Loopy Looks Costumes
Loopy Looks is a business specialising in Fancy Dress and Theatrical Costume Hire. Based at Tamar View Industrial Estate in Saltash, the business has been growing steadily since 1998.
Proprietor, Marilyn Grose says "Like most businesses, a major part of marketing is sent out in the form of printed flyers and letters. However, we are now gradually using more email based marketing. Our paper use overall has probably decreased by about 25% at the moment but I would expect that reduction to grow a lot more next year as we are currently making a determined effort to get more up to date email addresses from our theatrical customers in particular
"Most of our initial contacts with potential new customers are now made by email as I find it quicker, more direct and much more effective than sending a letter
"Since having broadband we have also been able to take advantage of ordering our retail stock either online via the suppliers website or by email therefore, again, reducing the paperwork, and our time, probably by about 50%. This method of ordering is already growing as more of our suppliers improve their websites to include online ordering.
"We have also reduced paperwork by being able to pay most of our suppliers via internet banking thus reducing the number of cheques and envelopes we have to write to pay our bills by nearly 100%
"We also pay most of our wages, PAYE and end of year returns online now which has cut that particular paperwork by 100%
Marilyn continues "We are making less use of road travel. For example, our IT consultant used to drive over to the office to give us advice or help when we had a problem. Now he is able to provide help remotely without visiting the office.
"Also, I used to go and visit prospective customers to tell them what we had to offer. Now I contact people by email in the first instance, so my fuel usage has been cut by around 25% overall.
"The other big reduction in the business is the cost and number of telephone calls as we now use email or I often use MSN messenger to talk to colleagues. I am now even using this method to talk to a very good friend who is currently living in America but redesigning my website for me. I can talk to him online about the site and email him my designs and ideas instead of posting them to him as a hard copy. A BIG reduction all round!"
