sugarvine.com
In May 2003, Paul Williams launched sugarvine.com for Devon and Cornwall, part of the sugarvine national group of companies that provide “local” online resources for the catering trade. There are currently 14 regional sites in the group including the recently launched London, Edinburgh & Glasgow, Cardiff & South Wales and Cumbria & The Lakes.
“The timing was perfect for this move as broadband was being rolled out in Cornwall and we couldn’t run our business without it. We rely completely on the web for our research, communications and all our products are online. The icing on the cake was that actnow gave us a rebate of £60 to help with our broadband costs.”
One facet of the sugarvine group is sugarvine.com an online dining guide and directory for Devon and Cornwall diners to find out where to go, who’s new, where to get deals and discounts and to view menus and interiors. This has a magazine format with editorial features and stories about local restaurants, bars, pubs and hotels. Paul says “We have recently gone into partnership with livebookings.com to provide online table bookings for Devon and Cornwall, this positions us within their network of providers that includes Amex and lastminute.com. We also have a new partnership with discount hotel room bookers laterooms.com.”
“I need to be able to access information on the web quickly and broadband is the only way. It also cuts down the amount of time I travel around the two counties as I can download everything I need to put a piece together.” Sugarvine and its content has been designed for broadband users 1MB and above, “the site is very content-rich and really not great for dial up users”.
Sugarvinetrade.com is the part of the group that handles marketing for suppliers of goods and services and promotes their services to restaurants and bars. This includes supplier editorial, news and details of special offers, properties and staffing issues. Paul says “I look after the backend of this site and need to have good upload speeds, I am upgrading to 8Mbps shortly to help with this”.
“What’s essential for me, as a remote worker, is the fact that broadband has enabled me to use up to the minute telecoms. I use Skype internet telephony which gives me free calls and couples with a webcam so that its like a video phone - with this I can also conference call and be present at meetings at the head office. I have seen a 60% increase in my business year on year and am looking forward to further growth.”
