From Bamboo to Melody - Crafting a Digital Presence for Erik the Flutemaker
Summary
Erik Sampson, a world-renowned bamboo flute maker with over 50 years of experience, needed to improve his online shopping experience. We completely redesigned his website and optimized his email marketing strategy, helping him expand his reach and increase sales.
Introduction
Erik Sampson’s journey as a flute maker spans continents and decades, beginning with a wooden flute from India and culminating in a lifelong dedication to crafting bamboo flutes. His story is one of passion, artistry, and a deep connection to music. To share his work with the world, we created a digital presence that captures the essence of his craft and allows customers to experience the magic of his flutes online.
Challenge
Erik’s digital presence was outdated and difficult to use. This was detrimental given that his website and email campaigns are his primary selling channels. The existing website was unresponsive, poorly maintained, and lacked the visual appeal and functionality needed to engage visitors and convert them into customers. Additionally, his email campaigns were ineffective, missing the mark in terms of design, content, and targeting.
Solution
- Discovery Phase: Conducted in-depth interviews with Erik to understand his personality, his story, his products, and his target audience. The new brand was constructed around his unique persona and artistry.
- Content Strategy: Developed a content plan that highlighted Erik’s unique journey, the story behind each flute, and testimonials from satisfied customers.
- UI/UX Design: Created a visually appealing and user-friendly design that balanced modern aesthetics with usability, ensuring the site was easy for Erik to maintain and update himself.
- Website Development: Migrated the entire site to the Shopify platform and restructured the flutes available in the shop to make it more user-friendly. Added options for sizes and variations under each product. Ensured the site was responsive and optimized for various devices.
- Email Marketing Campaigns: Redesigned and implemented effective email campaigns with engaging content and appealing visuals.
- SEO and Digital Marketing: Implemented SEO best practices and developed a digital marketing strategy to increase online visibility and drive traffic to the website.
Impact
- Enhanced Online Presence: The new website effectively communicates Erik’s story and showcases his flutes, resulting in increased engagement from visitors.
- Increased Sales: The integration of an improved e-commerce structure on Shopify allowed Erik to sell his flutes more efficiently, leading to a significant increase in online sales.
- Effective Email Campaigns: Improved email marketing efforts resulted in higher open and click-through rates, directly contributing to even more sales.
- Positive Feedback: Customers praised the website’s design and ease of use, with many expressing a deeper connection to Erik’s story and his instruments.
