eC-BP.org - A Store Chain where ELECTRONIC COMMERCE is King

A Store Chain where ELECTRONIC COMMERCE is King

Written by Ken Kinlock

Monday, 07 July 2008

Europe has an excellent example of a store chain where ELECTRONIC COMMERCE is King. It is called Shecklers (www.schlecker.com) . It is referred to as a “drug store” (pharmacies here are just pharmacies….no shoe polish, potato chips, etc). So Shecklers is a variety store, dollar store, convenience, you get the idea.
Anton Schlecker (born October 28, 1944 in Ehingen) is a German billionaire, and founder and owner of the Schlecker drug store chain in Germany and throughout Europe. At 21 he acquired the degree "Meister" butcher and took over the parental butcher's shop. In 1975 he built his first drug store in Kirchheim unter Teck. Two years later there were already more than 100 stores. Now there are more than 13,000 stores across Europe, employing about 50,000 people and turning over about 6.55 billion Euros. No, Mr. Schlecker does not drive around in a pickup truck and have his picture taken with happy employees.

They run this big puppy electronically! Got to remember these are all small stores. Unlike U.S. counterparts (Family Dollar, as an example), their stores are all sizes and shapes (wherever they an rent a storefront); however they are all well laid out and present a uniform image.

Yes, I know the esteemed leader of the French Republic wants to make it easier for mega stores to open in France to "save money for the consumer". Don't get me started on that topic. We don't need Aldi and WalMart, we have Schlecker (and others) just as good at saving money for the consumer.

Let's say I like rosé wine from the Var region of France (which I do). Schlecker carries it for 1.49 Euros ($2.34; match THAT in the US!!!). The stocking quantity appears to be 10 bottles in my neighborhood Schleckers. Go late in the day, might only be 1 or 2 left; but next morning there are 10. AND the winery in the Var has gotten a P/O to replenish stock. Schlecker warehouses are small and almost a JIT kind of operation.

In addition, they run a Home Shopping Service with delivery through DPD (www.dpd.net ). Again, electronic interface with DPD.

Ken Kinlock
		About the author:
		Ken is currently an electronic commerce consultant for U.S. companies doing business in France. He is also involved in an Internet E-Business which markets travel and entertainment services to the North American market. Ken was the Lead Electronic Commerce Analyst for Whirlpool Corporation. He was instrumental in the rollout of a supply chain electronic commerce program to suppliers. This program included an Internet electronic commerce interface with suppliers. Ken has many years experience in EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) both as an entrepreneur and working for large, successful companies, including General Electric. He has experience in the area of interactive on-line billing and payment services and formerly operated an EDI implementation, consulting and service company. He is widely regarded as an expert in the field of electronic commerce and has presented this topic at many seminars. He holds an MBA degree from the University of New Haven and a BA degree from St. Lawrence University. His background and training was in the corporate financial area of the General Electric Company. One of his work assignments was to “think out of the box” and develop strategies for cost cutting. EDI appeared to have a huge potential. At this point, EDI was in its infancy and he participated in both internal strategization and external development (as a member of DISA, the Data Interchange Standards Association). As EDI matured and was implemented, he managed the project. When EDI rollout was outsourced, he formed his own company to conduct training and implementation. During this time, he organized the first EDI trading partner conference in the industry. Next he organized an EDI service bureau, which had several implementation projects. He participated in some pioneering efforts at on-line billing/payment, which were done over fiber-optic CATV rather than the Web.

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