Online printing provider Helloprint ranks as one of the fastest-growing start-ups in the Netherlands. Chief Marketing Officer of Helloprint Rick Molenaar describes how Helloprint's ambition can help other entrepreneurs with their own expansion abroad. By sharing success factors and tips, they contribute to innovation in e-commerce in the Netherlands. "It is a shame not to take the opportunity to roll out the model that is successful in the Netherlands internationally as well."
Helloprint shares success factor
With a B2C e-commerce market in Europe that continues to grow and European B2C e-commerce sales estimated at nearly €510 billion in 2016 (source: European B2C E-commerce Report 2016, Ecommerce Foundation Europe), the future of the e-commerce industry looks promising. Yet it takes a huge dose of guts and also perseverance to be successful abroad. Helloprint got this right.
According to Molenaar, Helloprint's success factor is that they are a marketing organization rather than a manufacturing party. "That ensures that we can think entirely from the customer's perspective and develop everything from that customer's perspective. This instead of trying to market something that is produced through e-commerce. Ultimately, the customer notices a big difference in approach and usability in that, and that is ultimately the difference between us and the competition."
Data-driven approach
Helloprint does not work from a woolly 80-page market study when introducing a country, but bases them entirely on data. "Once we have determined which country is next to roll out based on data-driven research, we localize our webshop for that country as quickly as possible. Then we drive traffic (via Adwords) so we can determine if we can achieve the right conversion rates. From here we optimize through customer feedback and data toward a profitable model."
Tips for entrepreneurs
Wondering what tip Helloprint would like to share with other entrepreneurs? Watch this film, part of a cross border series in which Dexport and DPD Pakketservice visualize the fastest growing Dutch e-commerce companies abroad. Who are these successful companies? Check out www.crossborder30.nl
This film was produced by 25 EPS Video Productions on behalf of Dexport and DPD Parcel Service.
