Case Study
Best of British
iOS, Android App
iOS, Android App
Best of British
Best of British is a social commerce platform with numerous innovative ideas which is connecting sellers, buyers, and recommenders in a new way. By using recommendations of trusted individuals, the platform encourages buyers to find out new products, sellers for more sales via word-of-mouth. The recommenders earn commissions for successful referrals.
With integrated live video shopping, in-app payments, and a recommender-driven commission system, Best of British transforms how people shop and sell both online and in physical retail locations.
Technologies and Platform
To assure for a smooth and scalable user experience, Best of British is developed using below mentioned technologies:
- React.js & Next.js – For a fast, responsive, and SEO-friendly web application
- Tailwind CSS – For a modern and efficient UI/UX
- React Native – To support mobile app development
- Node.js with Express.js (for handling API requests)
- PostgreSQL or MongoDB (for database management)
- Firebase (for authentication and push notifications)
- Stripe & PayPal – For secure and seamless transactions
- OAuth & Firebase Authentication – For secure user logins
- AES Encryption – To protect sensitive user data
- Machine Learning Algorithms – To enhance product recommendations
- NLP (Natural Language Processing) – To analyze product searches and messages
- AWS & Google Cloud – For hosting and scalability
- WebSockets – To enable real-time notifications and messaging
Challenges & Problems
Before the platform was developed, several key challenges were identified in traditional eCommerce models:
Navigating the dynamic landscape of the online marketplace UK, in specific when discovering British products, requires addressing a basic challenge i.e. Trust.
We know buying or engaging with an unknown seller is hesitating, and Best of British is committed for building a platform that will generate confidence at every stage of the transaction.
a. Buyers mostly hesitate to purchase from unfamiliar sellers within the British e-commerce platform due to a lack of transparency and trust. The inherent distance of online transactions can create uncertainty, specifically when dealing with sellers outside established retail chains.
b. Product descriptions and reviews, while helpful, don’t always offer enough confidence. The level of quality, authenticity, and seller reliability can be difficult to discern from text and limited user feedback. This is specifically true when exploring unique British products from small sellers within the British social platform.
This lack of trust is a barrier to growth in the UK Live video shopping space, where instant confidence and trust is required to drive sales.
Therefore, the British digital marketplace must build tools and features to boost seller reputation and product validity.
Sellers, especially the smaller ones, are finding it tough to turn views into sales. They’re struggling to cut through the noise. Sellers are losing out on potential sales because they can’t get customer engagement for their products.
a. Many small businesses strive for identity within a competitive online market. The British digital marketplace is a busy space, and it’s a real struggle for small sellers to get noticed. They are often lost in the shuffle, especially when standing along with bigger brands. Simply listing products isn’t enough; they need ways to cut through the noise and get their products seen. The sheer volume of listings in the online marketplace UK makes it a constant battle for visibility, and without the right tools, many in the British seller community find it hard to compete.
b. Lack of innovative selling tools, like live video shopping, limits conversions.
Sellers are missing out on serious sales by not having access to modern selling tools, especially UK Live video shopping. Without that live interaction, it’s tough
to build a real connection with buyers, and that directly impacts conversions. British social commerce tools should be helping with this, but too often they fall short. If sellers on the online marketplace UK can’t showcase their products in a dynamic way, they’re leaving money on the table. They need more than just static listings to close deals.
People are naturally inclined to share good finds, particularly within their communities. Anyhow, the existing canvass of the British digital marketplace lacks a structured approach to incentivize these organic recommendations. Marketing spread due to mouth is a powerful driver of sales.
It is mostly overlooked for the absence of instant returns and flexible referral systems.
This oversight means a significant opportunity to boost the British seller community and overall engagement within the online marketplace UK is being missed.
a.Traditional referral systems are rigid and don’t offer immediate rewards.
Most referral schemes on the British e-commerce platform are clunky. They’re slow, and people don’t get anything quick for telling their mates. That means the online marketplace UK isn’t making the most of those natural recommendations. We need something faster, something that gives instant perks to those who spread the word about the British seller community
b.No structured system to reward people who naturally recommend products to friends.
People chat about good stuff all the time, especially when they discover British products. But there’s no real way to reward that. The British social platform is missing out on free advertising because there’s no system to say thanks. We need a way to encourage those word-of-mouth recommendations, a way to boost sales on the British digital marketplace by rewarding genuine shares.
Dealing with commissions and payments has been a real headache. Figuring out who gets what, and making sure it’s fair, has been a proper mess. We need to get this sorted, so everyone knows where they stand and gets paid on time. It’s about being straight up and making the money side of things run smooth.
a. Tracking and distributing commissions fairly among Recommenders & Sellers was a challenge.
Keeping tabs on who sold what, and who recommended who, was a right puzzle. It’s been tough to make sure everyone in the British seller community gets their fair share. Trying to figure out all the numbers on the British e-commerce platform has caused plenty of headaches, and we need a better way to handle it.
b. Need for a transparent, automated, and real-time payout system.
People need to see where their money’s coming from, in real time. We’ve got to have a system that‘s clear and automatic, so everyone gets paid without any fuss. The online marketplace UK needs a payout system that’s reliable, so sellers and recommenders know they’re getting what they’re owed, when they’re owed it.
Solutions Implemented
Best of British implemented to overcome above challenges with various solutions briefed here one after the other.
01. Trust-Driven Shopping Through Recommendations
Created a Recommender Role where users can suggest products to friends & family and earn commissions on successful sales.
We set up a ‘Recommender’ thing, so folks can point their mates to good stuff on the British e-commerce platform and get a bit back when they buy. It’s about turning everyday shoppers into trusted advisors within their own circles
Enabled buyers to receive recommendations from trusted people instead of relying on online reviews alone.
Instead of just reading random reviews on the online marketplace UK, buyers can now get tips from people they know. It’s about getting honest opinions from trusted sources, cutting through the usual online noise
Developed a public recommendation board, allowing popular products to be recommended to a wider audience.
We built a place where top picks from the British seller community get shown off. It’s a public board, so everyone can see what’s popular and get recommendations from real users, extending the reach of good products within the British social platform
02. Live Video Shopping for Sellers
Implemented a live video shopping feature, allowing buyers to:
To tackle the issue of online shopping uncertainty, we’ve introduced a couple of straightforward solutions.
Call stores directly to see products in real time.
First, you can now call stores directly to see products in real time. Forget those static, often misleading, online images.
Get questions answered before making a purchase.
We’ve made it possible for you to get your questions answered before making a purchase. No more guesswork or relying on vague product descriptions.
So, these solutions encouraged high-touch customer interaction, leading to higher engagement & conversions.
03. Commission-Based Social Selling Model
To address the complexities of commission handling and to incentivize word-of-mouth marketing, we’ve implemented a clear and fair commission-based social selling model.
We’ve designed a transparent commission system:
- 20% total commission (16% for Best of British, 4% for the Recommender).
A total of 20% commission is allocated, with 16% going to the ‘Best of British’ sellers and 4% to the Recommender. This split ensures both the seller and the person making the recommendation are fairly compensated for their roles in the sale.
- Ensures sellers only pay for actual sales made via recommendations.
Furthermore, this system ensures sellers only pay for actual sales made via recommendations. This means sellers aren’t burdened with upfront costs or fees for potential leads. They only pay when a sale is successfully completed through a recommendation, making it a risk-free and performance-based approach.
This model encourages a mutually beneficial environment, promoting genuine recommendations and driving sales within the platform.
We automated real-time tracking of commissions and weekly payouts via Stripe.
04. Subscription Model for Sellers
Introduced a flexible seller subscription model:
To make the British e-commerce platform accessible and affordable for sellers, we’ve introduced a flexible subscription model.
- First 3 months FREE to encourage adoption.
We’ve started with a generous offer: the first three months are completely FREE to encourage sellers to try out the platform and experience its benefits.
- £10/month after the trial period, allowing affordable access to the platform.
After the trial period, the subscription is just £10 per month, allowing sellers to maintain their presence on the online marketplace UK without breaking the bank.
- Option to cancel anytime.
They have the option to cancel anytime, offering complete flexibility.
Additional Featured Ad Listings for sellers to promote their stores with:
To further help sellers boost their visibility, we’ve also introduced Additional Featured Ad Listings.
- Custom durations (daily, weekly, monthly).
These listings offer custom durations – daily, weekly, or monthly – allowing sellers to tailor their promotion to their needs.
- Homepage placements for increased visibility.
Homepage placements are also available, providing increased visibility to a wider audience on the British digital marketplace and driving more traffic to their stores.
05. AI-Powered Matching & Analytics
We integrated machine learning-based recommendations in product suggestion based on browsing manner and earlier purchase history.
To improve the shopping experience and offer sellers with critical insights, we’ve done integration of advanced technology into the platform. We’ve implemented machine learning oriented recommendations that suggest products based on users’ browsing behaviour and past purchases. This makes sure buyers finds British products those aligning closely with their interests. It leads to a more personalized and much engaging shopping experience.
Sellers get real-time sales insights, helping them adjust commissions and optimize product listings.
Further, sellers now have access to real-time sales insights. This data helps them understand what’s working and what’s not, allowing them to adjust commissions and optimize product listings effectively. By leveraging these insights, sellers on the British social platform can improve their performance and drive more sales within the online marketplace UK.
Results & Impact
Higher Buyer Engagement
The live video shopping feature increased interaction rates by 40% compared to static product listings.
Increased Sales for Sellers
Recommender-driven purchases contributed to over 60% of early platform sales.
Fair & Transparent Commissions
The automated payout system eliminated disputes and ensured fair earnings distribution among Sellers, Recommenders, and the platform.
Growing Seller Base
The free 3-month subscription model helped onboard hundreds of new sellers within the first few months.
Stronger Community Building
Social commerce elements encouraged users to engage, recommend, and promote within their networks, leading to organic platform growth.
Conclusion
Best of British successfully bridges the gap between online and offline shopping by combining recommendation-driven social commerce with
live video shopping and AI-powered matching.
By creating a trusted network where buyers, sellers, and recommenders all benefit, the platform has redefined the future of eCommerce.
Looking ahead, Best of British aims to expand into online store recommendations, AI-driven product discovery, and global seller onboarding.
So, to wrap it all up, ‘Best of British’ has really managed to mix online shopping with that personal, local shop feel. By bringing together those trusted recommendations, live video chats, and smart tech that finds you the right stuff, we’ve made something unique.
We’ve built a place where buyers get good deals, sellers get real sales, and folks who recommend get rewarded, all within the British digital marketplace. It’s a proper step forward for how we buy and sell online.
We’re looking to add many ways to find the best shops and products on the online marketplace UK, using smart AI to help people discover even more great British products. We also want to bring in sellers from all over the world, so ‘Best of British’ keeps growing and offering a wide range of things to buy. We believe this is the way forward for the British e-commerce platform and beyond
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FAQ's
Where do you see trending e-commerce technological innovation?
As all knows, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), technologies are serving businesses to know customer behavior, trend analysis, and personalize experiences. AI can analyze big volume data to enrich decision-making, it’s managing inventory or if required, identifying the best times for promotions.
What is the exact purpose of social commerce?
Social commerce makes online shopping very easy by enabling users to quickly make purchases with a social media platform like WhatsApp or Facebook. By using a social commerce strategy for your business, you can maximize the user experience and satisfy – existing and potential customers.
How to select suitable social commerce tools and platforms?
When selecting a social commerce platform for your e-shopping business. It is tough to consider the way of your business and the type of your target audience. Different platforms offer diversified, good social commerce strategies, that is aligning with tailored business needs.
Why is social commerce important to businesses?
The benefits of social commerce have crossed boundaries of expectations. Businesses may achieve unprecedented access to thousands of prospective customers while applying powerful analytics tools to know their audience much better.
Social media platforms give users the time and choice to like your content, comment on your posts, and even communicate with your brand directly.
