Web Design & Ongoing Support for National Store
- Web Design
- $50,000 to $199,999
- Apr. 2014 - Ongoing
- Quality
- 5.0
- Schedule
- 5.0
- Cost
- 5.0
- Willing to Refer
- 5.0
“Usually, you have to choose speed or quality for development projects, but they deliver both.”
- Retail
- United Kingdom
- 11-50 Employees
- Online Review
- Verified
Bird Marketing Limited designed, developed, and helped launch a Magento-based e-commerce website. The team integrated the platform with the company’s stock management system. They continue to provide support.
Business improved significantly after launching the new site. The company increased its resources ten-fold to keep up with the growing demand. Bird Marketing Limited is a valuable partner, collaborating efficiently, communicating responsively, and showing unwavering dedication to the project.
The client submitted this review online.
BACKGROUND
Please describe your company and your position there.
I’m the managing director of a national homeware store. We supply products to both wholesale and retail shops, as well as online stores across the country. Most of our products are reproduction antiques, but we also manufacture our own chair line. I’m responsible for overseeing the company—from product creation and distribution to digital marketing—and making sure everything runs smoothly.
OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE
For what projects/services did your company hire Bird Marketing Limited?
We were using a custom-built stock management system that connected to a Volusion-based e-commerce site. The platform was managed by a different company, and it was quickly becoming outdated. It wasn’t an ideal setup, and we didn’t have room to grow our business. The existing site wasn’t optimized for mobile devices, so when Google added load time and mobile-friendliness to their ranking algorithms, we experienced a decrease in sales.
Basically, we were behind the market in terms of technical innovation. We needed to find a new agency to bring us up to speed and provide ongoing maintenance. We wanted to partner with a forward-thinking firm that the offered high-end web design and support we needed.
What were your goals for this project?
Our main goal was to modernize our site, stock management system, and digital marketing campaigns. We didn’t really have a fixed target. Our archaic website was hindering our business, so we just wanted to clear a path for growth.
SOLUTION
How did you select this vendor?
There was a bit of a language barrier with our previous partner, so we were looking for a new vendor based in the UK. I collaborated with our company’s other directors to put together a strict set of criteria to help guide our decision. We wanted to find the agency best suited to our specific business needs.
First, we made an extensive list of available agencies. We searched Google, social media platforms, directories, and ranking websites like Clutch. We recorded each candidate in a spreadsheet, noting specific details like the quality of their reviews, their distance from our office, and their Google rankings. We wanted as much information as possible about each vendor so that we could confidently make a decision. After assessing each potential partner, we submitted a brief document to each qualified agency and timed their responses. We wanted to get a sense of their communication skills. We exchanged emails, scheduled meetings, and requested proposals from each candidate and recorded that information into the spreadsheet. Looking at all of the data, Bird Marketing Limited was the winner. They met all of our criteria, so we decided to make them our new partner.
Describe the project in detail.
We started with a big kickoff meeting where shared all of our issues and listened to their proposed solutions. We discussed the best e-commerce platform for our business and ultimately decided on Magento. After three weeks, Bird Marketing Limited sent over a draft of the site’s homepage for our approval. We were blown away by their work overall, but we requested several changes, and they made them willingly. Once we signed off on the homepage, they started working on category pages, product pages, and other miscellaneous pages using the approved style and theme.
After we had the designs laid out, they started to build the Magento platform and integrate it with our new stock management system. The team made sure that all of our required functionalities and features were working properly. Once they completed the final testing phase, we launched the website. We currently have a support and security plan with the Bird Marketing Limited team. They update our system as needed, making sure we’re using the latest technology and trends.
What was the team composition?
I only spoke with my project manager and their lead developer, but a large team of designers and developers worked on my project. I met a few of them in our initial discovery meeting. I’m not sure exactly how many resources they provided, but I know that hey completed the entire project in-house. I requested that they refrain from using any freelancers or outsourced staff.
RESULTS & FEEDBACK
Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?
The results have been a bit interesting. We initially saw a drop in web traffic after we launched the new e-commerce platform. The Bird Marketing Limited team warned us that this would happen. It was a completely different website than our previous iteration—new URLs, new content, new images, new layouts, new categories, and new price points. The only thing that stayed the same was our domain name, so it took a while for the Google algorithm to recognize the changes we’d made.
After that short lull, our business took off rapidly. We’re now ten times the size we were before launching the new platform. We’ve had to move to bigger warehouses three times to accommodate our increased demand. We’re kicking ourselves for not reaching out to Bird Marketing Limited sooner. Both our staff and our customers are happier now that we have a new website.
In each phase, they delivered before the deadline. For the design, they promised a draft in four weeks, and we had it in three. For development, they completed the build and integrations about two weeks before their original estimate. We’re used to working with companies that go over schedule, so the lack of overrun was a huge benefit in working with their team.
How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?
They pride themselves on their smooth website design and development process. The team was excellent in accommodating our requests and any last-minute changes we made. As we’ve grown, we’ve continued to rely heavily on their support. At this point, they feel like part of our in-house team. They’re highly communicative, responding quickly to email and phone calls. We’re also free to visit their office if we have to go over something more complicated. We probably meet in person once a month on average. We enjoy working with their team.
What did you find most impressive about this company?
I’m most impressed by their efficiency and their attention to detail. Usually, you have to choose speed or quality for development projects, but they deliver both. Additionally, they’re willing to share their techniques. When we were speaking to some vendors during our selection process, they guarded their methodologies. Bird Marketing Limited, on the other hand, was completely transparent.
Are there any areas for improvement?
They’re reluctant to expand their service offering. We feel like the Bird Marketing Limited team is capable of providing a variety of other services. With that said, I understand that they want to stick to what they’re good at, and I respect them for it.
RATINGS
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Quality
5.0Service & Deliverables
"I’ve never worked with a company that delivers such high-quality work."
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Schedule
5.0On time / deadlines
"They beat their delivery times."
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Cost
5.0Value / within estimates
"They charge less than the other companies we requested quotes from."
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Willing to Refer
5.0NPS
"I’ve referred them to everyone that I know.