“Click-and-mortar”: MDX students learn all about the latest e-Business models

Are all e-commerce ventures a success? Would an e-commerce model successful in one industry, be equally successful in another industry? Is human touch still required in business or has it become a thing of the past? These are some of the many interesting questions raised and addressed in BIS4430 Web Based Information Systems module on December 06, 2011 when Ms. Camilla H. Chaudhary, the founding member of artchowk.com gave her insightful talk about the transition and journey of her company artchowk.com, from a virtual gallery to artchowk – the physical gallery.

 

Camilla Hadi Chaudhary, a graduate from Boston University and Williams College, after spending years in banking and academics, followed her love of art, which brought about the idea of ArtChowk! ArtChowk.com began in 2008 as an online gallery and art resource providing a means for artists to show their work through a virtual platform. After year and a half, ArtChowk – the Gallery, a physical gallery was launched, that showcases the artworks from their catalogue and runs a comprehensive gallery program of modern and contemporary art. This was a classic example of a business starting as a “pure-play” but moving on to a “click-and-mortar” e-business model.

 

The presentation was organized by Dr Fehmida Hussain, Senior Lecturer in Information Systems at Middlesex University, based on contemporary e-business and e-commerce models which students are learning about as part of their BIS4430 module in the MSc Computer Network Management programme.