Extending Your Brand: Ecommerce & Online Storefronts
Jan 4th, 2009 by acadia creative
I just want to let everyone know that I’m done with my Christmas shopping. No kidding. My mom and dad are going on a cruise, my brother is getting some new snowboard gear, and my sister… Well, I’m not giving away ALL the presents!
My point in telling you this is to say that ANY company – be it service or product oriented, can easily take advantage of ecommerce technology to sell online. Many people, just like me, don’t want to deal with the day-after-Thanksgiving lines at Macy’s or just find it easier to walk online through the aisles of our favorite retailer or make travel arrangements with a credit card and the click of a mouse.
A big part of selling your wares successfully online is making sure your online presence aligns with your current branding. Everyone knows Kleenex. And do you really refer to other brands by their name, or when you need a Kleenex, you ask for a Kleenex? Brand recognition is incredibly important – especially online! Establishing trust through brand recognition with your online customers will result in more sales.
How do you do this? By maintaining the same quality and integrity on your website as you would for any of your printed materials. (Remember my post on Corporate Standards? They apply here too!) Template website programs or ecommerce solutions may be easy, but do they look and feel like something that would come from your company if you were to send it in the mail?
And whether you are selling a product or service, you’ll need some sort of shopping cart. Be sure that your company logo and corporate colors are a part of it. Be suspicious of third-party shopping cart solutions that don’t allow this. Company or customer service contact information should always be clearly posted in case there’s a problem with the check out process. If a customer wants to make any kind of purchase through your website, make them feel comfortable doing so. You’ll be glad you took the time to do it right!
The Story of Rossi Pasta
Rossi Pasta was in a pickle. This purveyor of specialty gourmet pasta had a nationwide reach through it’s mail order sales. But they realized that the lack of an online store left customers hungering for a more satisfying shopping experience.
So Rossi Pasta turned to acadia creative for help. They’re seasoned pros when it comes to design and ecommerce projects for gourmet and specialty foods. And Rossi Pasta craved the online success that acadia has brought to clients like ChefShop.com, Holl’s Chocolates, Napoleon Co. and Seattle Chocolates Online.
acadia creative started by whipping up a new site, translating their gorgeous print catalogs into a look and feel that was conducive to online shopping. They spiced up pages throughout the site with strategic placement of Rossi’s delectable products. Overall, acadia creative created quite a stir with the customized design and technology solution they cooked up for the online store. The Rossi Pasta site now dishes up an easy and fun shopping experience their customers simply relish!
