for internet start-ups this week.
Ex-city worker Ian Griffiths co-founded the car trading business Make and Model with Alistair Preston in 2009 in Docklands, London. The entrepreneur, who was unhappy with the usability of existing used car websites, used rapid web development tools to establish his own - which now boasts some of the largest car dealers in the country as customers.
Make and Model uses a geocoding service from Worcester-based software and services company Postcode Anywhere to convert postcodes into geographic coordinates, so users can find the nearest used car that meets their specifications.
Griffiths said: "When looking at some of the well-known used car trading websites, it occurred to me and my business partner how much better they could be done. Although we didn't have any background in the motor trade industry, we knew it must be possible to create something that could really challenge the big guys in the market. So from having a career in the city, I put all my efforts into this.
"It was quite difficult putting the idea into practice, having never created something like this before. It was a steep learning curve at every step, and a challenge putting a brief together for the developers. We knew we needed to let customers search by make, model and region, and that the on-site search facility had to be seamless to aid user experience. If you were looking at building this kind of service from scratch, it would be difficult to build and even more of a hassle to license.
"But our developers had used Postcode Anywhere before for this kind of functionality, and we went with their recommendation. The geocoding service we use turns postcodes into coordinate data, and then returns details of the nearest cars that fit the user's request, so they can see how far away that car is.
"Postcode Anywhere was extremely competitive. Certainly not the most expensive, possibly not the cheapest either, but the clear choice for acura us. The brand is well-known for being sturdy, effective and reliable. It may have been recommended to us by our development team, but our own experience has also been exemplary. The service just works, and the team have been helpful and flexible every step of the way. Customer service has been great.
"All this is incredibly important for us, being in the start-up phase. Due to the nature of trading cars, everything about the website has to be smooth, easy to use and reliable. Cars are extremely valuable items and as a customer, you need to feel safe. A lot of the well-known websites we looked at in our research simply failed to make the grade in that respect – and dodge I'm sure it's a feeling shared by many.
"We needed a service our customers could trust, so we needed suppliers we could trust to help us build the site. When we saw the website for the first time, and to actually see it working, it was incredible. It's your brainchild. Postcode Anywhere's services make this kind of entrepreneurialism possible. In this economy, having a vision and being equipped with the tools to see it through is essential for UK growth."
Postcode Anywhere's managing director Guy Mucklow said: "The Postcode Anywhere brand was founded off the back of entrepreneurial frustration. Co-founder Ja alfa romeo mie Turner and I first established the business back in 2001 to offer the kind of reliable business efficiency services that back then simply weren't viable for start-ups, at least without substantial funding.
"By taking advantage of the internet as a means to share data, we can now offer a range of sophisticated web development services, such as address validation, geocoding, and route planning, at eminently scalable price points. The UK needs entrep bmw reneurs. So it's incredibly rewarding for us now to be able to facilitate fellow businesspeople in making projects such as Make and Model see the light of day. "
For more information about Make and Model, please visit www.makeandmodel.co.uk. To find out more about Postcode Anywhere's range of services for ecommerce and web-based start-ups, visit www.postcodeanywhere.co.uk.
ENDS
Media contact for Postcode Anywhere
Jim Williams – PR Manager, Postcode Anywhere
jim@postcodeanywhere.com
+44 (0) 1905 888 562
Press centre at: http://www.postcodeanywhere.com/press
Press Pack download: http://www.postcodeanywhere.com/assets/PDFs/press-pack-2 ...
Automobile image: http://www.postcodeanywhere.co.uk/assets/Stock/car-lot.jpg
Notes to Editors:
About Postcode Anywhere
Postcode Anywhere supplies software and services which improve the day-to-day operations of over 8,000 organisations worldwide. Best known as a provider of address auto-fill and verification software, the company offers a range of data-driven services, including route planning, customer profiling and bank account validation. It is now the fastest-growing reseller of Royal Mail's Postcode Address File (PAF®) and the market leader for online address auto-fill. A multi-award-winning organisation, it has also appeared in Deloitte's European fast-growth technology company list for three years running. For more information about Postcode Anywhere, please visit www.postcodeanywhere.com.
Recent Awards and Recognition for Postcode Anywhere
• Deloitte Technology Fast 500 EMEA 2008/9, 2009/10 & 2010/11
• Red Herring Top 100 Europe - 2010
• Best Small IT Supplier of the Year - UK IT Industry Awards (finalist) – 2009
• Dell Small Business Excellence Award (UK finalist) – 2009
• Small-Medium Sized Business of the Year (regional finalist) - National Business Awards 2009
• Orange Best Use of Technology (Midlands) - 2008 National Business Awards
• Growth Business of the Year - Chamber Awards 2008
• Small Business of the Year - Chamber Awards 2008
• Customer Service Team of the Year (finalist) - National Customer Services Awards 2008
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