“We are defined by who we say no to,” says Elizabeth Nichols, CEO of Taigan, an ecommerce site that hosts some of the most amazing boutiques from around the country–boutiques that might not otherwise be accessible outside of the brick and mortar store. When Taigan, appropriately meaning a breed of Canine from Kyrgyzstan “known for its tenacity to find the best game for its master,” launched in 2009, Nichols estimates that there was a three percent acceptance rate from all of the retailers who reached out to them.
Since then, the offerings on the site have grown to more than 100 vendors in 11 categories–from fine jewelry to cigars. “The small stores needed a big voice,” says Nichols, who draws her experience from 20 years spent developing shopping centers. “If you put one store in the middle of the world wide web it won’t get any more traction than if you build a little store in the middle of a field.” Now with their re-launch–including a newly curated landing page–they also plan on introducing 8-12 stores each month. Though no store makes the page without a rigorous evaluation, from combing through the stock to seeing how they are packaged and shipped. Nichols even physically visits every store and is constantly seeking out new locations on her travels. As she puts it: “We are on a hunt.”
“We are defined by who we say no to,” says Elizabeth Nichols, CEO of Taigan, an ecommerce site that hosts some of the most amazing boutiques from around the country–boutiques that might not otherwise be accessible outside of the brick and mortar store. When Taigan, appropriately meaning a breed of Canine from Kyrgyzstan “known for its tenacity to find the best game for its master,” launched in 2009, Nichols estimates that there was a three percent acceptance rate from all of the retailers who reached out to them.
Since then, the offerings on the site have grown to more than 100 vendors in 11 categories–from fine jewelry to cigars. “The small stores needed a big voice,” says Nichols, who draws her experience from 20 years spent developing shopping centers. “If you put one store in the middle of the world wide web it won’t get any more traction than if you build a little store in the middle of a field.” Now with their re-launch–including a newly curated landing page–they also plan on introducing 8-12 stores each month. Though no store makes the page without a rigorous evaluation, from combing through the stock to seeing how they are packaged and shipped. Nichols even physically visits every store and is constantly seeking out new locations on her travels. As she puts it: “We are on a hunt.”
Over the holiday many shoppers found a way to snag shopping deals without ever setting foot in a store on Cyber Monday.
The sales promotions on the Monday after Thanksgiving got their name from a retail trade group, which promoted the idea that people, upon returning to work, would log onto their computers there and shop.
Although Belmont sophomore Shannon Murphy had never heard of Cyber Monday before, all it took was opening her email inbox to find out.
“It’s today only, free ground shipping on all orders. 30 percent off if you buy a certain amount of tea. And a free mug if you get a certain dollars worth,” Murphy said as she read the offers.
For many stores, the strategy worked. More than enough people clicked that precious “purchase” button and committed to buy.
Elizabeth Nichols, the CEO for the newly launched Brentwood web site, Taigan, said stores are succeeding at luring online shoppers.
“I think clearly the marketplace is trying to put into the mind of the consumer–this is the day to shop online,” Nichols said. “We’ve offered a free shipping holiday that ends today and interestingly Taigan drives people to make the decision to purchase as opposed to waiting until tomorrow.”
Taigan represents 82 speciality shops with unique items from across Tennessee and the U.S.
Sales over the holiday weekend hit a new high for the site. It plays a role in the estimated $1 billion in online sales happening on Cyber Monday.
For more on Taigan CEO Elizabeth Nichol’s interview click here: http://www.newschannel5.com/story/13579850/cyber-monday-lures-online-shoppers
This year may go down as the Christmas shopping season in which consumers bounced off the mat of financial hardship and started spending again.
But a lot of that spending took place online as retailers big and small pushed bargains and coupons to shoppers’ mobile devices and promised in-time shipping even if merchandise was ordered a day before Christmas Eve.
Smaller retailers are also striving to cash in on mobile sales.
Cyber Monday was the icing on the cake for Taigan.com’s already record-breaking month of November. The hunt started here for hundreds of specialty retail shoppers looking for holiday gifts this past Cyber Monday.
Taigan was part of what comScore called a “Billion Dollar Bonanza” as Cyber Monday sales surpassed $1 billion. That’s up 16 percent from a year ago and represents the heaviest online spending day in history, with sales passing the billion-dollar mark for the first time.
Taigan has created such a buzz on the specialty retail shopping scene leading up to Cyber Monday that the local print and broadcast media came calling on Taigan CEO, Elizabeth Nichols, looking for her thoughts on the popular online shopping day.
It’s certainly no surprise that consumers looking for specialty retail items swarmed the site on Cyber Monday. Perhaps most encouraging is that the month of October and November were so significantly up for the curated shopping site. “We were thrilled to offer our shoppers free shipping on Cyber Monday. However, we have seen significant shopping throughout the last two months, regardless of promotion – by both loyal and new shoppers..,” says Nichols.
Nichols attributes the buzz to a combination of shopper optimism, the addition of over 30 new shops to the site in the past two months, and to significant recent media attention.
From being named Best of the Web for gifts by InStyle Magazine, to winning the Retailer of Excellence Award in the Internet Innovation category, and recently awarded Technology Start-up of the Year accolade, Taigan is recognized by retailers, consumers and industry media as the online shopping destination for a highly curated collection of boutiques, designers and purveyors.
“With the addition of 30 specialty retailers and designers in the last two months, shoppers now recognize that we continue to locate the best of the best, to showcase on the site,” Nichols explains. “While our retailer standards for acceptance onto Taigan remain especially high, we are being approached by more fantastic retailers and designers every week, and will continue to these great retailers, designers and craftsmen as we find them.”
Early reports claim Taigan’s November sales grew in excess of 200 percent over the previous month, and represent the strongest month in the site’s 13-month history.
For more Taigan news, subscribe to the Taigan newsroom, stay connected on Taigan’s Facebook Fan Page or Follow us on Twitter @TaiganFinds.
Elizabeth Nichols and year-old local Web shopping hub Taigan are taking niche retailers to the big time.
Elizabeth Nichols, CEO for Brentwood-based e-commerce company Taigan, a portal for various specialty retailers. Nichols is a veteran of commercial development for some of the country’s largest retail chains, as well as a longstanding board member for various national companies.
Taigan co-founders Mary Catherine McClellan (a former Ernst & Young partner) and Mark McDonald (CEO of Value Payment Systems in Green Hills) recruited Nichols, who recently sat down with William Williams to discuss the online shopping industry.
How does Taigan work?
First, we try and work hard and smart and with the passion of the tireless and tenacious sighthound, a Taigan. Taigan is a place to read about “it,” find “it” and buy “it.” Unlike the “tear sheets” of days gone by that provided information but not access, Taigan introduces the shop to the customer, allowing the customer to transact a sale, to use the online messaging feature or to call the shop owner to receive an unprecedented level of customer service — from the expert who created or collected the item.
Specialty retailers tap into turnkey e-commerce solution and create an online community of the best shops and products online; stylized and edited by Creative Director Julia Reed.
Nashville, Tenn. – September 8, 2010 One year, 59 specialty boutique shops, thousands of designer items, 30,000 registered online shoppers from 128 countries later; Taigan.com celebrates its one-year anniversary. Taigan’s first 12 months add up to industry awards, editorial acclaim, online retail growth and international expansion – the exception to the norm in a sluggish bricks and mortar retail year. With 83 percent of consumers shopping online at least once a week, Taigan helps bridge the gap between savvy online shoppers and specialty retailers with an e-commerce solution that is catching the eye of investors, retailers, fashion industry media and shoppers.
A recent winner of the Retailer of Excellence Award in the Internet Innovation category, and a finalist for Technology Start-up of the Year, Taigan’s one year marks a list of milestones. As Reed reports the elusive fashion finds in Taigan’s Fetch, its exclusive online magazine aimed at the curated lifestyle; shoppers continue to find, follow and friend the online retailer on its social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter and multiple blogs.
Launched in September 2009, Taigan quickly grew into an international online shopping hub featuring a highly edited collection of shops in the US and abroad, representing designer apparel, gifts, home decor, gourmet food, wine, cigars and more. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Taigan welcomes shoppers from over 128 countries monthly, adding new shops and thousands of items each month.
From Tuscan olive oil grove in Tuscany to natural skin care and cosmetics like Woo skincare and cosmetics, to children’s designer shops in Aspen to notable menswear designer Sid Mashburn, Taigan gathers an eclectic yet well-heeled collection of talent and their wares.
“Taigan makes it possible for consumers to shop at their favorite boutiques and takes the pain away from retailers setting up individual e-commerce solutions. We’ve connected online shoppers with specialty retailers and designers all over the country and also globally,” said Taigan founder Elizabeth Nichols. “It is so gratifying to see some retailers who weren’t sure if they were going to weather the last yearn, now thriving on Taigan.”
As retailers look toward the rapidly approaching holidays, uptick in spending is predicted— consumers say they will be spending as much or more this holiday season compared to last according to experts at Compete.
Named for the famed sight hound known for its keen hunting abilities, Taigan.com is a highly edited collection of the world’s best shops from across the country and abroad. Showcasing specialty retailers of women and men’s fashion, home décor, art, antiques, jewelry, gourmet food and fine gifts, Taigan brings the best shops to your fingertips. For the shopper, the collector, the epicure… Taigan delivers an extraordinary and ever-expanding collection of shops and purveyors. Shopping is free, guests are asked to provide their email address to use the site’s messaging service with Taigan shops.
