Paul Rogers speaks with David Franks, co-founder of Zelph, a SaaS platform designed to help brands and retailers expand their product catalogues without holding inventory.
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Zelph’s tech is proven at scale, having been built originally to power Kick Game’s ecommerce marketplace, processing £50m+ GMV annually.
David shares insights into the challenges faced while scaling Kick Game, the demand for inventory solutions, and the technical complexities involved in building Zelph. The conversation also explores market trends, misconceptions about drop shipping, and the seamless integration of Zelph with Shopify, emphasising the importance of inventory management and strategic pricing for profitability.
Paul and David also discuss the current ecommerce landscape, focusing on the integration capabilities of Zelph with platforms beyond Shopify, the dominance of Shopify in the market, the potential of circular marketplaces, and the future vision for Zelph, including AI-driven innovations and market strategies.
Key takeaways:
- Inventory risk is a significant concern for many retailers.
- Standardising supplier data is a complex challenge.
- Marketplaces are evolving into ecosystem builders.
- Margins can be profitable with strategic pricing and negotiation.
- Inventory management is automated to ensure accuracy.
- Zelph will extend to other platform integrations, with Magento a focus
- Circular marketplaces are gaining traction, but brands need to offer incentives.
- The resale market is growing, especially among younger consumers.
- Brands must be intentional in their approach to resale to avoid low volume.
- Zelph aims to redefine how brands and retailers scale their offerings.
- AI will play a crucial role in supplier matching and catalogue management.
Chapters:
- [00:00] Introduction to Zelph and David’s Journey
- [02:56] The Demand for Inventory Solutions
- [05:49] Technical Challenges in Building Zelph
- [09:01] Market Trends and the Future of Marketplaces
- [12:00] Differentiating from Competitors
- [14:47] Misconceptions About Drop Shipping and Marketplaces
- [18:06] Integration and Operational Efficiency
- [21:10] Inventory Management and Control
- [25:00] Integrating with Non-Shopify Platforms
- [31:30] Exploring the Circular Marketplace Model
- [37:41] Zelph’s Future Vision and Market Strategy
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