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How did the project start?
Jelly the Worm's Toy Shop is a fresh, fun and lively website which sells children’s toys and books. However, when Jelly approached Visualsoft, there was a distinct and fundamental problem...the site was not fun, or lively and as a result was selling very little.
The site appeared to be based upon a template, with rigid navigation, poor visibility in search engines and aesthetics which simply did not engage the visitor. Jelly knew that a more advanced solution was required and so approached Visualsoft having seen the variety of designs within the eCommerce portfolio.
What options did you consider?
The only solution moving forward was to build a new bespoke ecommerce solution tailored to meet the precise requirements of the business. None of the previous website was to be retained.
To bring the world of Jelly the Worm to life, we wanted the design team to have as much freedom as possible. This was allowed to them because of the bespoke eCommerce platform which allowed their creativity to run wild. Fueled by jelly babies and overactive imaginations, the designers within Visualsoft quickly developed the Jelly the Worm aesthetics.
What help and expertise did you receive?
All of the Jelly theWorm project was carried out inhouse. The website was built completely bespoke, however, where technologies had been developed previously, code was reused to keep the development cost low. The team worked hard to research and understand the products the company sells (reading the hungry Caterpillar and other favourites) to develop a site which enhanced the appeal of the products, further encouraging impulse purchases.
Did you face and challenges or learn any lessons?
The main challenge in developing Jelly the Worm's Toy shop was in developing a solution which both children and adults would find quirky and worth exploring without sacrificing the key aim of the site; generating business. To allow this, the design team worked very closely with the technical team to develop the functionality, placement and prominence of the website features. A fine balance was ensured between functionality and aesthetics.
What are the outcomes and how has it improved your business?
The most important feature above all of the aesthetics was that the site made sales. The site is selling well and this success can be attributed to the search engine friendly build of the site and the high rate of conversion through clear navigation and call to action.
Jelly the Worm on the new site: "The site looks wonderful, I am so very pleased and breathe a big sigh of scared that the site is becoming very 'real'. I can't believe what the team have done and no amount of jelly babies could have predicted such a fabulous job or thank you enough. I am really taken a back. I LOVE the little worm in the menu bar and the site really makes me chuckle. The brand profiles are fabulously written and I am astonished at the time you must have taken to do them."
What are your plans for the future?
Future plans for Jelly the Worm's Toy Shop are to continue to build the presence of the website in Google, and increase the product range within the shop. Also, Ebay integration will be introduced, which will allow both the current website and an Ebay store to be controlled from one website admin panel. This will further increase website traffic and web sales.
