Company producing specialised police and security products reaches foreign markets through web and increased its turnover to £3 million, which is set to double in 1999/2000.

Background
Civil Defence Supply (CDS) designs and produces specialised security, military and police products. Its products reflect the company's philosophy of promoting officer safety without causing permanent harm.

As recently as 1996 the company did not have a computer.

The Business Opportunity
Big cutbacks in the sector in the late 80s made CDS restructure its business. To counter the dramatic decrease in home revenues, the company sought to enhance export trade. It saw opportunities overseas particularly in the USA. E-commerce seemed to be an effective method for reaching that market.

The Solution
CDS went to its Business Link for advice where the ISI Local Support Centre advised the company on incorporating e-commerce into its business. The first priority was e-mail and web development. The company ensured that its web site was linked to every important law enforcement web site in the US. The second was computerisation of accounting methods. The third was the creation and continuing development of a huge corporate database and stock handling, sales and administration network that would allow employees to handle any type of sales request or give required information.
The total investment in all areas was about £65,000.

Success
CDS saw the proportion of overseas business rise dramatically. It now has a firm base onto which it can build a sizeable export market. E-commerce has introduced better housekeeping practices, better information management and enhanced profitability as more fiscal information is readily available.

CDS has been very successful in promoting itself in the US. It became the first ever UK firm to be invited to give presentations on alternatives to firearms to both the Pentagon and the FBI and in November 1998 it won the competitive contract for the total re-equipment of the US Department of Defense. As a result of this success, CDS has opened a new office in Washington.

The Future
The company is expanding its website by creating an electronic catalogue for personal police equipment. Police officers will be able to purchase goods by credit card.

Quote
"We have transformed our business and with the £30,000 we won last year [1999] have been able to integrate top-class consultancy advice within our existing strategies, enabling us to model our next phase of E-Commerce growth."
Eran Bauer, Director