RJ Balson & Son is a butcher shop founded in 1515 in England by the family of the same name. It is a company that survives continuously to this day. And more than that, for at least ten years, this enterprise also operates in online retail. In other words, this is what we can literally call tradition in e-commerce.
It all started at a meat stall in the English city of Bridport, in the days of King Henry VIII. Later, in the 1880s, the business was transferred to nearby Allington, where it remains to this day.
The current owner, Mr. Donald belongs to the 26th generation of butchers in the family. He runs the store in Allington along with his wife, son, daughter and son-in-law. They certainly hope that the company's online retail can be as long-lived as offline.
In any case, the butcher sells more than 20 types of sausages, exotic cuts of kangaroo and wild boar meat, among other things. The purpose is to provide products that competitors do not.
Get to know how the RJ Balson & Son virtual store works. Get inside the secrets of the longevity of this business. Discover, finally, 5 millennial companies that are now also present in e-commerce.
Also access and read the article " Online Food Store ". This way, you can learn the main steps for developing and promoting your e-commerce business in this sector.
TRADITION IN E-COMMERCE: THE BALSON ONLINE BUTCHER
The Balson family has an online platform that includes a website, an e-commerce blog, and an online store. The first resource presents the company's history, the second the latest news, and the third the products.
The online store is dedicated to the sale and shipment of meat to the USA. A notice on your homepage informs you of the departure date of the next ship, where orders will be forwarded.
Thus, customers living in the US can buy products such as:
- British-style sausages, breakfast and/or garlic and herbs;
- Bacon pork ribs.
Customers, by the way, love it, “I loved the sausages, I can't believe it. The best British sausages in the US”, says one; “I can't believe that after 29 years in the US I finally found a British sausage,” reveals another in the website's “testimonies” area.
Despite being rudimentary, the online store has different sales pages, descriptive content of the products, virtual cart and checkout system. US deliveries take 1 to 5 days only. It's been that way for at least ten years.
LONGEVITY SECRET
In its 505 years, the Balson butcher shop has survived fires, floods, wars, health problems, economic crises and other mishaps. What is the secret of this durability? Here are some answers:
- The care that the family dedicates to people (most of the clients are called by name);
- The location in the center of the community, where people meet to chat;
- The consistent local presence that generated long-lasting relationships with suppliers and customers;
- The training of children, during school holidays, to deal with and inherit the business;
- Adaptation of products to consumer preferences at different times.
In addition, the company also does not incur debt and has no relocation costs. Finally, the business has a loyal customer base, which reduces marketing costs.
Are there more companies like this in the world? Let's see!
MORE TRADITION IN E-COMMERCE: 5 MILLENNIAL BUSINESSES THAT SELL ONLINE
Here are 5 of the oldest companies in the world that are in online retail (the number refers to the year of origin):
1074 – Affligem (Belgian brewery with website)
1050 – Weltenburger (German brewery with website)
1040 – Weihenstephen (German brewery with online store)
1000 – Marinelli Bell Foundry (bell foundry with website)
862 – Staffeiter Hof (winery with online store)
As you can see, not even the most traditional, age-old companies/businesses in the world can resist a good, new digital transformation and the omnichannel drive . So, I ask: how long will you resist? Before you answer, here's an appeal from the e-commerce agency e-Plus: start your online store now!
Access and read the post “ VTEX CMS ” as well. Learn how to create an online store with an elegant, original, and unique design to stand out from your competitors.
