Good Ideas on Tap

Web Ireland August 31 2000

Audrey Healey goes behind the scenes of a B2B company for the hospitality industry that was nearly bought before being officially launched. Even in the fast moving world of the Internet the offer was lightening quick. Pubxchange.com had only been set-up for six months and yet to be officially launched before being subject in May of this year to two bids by pub co-op Bartrader.

According to management at PubXchange, which offers pubs and hotels an online ordering facility for supplies, although negotiations took place and an offer was made, the company opted to decline and has vowed to remain independent. The deal was believed to have valued the business at around £4m. Not bad considering PubXchange had barely been in business.

Aimed at the licensed and hotel trade, the company has already signed up around 50 pubs and hotels in the Dublin area, and is soon to target Cork as well. An Internet-based B2B company, PubXchange aims to incorporate the latest technology and industry software based solutions to highlight the extensive choice of Irish based service providers within the hospitality trade, while pledging to meet the individual needs of its varied clients.

The company displays an infectious enthusiastic approach in relation to the ever expanding trade and with this in mind, the site's template, which uses an uncomplicated step by step approach, was carefully planned and developed by IT Designer Patrick Reynolds, with the valuable input of a highly skilled and knowledgeable team of experts including Managing Director, Richard Finnegan, Sales & Marketing Director, Hugh Grainer, Director & Chairman, Nial Ring and Director, John Tuite.

The entire process of design and decision making with regard to specific areas of content on the site was initiated in January of this year and closely based on the feedback from a large existing database of customers whose enquiries and concerns were taken into consideration. The first version of pubxchange.com (www.pubexchange.com) will be closely followed by version 2 (www.pubxchange.com), which is due to be completed in mid-July, with the overall cost of construction and management fees expected to be in the range of £75,000.

All three executives directly involved in the actual composition of the website bring with them an impressive degree of individual skills. Finnegan previously worked as Senior Sales Executive for Parceline UK, in addition to being European Operations Manager for Avid Technology. Patrick Reynolds has held posts within the IT industry for the past two years and currently holds executive directorships in EveryCo Internet Limited and Trust Information Security Ltd, while Hugh Grainger has had many years of employment within Ireland's bar industry and a role as Managing Director of Licensed Trade Recruitment.

Using a secure password only access method, the site offers traders "a convenient and stress-free" way of ordering various goods from well known suppliers - at the touch of a button - and thus saving considerable time, resources and costs on a weekly basis.

PubXchange.com also intends to greatly enhance the relationship between supplies and customers by providing the necessary tools via the Internet to allow for better communication and interaction between them. With a current membership incorporating public houses, restaurants and bars, interested parties can also purchase valuable online space in which to advertise their own services. Richard Finnegan is understandably enthusiastic about the long awaited arrival of the new venture. "We are very excited about this venture," he comments. "We have been overwhelmed with the interest received from within the industry about our system. this is a reflection of the progressive nature of the industry and, by working closely with the trade and their suppliers, we will continue to develop and enhance the system."

With extensive plans for an informative promotional roadshow to be held in Dublin prior to embarking on a nation-wide tour, during which it will introduce and demonstrate the system, and explore it's main points of focus, Finnegan obviously harbours ambitious plans for PubXchange and makes reference to ongoing market research with regard to attracting and accommodating interested parties in the UK, as well as Irish-based clients.

"Our plan is to get up and running and secure the Irish market," he concludes, while Sales Director, Hugh Grainger, reiterates the intent for global appeal. "We feel that our software and business model has world-wide potential and we are already in discussions with large groups in both the UK and German markets."

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