What makes BuyYourWine so unique? We give the customer personal attention. We can do that because the back office of BuyYourWine is perfectly organized. ICT meets wine

1. XXxx
BuyYourWine facts
Established - Cyber-entrepreneur
Hans Voorn launched BuyYourWine in
February 2006.
Market share - With a range of 2000
different wines BuyYourWine is among the
largest wine websites in the Netherlands.
Forecast - The range will ultimately cover
5000 different wines making BuyYourWine
the largest wine website of Europe.

2. Text Cees Steijger ~ Photography Gerritjan Huinink
eCOMMERCE
What makes BuyYourWine so unique?
Old wine
new business
We give the customer personal attention. We can do that because the
back office of BuyYourWine is perfectly organised. ICT meets wine.
W
e are talking to Majo Diepman and Monique the grape variety, the local up-to-date, BuyYourWine works closely
Greven who have been the proud owners of the soil, the vinification, etc.” with just about all of the major import-
successful wine webshop BuyYourWine.nl since says Monique Greven. ers. “Out-of-date information is the kiss
last September. The two entrepreneurs recently took over the BuyYourWine, which of death for the business,” says Monique.
company from cyber-entrepreneur Hans Voorn. is based from TIE Mambo- “Speed and being able to take quick
Standing out on Majo’s CV is a solid record of service Five Commerce Suite, has advantage of trends make the difference
at IBM where she held various managerial posts. Monique been very well received by between winning and losing. From now
carried out computerisation projects for leading companies, the market and the range of on we’ll be using XML to access informa-
including ABN AMRO, the Ministry of wines is growing steadily, tion from importers where possible. And
Justice, the Ministry of the Interior and as well as the number of the great thing about TIE Mambo Five’s
Vodafone before working in the property
business. So both online entrepreneurs “Speed customers. With such a
wide range of different
Commerce Suite is that it’s child’s play to
add to and change the range, the prices or
knew the pressures involved in positioning
and building a successful company. And makes the wines, logistics poses a
major challenge, of course.
special offers.”
they had no lack of ambition. Although
three years ago entrepreneur, online mar- difference “That’s our greatest con-
cern,” says Monique. “The
CALIFORNIAN WINE It’s clear that
both of these passionate entrepreneurs are
keting expert and wine connoisseur Hans
Voom proudly announced that the range between shop has to run problem-
free so that we can devote
having a lot of fun with BuyYourWine.
The business has been set up thoroughly,
would consist of 1,000 wines, Majo and
Monique are raising the bar a bit higher. winning all our attention to logistics,
marketing, sales and trace-
both from a technical and an oenological
point of view. So the only question that
LEADING “We are going much further,” and losing” ability.” “And if the back
office works perfectly, as
remains is what wine they recommend.
“Bernardus!” shout Majo and Monique
says Majo in her trendy office in the woods in our case, we have the practically in chorus. It’s a fine choice.
of Soest, just south of Amsterdam, where time to devote personal This great Chardonnay comes from the
she is expanding BuyYourWine with her attention to the customer,” adds Majo. “That’s sunny hills behind Carmel Valley Village
partner Monique. “We now have 2,000 what makes us unique.” That and, of course, in California where the Bernardus Winery
wines in our range but we’re aiming at a the exceptional wines that can be ordered of famous Dutchman Ben Pon has been
range of 5,000 different wines in order from BuyYourWine because although wines located since 1989. Here the successful
to strengthen our leading position in the are available from all of the popular wine- Porsche, Audi and Volkswagen importer,
Netherlands and finally to become the growing areas, the customer can also purchase racing driver and inventor of the legend-
biggest online wine shop in Europe,” says lesser known wines and wines from less well- ary flower-power VW minibus has been
Majo determinedly. “With us you must be known areas through BuyYourWine. producing wines that rival the best of
able to shop easily and also get detailed in- Bordeaux. “And they can be delivered
formation about the wines, like the colour, UP TO DATE In order to ensure that the within a week,” says Marjo proudly.
bouquet and taste, the region, the chateau, product offering is not just broad but always I’m looking forward to it already.
TIE ~ 1/2009 ~ P15