AN Oldham educational materials company has improved its digital offering after Coronavirus restrictions lead to a large increase in home schooling.
Springboard Supplies based in Uppermill has upgraded its online presence to provide a modern web store that ensures home schooling parents and carers can keep stocked up during the Coronavirus restrictions.
Springboard is a family run mail-order business which has been managed by three generations since forming in 2000. The firm supplies primary schools, nurseries and early years centres with the UK’s most extensive range of educational, arts and craft materials, specialist furniture and outdoor learning resources.
Until recently, the business traded primarily using printed catalogues which they mailed annually to new and prospective clients.
Due to the rise in home schooling in the lockdowns, the firm saw a significant jump in the number of B2C customers eager for supplies to support their childrens’ education.
There was also an increase in ‘non-education’ customers, such as parents who haven’t been able to buy birthday and Christmas presents from the usual high street shops.
Seeing a growth opportunity, the Springboard directors reviewed their business strategy before deciding to commission a new e-commerce website which launched on 1 March 2021.
The launch involved refreshing the company’s brand to support the new 24/7 web store and will help to bring increased online traffic and business growth.
The new website will help the Springboard team respond to market changes, add to their product range and adapt rapidly to changing consumer behaviours and customer requests.
The new strategy also further enhances Springboard’s eco-credentials. By not producing over 50k 700-page catalogues, this means a substantial reduction in the size of its carbon footprint.
Commenting on the launch, Managing Director Katie Hall said:
“Our new online platform dramatically improves our overall customer experience. It’s fantastic to know we can now support our traditional and new clients with the convenience of online orders available 24/7 and deliver some welcome eco-benefits too.
The pandemic has dramatically challenged the education sector, and we’re proud our business is playing a vital part in supporting the education and morale of children and parents UK-wide.”