FDs continue to back the web.
Despite high-profile dotcom collapses the internet is still the best
This week’s Accountancy Age/Reed Accountancy Personnel Big Question found two of three FDs say their businesses are planning to expand online services over the coming year, a figure not dissimilar to the survey last year when seven out of ten FDs said they were planning expansion.
‘Whatever has happened over the past few months, the internet still seems the best way to sell services,’ said one FD. ‘As every business and house has a PC and access to the internet, you have to offer more services otherwise you get left behind.’
Many FDs said they would increase online customer services and their e-commerce capabilities, while others saw it as a powerful marketing tool.
Even those who were neutral, or said they will not add to their services, did not reject the web. ‘We will not offer more services but we will use it more ourselves,’ said Mike Sherburn, FD of Colin Buchanan and Partners.
Some said their businesses were simply not suited to the net. Tim Dowens of Fabris Lane was not convinced. ‘Our view on scope for trading on the net is that it is not as great as the press makes out. The net can do great things, but for fashion it is not so successful – boo.com proves that.’
See www.accountancyage.com/Business/1117600 for more information.