novusimports-blog

[novusimports-blog]

Spring Fair Preparation

With just under a month to go until we unveil our range at the Spring Fair everyone at Novus is working really hard to ensure that the show is as successful as can be for all concerned. We are really looking forward to meeting up with all of you that have supported us and given advice and encouragement since our inception, as well as making new friends whilst we are there.

After having such a positive reaction from those of you that have viewed the items on our website we can’t wait to display them (as well as a few that you won’t have seen yet) for all to see at the show.

Although this is Novus’ official debut at the Spring Fair both Simon and I have worked it many times in the past, so we were under no illusions as to how much work was going to be required. For us the hardest part was always going to be the stand design and assembly. Once we had booked the stand space (52 square metres) we had a rough idea of how we wanted the stand to look which we sketched on the back of a napkin whilst discussing it in a noodle bar in China last October! Fortunately for us we were approached by a stand building specialist (LEGC Associates Ltd) who took our sketch and turned it in to what we hope you will find to be an attractive display space (with Adrian at LEGC using his expertise to add a few features) to help us convey an impression of our company as a whole. Obviously this came at a cost, but one we hope you will agree was worth it!

So now the ‘exciting’ stand design part is taken care of we are left with the less glamorous tasks of making sure we have all the relevant samples, they are in good condition, and that they all get packed up safely to arrive at the show in one piece. Then there is the equipment check lists, mundane work but so important. Trust me; it is not easy to find somewhere that sells Phillips head screws when you are in the middle of Hall 5 at the NEC at 4.30pm on a Friday afternoon. And then there is that sinking feeling you get when you realise the spare battery for the electric screwdriver has not been charged and you still have forty pieces of wall art to hang!!

Once the stand is up and dressed we have to be sure that we have done all we can to attract people to it. As well as the stand needing to be pleasing on the eye we have to utilise every opportunity to let people know who we are, what we do and where to find us. We have spent too much time, effort and money to rely on the ‘build it and they will come’ strategy!! To do this (amongst other marketing techniques) we have taken the ‘Hall Sponsorship’ for Hall 5 which will give us coverage in the form of editorials and adverts in the ‘What’s On Guide’ handed out daily to all of you arriving at the show. Again this has come at a cost but we hope this underlines our belief in our brand and our commitment to provide the best for our customers.

So when the final screw has been screwed, label been stuck, and carpet been laid we need to make sure the technological side of things is working. For us the main technological capabilities we require are that we are able to take orders quickly and accurately and provide a detailed copy of the order to our customers before they leave the stand. This is where Simon has come in to his element and he has found an excellent little piece of software that will allow us to do this using Ipad’s (which we will then send to our printer and the customers email address should they require it) which highlights everything that has been placed on the order including images, full description, quantities and value’s. And he has found this all for a fraction of the cost of the other similar licensed products on the market.

I’m sure we will encounter one or two little challenges along the way but I am certain that we are prepared to make this a show to remember for all of us. Sadly, the only thing we can’t plan for is the weather. So assuming there aren’t heavy blizzards stopping you from travelling we can’t wait for the doors to open and meet you all.

I hope you have a safe journey, enjoy the show and we will look forward to seeing you all in Hall 5 Stand 5F82.

James

[novusimports-blog]

A few words from Novus - read our blog...

A little over 16 weeks ago CJY Global Ltd was registered as a Limited Company and we started working towards our goals – the first of which is realised today as our fully integrated website goes live.

When James joined the company in July as General Manager and shareholder it was clear that between us we could apply our skills to creating a solid import/export company from scratch, specialising in wall décor, home interior accessories and gifts.

James has 10 years’ experience in the giftware industry, working his way up at his previous company to Purchasing Manager, learning along the way how an import and distribution business works.

My sense of entrepreneurial spirit has been evident from my school years – I got together with 3 friends and designed a websites for local companies, we sold several for £450 – at the age of 14!

I have been involved in running business’s since my early twenties, and been part of the gift industry since early 2010 so we complement each other well.

James and I have been extremely fortunate to team up with Mike Capper and Jill Yeomans who have many years’ experience running a highly successful UK and Europe road haulage company - WJ Capper Transport Ltd - from their large site in Wellington, Telford.

The ownership of CJY Global Ltd is split between the four of us and we are sure that over the next few years, with lots of hard work, great products and great customers James & I can repay the faith shown in us by Mike and Jill.

One of the first decisions we had to make was what name were we going to trade under? We felt CJY Global was a little impersonal and wanted to choose something that had a little meaning. After what seemed like weeks, but was only probably a few hours, we settled on Novus Imports.

Novus is Latin for new, young, revived and refreshed. We feel it describes exactly who we are and what we are about.

While our focus is very much on traditional customer service values, we hope that the Novus name will become synonymous with great products, great prices and great ideas.

The introduction of our loyalty based reward scheme is, as far as I am aware, an industry first and I hope you will all enjoy a weekend break, the chance to drive a Ferrari, or some shopping on the high street courtesy of Novus Points over the coming years.

You can read more about Novus Points here: http://www.novusimports.com/page/novus_imports

The Novus Imports website is fully integrated with our in-house accounts and stock control system so once logged in you can view all our products, prices, live-stock levels, due in dates, aged debt analysis, and print invoices.

If you have any ideas that might improve the website, or our services in general, please email me - simon.jeavons@cjyglobal.com or James, james.bene@cjyglobal.com – we are humble enough to realise we don’t know it all and many of you guys will have been doing this a lot longer than us so your feedback is very important as we develop the company.

Next up for us is a trip to China on October 20th to source the next phase of product, focused around vintage gifts & garden sundries.

These new items will be on our stand at Spring Fair next February (Hall 5, Stand 5F82) and we look forward to meeting you all there.

All that’s left is to say a big thank you to the following people that have helped us over the last few months get to where we are today.

Mike Capper & Jill Yeomans for the opportunity and support Joel Stone & Simon Jones from Salop Creative for the excellent design and development work on novusimports.com – we thank them for their commitment, imagination, and high standards. Matt Flanagan & Matt Riley from Blue Hub for the brilliant Sage to Website integration system Penfold for the product photography Katy & Paul Jones from PC Net Solutions Felicity & Rhiannon at Zen Communications Claire Vealey at Giftware Review Jerome Fill & Paul Salisbury from Parnell, NZ Michelle & Alan Lewnes, Simon Janssen, Yadh Chandhoke, Myriam & Robert Einerhand, Jo Lindsay and Sheree Jones for all your feedback and encouragement.

Chris Allen & Mark Jeavons for putting up with endless Novus chat in the pub

And finally our wives for putting up with the long hours, numerous late night phone calls and the frequent travel away – thanks Lisa & Becky !

Thanks for taking the time out to read this,

Simon Jeavons