Retailer hits on social media profits solution

UK online retailer Slurp.co.uk hopes it has hit upon a solution to the conundrum of making money out of the social media boom.

With companies often struggling to convert the hours spent tweeting and updating Facebook into sales and profits, Slurp believes that by announcing its “flash sales” – offering big discounts for a very limited period – exclusively on social media sites it can take advantage of people’s tendency to forward and circulate such offers to their friends and contacts.

By announcing its sales on Twitter and Facebook at different times of the day and night, Slurp believes it can “capture more new followers, friends and – ultimately – customers than a traditional social media campaign could.”

Jeremy Howard, Slurp.co.uk chief executive officer, added: “Social networking is central to the sales strategies of the future as customers will increasingly look to each other and their networks for recommendations and information.

“We want to tap into this seam of information and, by going beyond standard discount vouchers and email offers, we will increase our customer interaction and the immediacy of our website.

“We think this type of sale is going to revolutionise online retailing – recreating the mayhem, fun and excitement of the traditional January sale online for our growing number of friends and followers.”

Slurp, which “aims to be the Amazon.com” of the UK drinks sector, boasts a range of nearly 6,500 wines, beers and spirits.

The “flash sales” will offer customers 50% off all products in the Slurp Express range of almost 1,100 products, with the discount applying to the first £100 spent per customer on all qualifying drinks.

The sales will begin this month.

Alan Lodge, 16.05.2011