Client Need

Powerdrive Computers is a multi-channel business selling computer hardware, with a strong focus on the gaming market. This is a highly competitive sector, meaning that Powerdrive needed to present themselves in an innovative way. They also wanted to develop both consumer [B2C] and trade [B2B] markets, as efficiently as possible.

The existing site was very basic in both its design and operation. It was effectively a categorised list of products attached to a rudimentary shopping cart . Research showed us that the marketplace was highly price-sensitive and was increasingly driven by Search Engine usage.

It was therefore essential to develop an approach that allowed Powerdrive to address these two key issues, while addressing the requirements of its two distinct customer groups, to maximise visibility and sales.

Solution

Through a number of fact-finding meetings and external research we established that the Consumer and Trade websites should be clearly differentiated, and that this distinction should include branding, design sales promotion options and pricing.

We developed a complete specification including wireframe diagrams and graphic design to visualise the two sites, which included the separation of payment methods, (account and credit card), visual styling, marketing controls. We identified that this could be efficiently managed through a Central Content Management Portal, allowing Powerdrive to manage their product Database range and two distinct e-commerce websites, from a single management system. 

We developed a new Product Management toolkit allowing Powerdrive complete flexibility to add and amend new categories and products, including multiple photo images, and created the concept of a brand store within each website, allowing customers to browse and select products of their chosen brand. To help improve the marketing of the site itself, we introduced new Search Engine Optimisation techniques to automatically create highly attractive searchable content, resulting in much improved visibility in Google.

The Powerdrive and Meroncourt (it’s sister brand) websites also contain programming which routinely, submits the entire product catalogue to Google’s shopping channel, further increasing the traffic to the websites.

The original project was commissioned in February and delivered in May 2009.  Since the original launch, we have worked closely with Powerdrive to further develop a range of aspects of the websites, permitting the introduction of structured discounts, creative pieces including animated web banners, and more options for high visibility promotions.

The new websites now contribute £100k per year in additional turnover to the Powerdrive business.