommerce traders delivering product into multiple territories, those of which included: latest innovations in the industry including smart boxes, dynamic re-routing, fitting rooms on location and multi-label parcel shops. According to Costa, 61% of customers are wiling to pay extra for next day delivery, while an effective returns policy was highlighted as important.
Laura Chalkley of HR Lawyers Ellis Whittam reviewed the implications for employers not only of a post-Brexit scenario but also of The Good Work Plan, focusing on changes to companys' obligations in terms of employment checks, contractual rights and the so-called GIG economy.
Following this, Jack Cooper of RT7 Digital gave a demonstration of best practice for brands trading on Amazon, bearing in mind its use not only for purchase but also for shopper research. He advised suppliers to defend their brands to the hilt online and recommended his preferred routes fr keyword research.
Lorraine Fisher of i-CRC, which works with suppliers to combat counterfeiting, provided insight into the nature and scale of counterfeiting with examples of typical fraudulent scenarios. According to Fisher, counterfeiting is increasing all the time, especially in new markets.
BHETA's Member Services Manager Nicola Adams Brown said of the event: "This was a very successful session, packed with timely advice for members on subjects which reach to the heart of their businesses. It combined longer-term strategic advice with practical short-term tips, as well as being an excellent networking occasion.
"BHETA will definitely repeat its Business Service Providers Forum event in the future."
