Buyster brings US online retail down-under 
Buyster is a new player in the Australian online retail marketspace, with a business model already proven in the US.
Backed by News Ltd cash-box, Netus, the business is a joint-venture with US eTailer, CSN.
It is using the same approach that has powered CSN from zilch to over $US200million in annual sales in just six short years.
Starting from just one online store in 2002 – www.RacksandStands.com, the company now operates more than 200 online shops. Internet Retailer magazine has judged CSN one of the top ten home and office etailers in the US.
In essence, the CSN business model uses a standardized central technology infrastructure to operate large numbers of ecommerce web-sites targeting discrete niche markets.
In Australia, buyster’s first online store is at www.buysterlighting.com.au.
It opened in late January and has since been followed by www.buystermountsandstands.com.au,
www.buysterkitchenware.com.au and, most recently, www.buysterbarstools.com.au.
Marketing manager, Joachim Holte, told eCommerce Report, that Chris Hitching is the CEO and that
Hitching has had extensive retail experience and also online experience as the former CEO of uBid Asia.
Holte confirmed that buyster is a drop-shipper, or in other words it doesn’t run its own warehouse.
Instead orders are filled by, and freighted direct from the supplier.
However the actual freight provider, as logistics is outsourced.
“We work with a lead logistics provider, Poste Haste.
They help us source the best freight providers depending on what products we’re sending, and where they’re going”said Holte.
Asked what distinguished buyster stores from other local online retailers Holte said that a large range of competitively priced products
from major brands in one convenient location was one point of distinction.
Another is an unconditional 30 day money-back guarantee.
“We have real live people who know the products answering the phone to help our customers
We back this up with what we believe is a unique promise in Australia – if you don’t like something for any reason we’ll take it back within 30 days. This gives our customers confidence that they can shop with us with confidence.”
Holte also claimed that buyster sites are ‘best of breed’ ecommerce sites where its easy to search for and find what you’re looking for.
“What we’re really looking to do is to take the hassle out of buying online. With buyster you can easily see everything available, buy it and have it delivered straight to your door. Most of our customers are busy people – they don’t have the time or the inclination to visit 10 stores to find that perfect bar stool. We make it easy for them to access high quality products without having to spend the whole weekend in the shops. “
Netus executive chairman, and former Microsoft Australia CEO, Daniel Petre, also talked about buyster earlier this week a newspaper interview.
He said that ecommerce was very underdeveloped in Australia, even though Australians had proved themselves happy to buy online from overseas sites.
He said that buyster planned to open more niche etail sites this year, with around 30 sites ultimately in prospect.
The next buyster store to go online is expected to be www.buysterofficechairs.com.au
For more information go to
www.buyster.com.au
www.csnstores.com
www.netus.com.au
www.poste-haste.com.au
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