After only a month in the job, Bruce Berry admits to facing a fairly steep learning curve. Despite bringing years of business experience to the role, he says he is a new comer to the ISP game.
-It is a very competitive industry, and we face a similar problem to mobile phone companies in terms of customer stickiness," Berry says. -People don't want to change ISPs unless they have to because it often implies changing their e-mail address and so forth."
For this reason, Berry believes the ISP sector requires a particularly creative approach to growing customer numbers.
-We are toying with a number of ideas, but we have yet to come up with a strategic plan," Berry says. -Timing is an issue, at this stage we are looking to capitalise on Froggy's assets and bed down our operations before making any changes."
In the short term however, Berry has moved to shore-up the company's existing offerings with the purchase of an IBM Netfinity 7000 server.
-I am fairly confident we have the IT and physical structures in place to grow substantially," Berry says, indicating the ISP now operates within an office space which formally held Karl Suleman Enterprises, Froggy Mobiles and the Froggy ISP call centre. -With this kind of infrastructure and a loyal customer base concentrated in this area there was never any question we would relocate."
This sentiment is also welcomed by Froggy ISP staff, whose enthusiasm partially stems from the fact that many live locally.
-It is important to have companies like this one in the Liverpool area," says Benjamin. -At one time we were one of the highest youth employers in the area, and now that the new owners have brought in changes that will allow us to grow I am looking forward to the time when we are again."
