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Summer 1998
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The country's larget fishing tackle supplier, grasps technology firmly by the throat!
Bennetts of Sheffield is the country's largest fishing tackle supplier with a computer system that allows the company to expand into new markets and adopt new ideas without disrupting the operation.
Established in 1954, the company has a reputation for good customer service and quality products, and has continued to innovate to maintain market leadership.
Computerisation began in 1988, allowing the company to seize new opportunities. Software development is now a major function of the business.
Despite saying that the company would be computerised 'over his dead body', Harry Peck, managing director, has grasped the technology firmly by the throat and is using it to exploit previously unthinkable opportunities.
Take for example, the million pound addition to last year's turnover as a result of becoming national loss adjusters for a number of insurance companies for claims involving fishing tackle.
"We could not have tackled it without Pick," said Mr Peck, and he expects to expand into other markets in the same way - the core system must be flexible enough and robust enough to change with the business.
With a mail order customer base of some 54,000 ‘live ones’, and a stock list of more than 7,000 items, the 63 staff fulfill thousands of orders each month. The long-standing credit account business now brings in direct debits each month from the more than 7,000 accounts.
"We are totally dependent upon our computers, but our customers will never be told that the system is down - it's just not allowed! In fact, our system is NEVER down."
The company also produces millions of catalogues each year which are mailed to its database of customers. This will soon be extended to include other mailings recently purchased to target different lifestyle groups.
There is also an on-line ordering system across the Internet, and although this is not much more than an enquiry line at the moment, the number of orders is increasing all the time.
Bennetts remains a truly 'family' business, and was recently invited to take part in a national campaign for the 'New Deal'.
"People are what makes Bennetts special, and computers are no replacement, they just allow us to work more interestingly," he said.
Due to the critical nature of the computer system, nothing is left to chance. While the production system, running D3/SCO, is operational, the 'hot back-up' machine runs in parallel. A third development server is used for testing, and like the production servers is connected to a UPS to ensure continuous and uninterrupted service.
"We are very independent-minded and in all other areas of our business we are self-sufficient, so why not with the computers? After all, they are vital to our on-going business," he said.
Data Matters Limited
Last Updated: 29 July 1999