A South Lakeland firm selling build-it-yourself boat kits has netted an "astonishing" amount of business since it started selling via the Internet.

Fyne Boat Kits of Bowness has customers all over the world and three out of every four place their orders through the firm's website.

Ecommerce has proved so successful that many customers do not have any direct contact with the firm.

"It's rather strange nearly half our customers never have any direct personal contact with us," said partner Paul Stanistreet.

"They place their orders through the Internet, and use their credit cards to pay through the Internet and we just send out the kits they want. We never hear a word from them."

Mr Stanistreet, who founded the business some three years ago, said he had been astonished by the amount of business that has been generated through his website (www.fyneboatkits.com).

"We never thought it would take off as well as it has. We've been absolutely astonished by it," he said.

The firm set up its website with help from Business Link for Cumbria, which also provided a grant to cover the cost of a secure credit card encrypted system enabling customers to buy direct over the Internet.

The company has since invested around £50,000 in computerised cutting gear to help to speed up production.

"Nobody has been more surprised than me at how much business we have done through the Internet," he said.

Fyne Boat Kits stocks and supplies wooden sailing boats, canoes, kayaks and rowing boats in easy-to-assemble kits at a fraction of the price charged for similar ready-made boats.

January 3, 2003 12:00