Radiator Heats Up Online Sales at Traditionally Crafted Homewares Business
Leading eCommerce and marketing agency Radiator is driving online sales at Niki Jones, the Glasgow-based homewares and design specialist after completing a major project to develop its website (www.niki-jones.co.uk).
Radiator, a full service design, development and internet marketing consultancy, works with clients to provide a fully integrated solution from website concept to sales. The agency worked closely with Niki Jones, a former textile designer and style co-ordinator at Habitat, to create a site that is user-friendly, easy to navigate and immediately tells the customer that homewares from Niki Jones are original, well-designed and not likely to be found in conventional stores.
Fraser Hogg, co-owner and creative director of Radiator, explained, “This has been a hugely exciting and ambitious project for us. We worked in association with DB Studio, which carried out the branding, brochure work and design of the site in terms of the look and feel, while we advised and delivered the back-end eCommerce facilities together with the overall marketing strategy.”
Niki Jones, who moved back to Scotland from London to start up her own web-based business, is known in the industry for her bold use of pattern and colour and specialises in original contemporary designs featuring an eclectic range of textiles, furniture, accessories and homewares sourced from around the world. Many pieces incorporate traditional techniques by skilled craftspeople based in India.
“Niki is passionate about pattern, colour and texture so it was important to capture the vibrancy of her product range on the site,” said Stephen Hunter, co-founder, sales and marketing director of Radiator.
“As a highly creative and inspirational company, it was important that the online solution remained clean and simple in appearance, thus allowing the quality and originality of the products to speak for themselves.”
According to Ms Jones, it was essential that she worked in partnership with a company that was able to understand her business and the need for a highly functional website.
She said, “From an aesthetic point of view, I had a very clear idea of what I wanted. However, I needed a company that was able to give me the right solution behind the scenes. My website has to be straightforward and easy for customers to use but also highly functional or they won’t come back.
“Radiator worked closely with me and understood that the type of business I have dictates that repeat business is crucial. It was important that I used a company with existing eCommerce experience because I can’t afford for a customer to have a bad experience when they use my website.
“I decided to start my own company because I couldn’t find what I wanted to buy online – well-designed and well-crafted pieces for my home that were a bit special. I wanted to create a collection that would celebrate handmade products but also embrace the far-reaching capabilities of the web. In other words, I wanted to mix traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge web technology, and I think that’s exactly what I have achieved with Radiator.”
A member of ScotlandIS, the trade body for the information and communications technologies (ICT) industry, Radiator (www.the-radiator.com) works closely with clients to increase their brand awareness, leads and repeat sales online. Its customer base spans a broad spectrum of public and private sector organisations, all of which call upon its expert input to generate online sales.
