Hartstrings has long been known as a manufacturer of high quality, classically styled children's clothing. This was perfect for those fortunate enough to live close enough to the specialty stores who carried the Hartstrings lines. Driven by a desire to provide its products on a much broader scale, Hartstrings began the process of exploring the benefits of going direct to consumer for the first time in the company's history.
Drawn to WebLinc's experience in working with manufacturers seeking to expand into the direct market via eCommerce, Hartstrings entrusted WebLinc as a complete, end-to-end solution provider. Working in partnership with department heads and project stakeholders, WebLinc performed the following functions:
- Provided upfront consulting services with senior management to build the business case for going direct, assess risk/reward ratio, proactively identify potential pitfalls, project ROI, etc.
- Working with assigned project stakeholders, established specific project parameters and timelines, assigned roles and responsibilities, clearly defined success metrics, etc.
- Managed relationship with Hartstrings existing back-end technology provider in order to ensure seamless integration and ensure that previous technology investments were maximized.
- Working in harmony with Hartstrings' well-established brand identity, WebLinc conceptualized and developed all graphical components of the new site.
- Providing 24x7 managed hosting services and ongoing development and support services as Hartstrings' Agency of Record.
As with all of WebLinc's eCommerce initiatives, Hartstrings.com contains all of the features and functionality expected when shopping a world-class site. With a focus on developing a solution that places a premium on performance, users of the Hartstrings site will immediately notice the rapid page downloads, intuitive layout and extensive product detail; all key factors in ensuring the highest possible conversion rates.
Selling complete outfits is always the primary focus for Hartstrings. WebLinc was challenged with developing a shopping experience that provides the user with multiple ways to shop, however whether direct or through cross-sells, the user is sensibly encouraged towards buying a complete set.
And finally, WebLinc and Hartstrings worked together to create a comprehensive interactive marketing plan. Using a combination of SEO/SEM, Hartstrings will enact a strategy specifically targeting the parents and grandparents of children within the Hartstrings target market.