MK entrepreneur challenges Deliveroo and Uber Eats
Presto has just launched in Milton Keynes providing an online platform for local and independent retailers to sell their products, produce, and services. All without high commission rates to retailers.
Despite non-essential retailers being able to re-open their doors, now is an uncertain time for many small and independent businesses. According to accountancy giant EY, more than half of UK shoppers now expect to go shopping less than before pre-lockdown, and when they do, 80% feel uncomfortable trying on clothes in-store.
Against this backdrop and with a negative outlook for the high street, many retailers are considering taking their business online especially as research from Globaldata shows that 26% of UK shoppers are planning to continue to spend more online after Covid 19 and according to Thomas Brereton, a retail analyst at GlobalData:
“The online grocery market is now forecast to grow 25.5% in 2020 – significantly ahead of the 8.5% previously anticipated,”
But websites can be expensive and ranking on Google can be difficult and competitive. An alternative to an individual and bespoke website is for retailers to add their store onto an online platform, but with existing online marketplaces like Deliveroo and JustEat being accused of profiteering out of lockdown with high commission rates of 30% is this an option? According to Presto, a new start-up business based in Milton Keynes it is.
Presto offers a solution for retailers to sell online without the need to create their own website. Businesses can sign up to Presto free of charge and then sell their goods via the Presto app. This allows consumers who have converted to online shopping during lockdown to support local and independent shops. Once the customer has purchased their shopping, they can either use Presto’s delivery service or they can arrange for click and collect in-store.
Director and founder Asam J. Aslam tells us “I have family working in both retail and fast food, I understand the pressures and the low-profit margins that small independent retailers are working too. I was, therefore, horrified to learn that online marketplaces were charging so much for small businesses to use their service. I was determined to make Presto different; our platform has been designed to be fair and easy to use, we are even offering half-price rates for a business’ first three months.
Another way that Presto is looking to help local business’ is through its new online payment system. Since lockdown consumer's confidence to use cash has dipped and there has been a 60% drop in withdrawals. This is likely to hasten the UK’s decline in the use of cash and will have an impact on several trades that are used to dealing in cash, taxis, and tradesmen as an example. In the past, this would have led to businesses having to invest in card payment machines but now there is another option. Presto is offering a secure payment system based on QR codes much like the smartphone payment options used in China which have been hugely successful. The seller has a QR code that identifies them as a Presto business and using the app the purchaser can scan it, input the amount they want to pay, and then transfer the money over. The bonus of this payment system is that it can be done from over two meters away, allowing payments to be made while maintaining social distancing.
To conclude Asam says “now is a tough time for businesses, but the team at Presto truly believes that this app provides the service that is required in these difficult times to both businesses and consumers.”
Contact details for Editors:
Guy Woodcock
Marketing Director – Presto
guy@thepresto.co.uk
07740983098