An aromatherapy web site has scented victory after winning a place in the regional finals for a national e-commerce award.

Guestling-based DGM Aromatics' site was designed and built by FAT Promotions of Hastings.

There were more than 1,400 entrants nationwide in the Micro Business category of the 2002 ECommerce Awards this year, 40 per cent more than last year, and the DGM site was one of ten businesses in the South-

East selected for the regional finals.

With 241 completed entries, the South-East set a new record in this year's awards.

The awards are organised by UK Online for Business, a partnership between industry and government geared to help British business make the most of e-commerce.

Entrants have to show they are using the internet to create a tangible business benefit, like increased sales.

Fiona Allman-Treen, internet developer and one of only three full-time staff at FAT Promotions, said: "We nominated three of our customers that make good use of e-commerce. DGM was only founded earlier this year so it's quite a coup for them."

Ms Allman-Treen said she met Darren McCarthy, DGM's chief executive, at the 1066 Business Club in Hastings.

She said: "I've always been a big fan of aromatherapy and Darren agreed to help me with my sinuses if we helped him with his web site."

FAT, which developed a web site with a full online shopping cart and payment system, said it wished DGM every success in the final rounds of the competition.

The £8,000 prize money will be presented to the four category winners at an event later this month and the winners will get the chance to win a further £38,000 at the national final in July.

Ms Allman-Treen said the e-commerce market was showing signs of recovery after a difficult 18 months.

She said: "We're trying to encourage smaller businesses on to the web.

"People have had their fingers burnt by cowboy developers and they are coming to us with second generation sites saying they want to get on the web but past experience has made them unsure.

However, the e-commerce business is definitely picking up and we're doing much more business than last year."

www.dgmaromatics.com
www.fatpromotions.co.uk
www.ukonlineforbusiness.gov.uk