Web Design

At Micro Kickboard, the distributor of scooters, kickboards and other products used for urban mobility and recreation, we experienced a major website crash during a crucial sale event last year. This issue stirred change throughout the organization and prompted website updates that have had lasting results on customer experience and sales. One of Micro Kickboard’s…

Mobile commerce continues to grow as consumers abandon traditional brick-and-mortar stores in favor of online shopping. The current retail crisis has created a real demand for speed, convenience and optimization in e-commerce, and in response, retailers are increasingly leveraging technology capabilities creating new ways to engage with consumers and boost satisfaction levels. A new study…

Content is the currency of any digital experience. When it comes to delivering a standout customer experience, retailers and brands agree that blending content and commerce is the way to go. But even with the best intentions, it can be challenging to deliver the right mix at all customer touchpoints. If you’re struggling with strategically…

External third-party services can be a tremendous asset for online retailers. They allow sites to quickly and easily incorporate critical core functionalities — e.g., reviews, payments, site search, analytics — as well as “nice to haves” that help sites stand out — e.g., A/B testing, social plug-ins, product tours. Brands can implement these functionalities with…

Search engines can be a very important customer acquisition channel for retailers. Consumers are searching for products every day, and they're use search engines to connect with retailers. To say organic search engine rankings are important for retailers is an understatement. It's also important for retailers, and especially online pure-plays, to know the latest trends…

It’s tough to keep up with web design best practices these days. It seems like the trends change every year, sometimes reversing and doubling back on themselves. Often the best practices simply depend on who you ask. Some might say, for example, that hamburger menus are a good way to provide navigation options on a…

I love the website redesign process. It’s an electric experience and an optimistic sign of good times. Failing digital businesses, I’ve learned, generally do not undertake ambitious redesigns. Unfortunately, not nearly enough companies take their customers’ point-of-views into account when it comes to design. The most common reason I hear: “We’ll bring in customer experience…

Costume SuperCenter is the web’s largest one-stop retailer for kid and adult costumes. The company acquired the Birthday in a Box brand about five years ago, making it a go-to destination for consumers looking for costumes and party supplies. Costume SuperCenter operates five different websites between its brands, and recently overhauled them all within seven…

Websites have become the most important pieces of business real estate over the past decade. The No. 1 rule of brick-and-mortar real estate still applies, though: location, location, location. Of course, your website’s “location” isn’t a physical address; it’s your domain name. From that space, you establish your credibility, launch your marketing efforts, and drive customers to buy.

There’s no shying away from the internet now. Consumers are empowered by the web — so much so that research firm Forrester expects U.S. online retail sales to top $500 billion by 2020, up from $373 billion in 2016. A vibrant online presence will become increasingly important to the success of retail businesses. Converting eyes…