Wine and Hamper Gifts: Launching a Feature-Rich E-commerce Platform for Porter and Woodman
In October 2007, West Midlands-based corporate gift specialists, Porter and Woodman, commissioned The Site Doctor to design and develop their comprehensive online presence in time for the 2007 Christmas sales period. Despite the complexities involved, including intricate delivery charge calculations and personalized gift options, we were confident in delivering a robust e-commerce solution promptly.
Advanced E-commerce Development
Utilizing the latest web technologies of the time, including ASP.Net 2.0 and Microsoft AJAX, we developed WineAndHamperGifts.co.uk within approximately 200 hours. The platform adeptly managed complex combinations of shipping options, recipient details, and gift personalization, ensuring a seamless user experience.
Real-Time Reporting and Analytics
The website featured in-depth, real-time reporting capabilities, providing Porter and Woodman with valuable insights into:
- Current shopping cart contents
- Total order values, categorized by payment status
- Peak shopping times, both daily and weekly
These analytics enabled the company to monitor site performance closely and respond swiftly to customer demands.
Strategic Online Advertising
Given the proximity to the Christmas sales period, there was insufficient time for organic search rankings to develop. We recommended implementing a targeted Google AdWords campaign. By leveraging the built-in reporting tools and integrating Google Analytics, we meticulously monitored conversion rates and refined the advertising strategy to ensure cost-effective spending and goal attainment.
Enhanced User Experience with Excel Integration
To accommodate larger orders, Porter and Woodman provided customers with an Excel template for recipient data. We integrated an Excel download and upload feature into the website, allowing users to:
- Export their shopping cart into a predefined Excel spreadsheet
- Enter recipient information offline
- Upload the completed spreadsheet back into the system
This functionality streamlined the ordering process for bulk purchases, enhancing user convenience.
User-Friendly Design
The resulting e-commerce website was both visually appealing and intuitive, catering to users of all experience levels. Its inviting design and straightforward navigation ensured a positive shopping experience, contributing to increased customer satisfaction and sales.
Through this project, Porter and Woodman successfully transitioned into the online marketplace, offering their customers a convenient platform to purchase high-quality wine and hamper gifts, thereby expanding their reach and boosting their seasonal sales.
I would just like to write to thank you for the work you have produced on the development of our new site. We felt that we presented you with a very complex set of challenges in order to design a site that could offer all the varied products and services that we supply. You were able to cut through to the essence of what we do and then reproduce a site that was not only visually attractive but also effective in servicing our customer’s needs.<br/><br/> A site is never a totally finished article so you have been able to solve issues as they have arrived in a most timely fashion. You have also provided constructive advice on the design such that rankings should be improved.<br/><br/> I feel it is more than likely that we will require your services on our other sites as we look to develop this year.
Ian Williams | Operations Director, Porter and Woodman