DALTON—Shaw Industries has developed an all-inclusive package of products that allow dealers to create professional looking websites quickly and inexpensively, giving them a virtual storefront.
The Shaw Web Studio not only offers Shaw retailers complete flooring websites with ready-to-use and customizable content, it allows product data and images to be automatically streamed to a dealer’s existing website. Misty Hodge, Shaw’s web services manager, said these are just some of the many tools available with the product. But best of all, they are “easy-to-use, easy-to-maintain and affordable.”
Just getting on the web is no longer the challenge, she explained, noting more and more retailers recognize the Internet’s power and importance. “It is using it to properly reach customers and market themselves. It needs to work for you 24/7 as consumers are searching at all hours every day.”
In addition to looking for products and information at any given time, Hodge said, “Research indicates almost 70% of consumers shop online before entering the store.”
And while more and more retailers have launched websites in the last 18 months, many are finding it difficult to manage in terms of time, cost and technology expertise. “Having a website is one thing,” she told FCNews, “but having one that is flooring specific and not just a general type of site is significant. A flooring site needs to convey not only your store’s personality, it needs to showcase all the products and services you offer. And these things are different than other types of businesses, which is why it is difficult to create a professional site with what’s out there.”
Shaw Web Studio was created to address these types of concerns, Hodge added, with a suite of solutions that include customized websites, automatically updated product catalogs, microsites within existing sites, automated delivery of product images and data, and more. “We are trying to alleviate the stress typically associated with trying to create a website or enhancing an existing one with state-of-the-art technology.” This even includes making sites search engine friendly.
For retailers who do not have a web presence, Shaw Web Studio offers ready-to-use and customizable content. There are 20 professionally designed templates (Shaw Design Center and Flooring Aligned dealers get an additional template from which to chose) and with the ability to include customized products, names and photos, she noted dealers can be ensured of creating a “a one-of-a-kind web experience” and not just a me-too site—or even one that comes from a manufacturer. “This is not a mill website; it’s a retailer’s. We took what we learned in building Shaw’s consumer site and allow retailers to capitalize on this success with positive and informative web experiences for their respective consumers.”
Shaw created Web Studio to be so quick and painless, a retailer can have a site up and running in minutes for as little as $95 per month. Web Studio also has a Shaw-powered product catalog that is both customizable and maintenance free as it is continually updated with all Shaw products.
Hodge noted this is truly a retailer’s site as evidenced by the fact it is not exclusive to showcasing just Shaw products. “The dealer is free to post all the brands and products offered in his store. Shaw is just giving retailers the structure to have a professional website.”
The whole concept is based on consumer research and what she expects when visiting a website. “She expects a virtual storefront to match what happens when she walks into the brick-and-mortar one,” she added.
As such, additional features and services can be added through different Web Studio tools for slightly higher monthly costs. “For instance, select content offerings currently include an interactive miscrosite on the benefits of Shaw’s Anso nylon.
To learn more—Shaw will be holding Webinars about the Web Studio tool—call 888.742.4932, visit shawwebstudio.com.