eFresh.com: A Brief Update October 30, 2009
Posted by Jelmer de Jong in GET NV, eFresh.com.Tags: efresh, eFresh.com, GET NV
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I started at Global E-Trading (GET) NV more than two year ago, which is the company behind eFresh.com, joining a small startup company with a team of not more than 12 people. Today, after the acquisition of more than 15 different companies and web portals, eFresh.com consists of a team of 75 people, located in six different countries, in seven different offices and in five different time zones. As a result, our ‘baby company’ becomes rather more difficult to handle as an adolescent. What first started as a “let’s get in the meeting room for pizza and get our hands dirty” kind of development is no more. We’re talking about business processes, requirements management, shareholder meetings, management reports, VP levels and executive meetings. With size comes the more difficult need to structure and manage. Do I like it? Yes! It is a great ongoing experience and challenge.
What have we done?
At the end of 2007 we acquired the domain name eFresh.com: a strong brand name, short and concise.
In January of this year we were very happy to announce the fact that we raised 4.25 million Euro in funding from an investment round in which Rabobank also participated.
In May, we launched our new look and feel with the move from our product category portals to one big portal — or actually 1,000,000 portals. Internally we called this project ‘One-One Million.’ Why? This one big portal should be a personalised portal for each and every one of our members. All our members should have the feeling that “this is my personal cockpit.”
In July we launched the ‘Storefront’: the solution for producers of fresh products to successfully promote their company and goods. At this moment, just two months later, 38% of our member base has already created and published their own mini-websites!
At the beginning of this month, eFresh.com attended, for the second time, the Horti Fair, one of the largest horticulture tradeshows in the world. Last year we were the unknown company at the back of Hall 7. This year we were immediately recognized. Members came over to meet us and competitors stopped by to learn more about our strategy; some of them even called us ‘the enemy.’ I think we’re getting there! 
What is next?
At this moment, eFresh.com is the biggest online sourcing platform (dating site) for the fresh produce industry. And our ERP system (Match-Online) is one of the fastest growing ERP solutions for Dutch flower traders and growers. Our goal for 2010 is to become the new platform for direct trade, as well, with a strong focus on the horticulture sector. In addition to this, we will expand our payment solutions to ensure secure and speedy online transactions.
And just maybe, after another year or so, the stock market will be ready for IPOs again?
I will keep you posted.
We’d like to hear your feedback, please tell us what you think October 5, 2009
Posted by Jelmer de Jong in Avartize.com.Tags: Avartize.com, feedback
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This is feedback we at Avartize.com like to hear 
Thank you Ken Cook!
Please Google, add the currency symbol to Google Finance August 24, 2009
Posted by Jelmer de Jong in Google.Tags: currency symbol, goog, Google, google finance, improvement, share price, usability
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It is good to know that Google reads my blog and improves their products based on my feedback. For example, on May 8th I wrote about some features that would really improve the use of Google Contacts. Now, less than a month later, I’m able to add multiple URLs to my contacts (however, they are probably still working on my other requested features…).
So, thanks for the Google Contacts improvements; and here’s to more to come! But, I also have a request regarding Google Finance. I like to follow different companies and their share prices using Google Finance: there is great data and good visualization on this site. But, for me it’s really difficult to see the ‘value’ of the share price, market gap and other value indicators. And the reason for this is that there is no currency symbol indicated.
I can imagine that the NASDAQ:GOOG share price is 460.41 dollar and not Euros. But when looking at the Dutch ING Group, AMS: INGA, 9.30 share price, I wonder. Euro or dollar? Chinese Alibaba.com, HKG: 1688, dollar? Euro? Or another currency? Numbers only translated into value for us when we know what they represent.
So please, Google, add the currency symbol to all price information displayed in Google Finance!
eFresh.com launches Storefront 2.0: Generate Producers July 26, 2009
Posted by Jelmer de Jong in eFresh.com.Tags: e-commerce, eFresh.com, GET Holding NV, GET NV, launch, storefront
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Today, we at eFresh.com launch our ‘Storefront 2.0′: The solution for producers of fresh products to successfully promote their company and goods. Simple and free, the Storefront is available for all members of eFresh.com, and setting it up takes no more than 20 minutes. After publishing the Storefront, the producer of these crops has his own website that is visible to buyers around the world; those buyers who are looking for new producers, better prices and quality products. The Storefront empowers our users. Promoting themselves online is the first step in finding new and more business partners. And is the first step in the e-commercialization of their business.
Storefront 2.0
In February of this year the first version of our Storefront was launched during the “Fruit Logistica” in Berlin. During this trade show, producers of fresh goods created their own Storefront. For them, this was the first time they had been able to show themselves on the Internet. For many of our users, it was the first time they delved into the field of sales and marketing; and they were really enthusiastic about this beta version of the Storefront. Since that time, more than 1,500 Storefronts have been published; and we have much greater insight into how our users work with and promote their Storefronts, and how it is bringing them business. The feedback and insight we received from these Storefronts was used to upgrade the Storefront to the 2.0 version.
Storefront 2.0 in short:
- One simple page with all the information you need as a producer of fresh goods:
- Contact information and company description
- Distributors and their information
- Product catalogue
- Current offers
- News
- Video presentations
- Short and simple vanity URL: http://efresh.com/myfarm
- Open your Storefront like you would open your shop. Invite all your customers in to take a look
- Be found online: The first step in promoting your quality products
- Undertake the first step in the e-commercialization of the fresh produce industry
eFresh.com Storefront: The best way to attract buyers.
Customize Your Avatar with Avartize.com July 17, 2009
Posted by Jelmer de Jong in Avartize.com.Tags: avartize, Avartize.com, avatar, profile picture, startup, twitter, web 2.0
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Today Avartize.com is up and running in silence beta mode! Avartize.com gives you, the Twitter user, the option to easily pimp your profile picture, also known as your avatar. Set your state to “busy,” tell your friends you’re on fire — or let everybody know you are out taking in that special event.
At Avartize.com, you also have the option to create your own overlays, so people can pimp their avatar with your artwork! Do you organize events? Let visitors utilize your overlays. Supporting a good cause? Show it by making your avatar purple, totally free! One click and it’s done. No installation or coding needed. Just create an Avatize.com account, upload your transparent image, and off you go!
And, when you get tired of your customized avatars, Avartize.com gives you the option to return to your old standby, pimp-free profile picture once again.
Founders
Avartize.com was founded by the Sneaker Entrepreneurs: Annedien Hoen, Strategy Master; Tanja de Bie, Design Master; and Leon Berenschot, Technology Master. Last week, Jelmer de Jong joined the Avartize.com team to ensure the optimal marketing and business proposition of Avartize.com.
Starting today, Avartize.com is live and available to you. In the upcoming weeks, the team will expand its service even further. Stay tuned!
eFresh.com launches new service delivery platform June 2, 2009
Posted by Jelmer de Jong in eFresh.com.Tags: efresh, eFresh.com, GET Holding NV, GET NV, launch, rebuild, redesign
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Within 4 years eFresh.com has positioned itself as the largest information, trading and transaction portal for the fresh industries. In Janary this year we raised 4,25 million euro, in a investment round in which Rabobank participated. Only a few months later we show a 106% member growth and are launching a new eFresh.com
Today eFresh.com launches not only a complete new portal with loads of new services, but also a delivery platform where it can deliver services from other companies to its customers.
Hans Robben CEO:
Being the largest portal in the world opens possibilities to other companies to sell their services to our install base. Our customers will benefit from ready to use ‘Trade Services’ which can be ordered and used within their well known eFresh.com environment.
Covering 201 countries and reaching to over 150.000 producers, eFresh.com enables any producer to work electronically with any buyer anywhere in the world. Providing producers with generic electronic tools such as web based inventory systems, trading mechanisms, shared inventories, collection and escrow services to name a few enables buyers and suppliers to source, trade, and deliver in a real time environment.
The problem in the fresh produce industry is that both retailers and whole sell companies have sophisticated ERP systems and the producers they buy from do not. Enabling producers with generic electronic tools connects them with their buyers, speeds up the delivery process and makes the distribution chain more efficient.
Hans Robben:
eFresh.com is a combination of eBay and Reuters and SAP for the fresh producer industries. We provide generic trading tools combined with real time accurate information on the fresh markets and even allow companies to electronically share inventories. With our real time payment solutions any supplier can deal with any buyer in the world immediately but in a safe and professional environment.
In this way we have created the largest fresh produce trading community, and if you take your business serious you should be there too!
Financial Crisis? There is a solution! May 27, 2009
Posted by Jelmer de Jong in eFresh.com.Tags: efresh, eFresh.com, financial crisis, GET NV, online trading
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eFresh.com has grown 106% in memberships since the beginning of the year, providing new business opportunities to our members across the world. Both buyers and suppliers seek for new innovative growth opportunities and new marketing strategies to overcome this economic downturn.
eFresh.com has a solution, which makes a great contribution to your business and on-line trading! You receive free access to a worldwide network of buyers, traders and producers within the fresh produce industry. You promote your own business and trade your produce directly on-line, for free. You receive the latest price statistics and market insights. And it will only get better… Starting next week eFresh.com expands your business horizon even further.
Stay tuned to experience this innovation!
Please Google, I dont need another social network, improve contacts! May 8, 2009
Posted by Jelmer de Jong in Google.Tags: contacts, gmail, Google, google contacts
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In the past few weeks, Google is rapidly improving and expanding its social functionality. They already have a (forgotten) social network: Orkut (member since February ‘04). But now they are trying to build a massive network by combining Google Profiles, Contacts and Friend Connect. Really cool and I definitely like Google, but please, I don’t need another social network. I like the current Google applications and I like them to grow and expand in functionality.
I use most of Google’s products on a daily basis: Gmail, Reader, Calendar, Docs, Contacts. And most of them also synchronize with my Blackberries (8300 and bold) and iPhone. Great tools that really help me to be more productive. But they can still be improved. Especially the contacts function. I have some tips for Google to improve Google Contacts:
- Please synchronize Groups and Categories! The groups in Google Contacts can just as easy be the categories on my Blackberry and the groups on my iPhone. Now my contacts are only grouped in Google Contacts and the grouping is lost when synchronizing to my cellphones
- Address entry sucks, sorry. I love free fields, but they just don’t synchronize. If I enter an address on my Blackberry it contains too many returns in Google Contacts. And addresses entered in Google Contacts cannot be find on the Google Map (!) when clicking it on my iPhone. Just create some fields: address line 1, address line 2, postal/zip code, state, city, country and this problem can be solved
- Most businesses, and even most people, in my contact list have web pages. Corporate websites, personal blogs, LinkedIn profiles, Facebook profiles. Please let me enter URLs. Sure, I know I can add custom fields by hand for every contact, but again: synchronizing problems. Just an URL entry field with an add button, the same as wehn entering telephone numbers, should be great (drop down items: work, private, blog, linkedin, free entry)
- Sharing! I can share documents and appointments, let me share contacts! Very handy when I tell a friend we going to meet at a bar and I could just send him the contact card. No download, upload, email. No, click share, select friend and it pops up in his Google Contacts (and cellphone!)
- I like gimmicks; please add “Put your friends on the map” as a nice gimmick. Just a Google Map with dots that show were my friends live. Useful? Neh, but pretty cool
Google, I hope my input to improve Google Contacts is useful for you. Let me know if you need more info or specs.
(note: last week I tried to post these ideas as a comment on this blogpost by Google, but i’m still awaiting moderation)
Stop the Twitter hysteria. Think before you retweet. April 28, 2009
Posted by Jelmer de Jong in twitter.Tags: hysteria, retweet, swine flu, twitter
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This tweet was written today by @Frisco666, and in only a very few minutes the message was retweeted more than 100 times — without any evidence or verification of its truth. Take a quick look at the Twitter profile of @Frisco666 and you will see someone who is probably not the best person on earth to take at his word. And when you do some more research (like @rolandvanveen) you discover that this really is a hoax, intended to show the Twitter hysteria. Or as Frisco himself writes in a comment at a popular Dutch blog: “Now I going to say something stupid about the swine flu on Twitter and my follow count will double in 5 minutes”.
What really bothers me is that even some experienced Twitter users — the “I visit every Twitter meet up and give presentations about Web 2.0″ type of person — retweet these messages and increase the hysteria among their substantial follower base. They should know better than to perpetuate these kinds of remarks; they are the experts, right?
Stop the Twitter hysteria. Think before you retweet.
This is a good example of why [Twitter is] headed in that wrong direction, because it’s just propagating fear amongst people as opposed to seeking actual solutions or key information,” said Brennon Slattery, a contributing writer for PC World. “The swine flu thing came really at the crux of a media revolution.
As written at CNN.com (which of course let to anger in the Twitter scene).
