Squarespace E-commerce Web Design for The Lilac Coral in the UK
Estimated Completion: Approximately 8 weeks
Live Website Link: https://www.thelilaccoral.com/
Scroll through the homepage below:
Introduction
The Lilac Coral, a brand specializing in slow-made, lightweight, waterproof, and one-of-a-kind handmade jewelry, reached out to us to help create a professional yet fun website and ecommerce store. The goal was to enable customers to purchase products online and provide them with information about the products and the meticulous process behind their creation. As official Squarespace Expert Designers in the UK, we partnered with them to design and build a modern, fresh, and eye-catching e-commerce platform that not only reflects the brand's identity but also offers seamless shopping experiences.
Client Background
The Lilac Coral is an emerging online store that offers a unique collection of handmade jewelry. Each piece is crafted with care, quality and individuality. The jewelry is not only aesthetically pleasing but also practical—lightweight and waterproof, and designed to cater to customers who appreciate both style and functionality. The brand prides itself on its slow-made approach, ensuring that every item is thoughtfully designed and meticulously produced, resulting in truly one-of-a-kind pieces.
Project Goals and Objectives
Professional and Fun Website Design: design a Squarespace website that balances professionalism with a fun, vibrant aesthetic to attract and retain visitors.
Online Purchasing Capability: set up a Squarespace e-commerce store where customers can easily browse products and make purchases.
Informative Content: provide detailed information about the products and the handmade process to educate customers and build brand trust.
Modern, Fresh, and Eye-Catching Design: develop a design that stands out, capturing the essence of The Lilac Coral's unique offerings.
Squarespace Store Functionality: utilize Squarespace's e-commerce features to manage products, orders, and shipping rates effectively.
Project Scope and Requirements
Website Platform: Squarespace, chosen for its robust e-commerce capabilities and user-friendly interface.
Design Requirements:
Modern and fresh aesthetic.
Eye-catching visuals and graphics.
Responsive design for optimal viewing on all devices.
E-commerce Setup:
Product listing and management.
Shopping cart and checkout functionality.
Secure payment gateway integration.
Shipping rate setup and management.
Content Development:
Product descriptions and images.
Information about the handmade process.
Brand story and mission statement.
Design and Development Process
Discovery Phase
We initiated the project by understanding The Lilac Coral's brand values, target audience, and unique selling propositions. Key activities included:
Brand Analysis: Identified the brand's personality—fun, creative, and dedicated to quality craftsmanship.
Target Audience Identification: Determined that the primary customers are fashion-forward individuals who appreciate handmade, unique jewelry.
Competitor Research: Analyzed similar online jewelry stores to identify opportunities for differentiation.
Wireframing and Prototyping
Site Architecture Planning: Outlined the website's structure, ensuring intuitive navigation and logical content flow.
Wireframes Development: Created low-fidelity sketches of key pages, including the homepage, shop page, about us, and contact pages.
Prototype Creation: Developed interactive prototypes to visualize user interactions and gather feedback before final design implementation.
Design Implementation
Color Scheme: Selected a palette featuring lilac tones complemented by coral accents tp reflect the brand name and create a visually cohesive experience.
Typography: Chose a modern, clean font that enhances readability and contribute to the site's fresh aesthetic.
Imagery: Incorporated high-quality images of the jewelry, including close-ups and lifestyle shots showcasing the products in use.
Squarespace E-commerce Development
Product Catalog Setup:
Organized products into categories and collections for easy browsing.
Included detailed product descriptions, specifications, and multiple images for each item.
Shopping Cart and Checkout:
Implemented a user-friendly shopping cart with options to update quantities.
Integrated a secure checkout process supporting various payment methods.
Shipping Configuration:
Set up shipping zones and rates based on location, weight, and order value.
Inventory Management:
Configured inventory tracking to prevent overselling and notify when items are low in stock.
Customer Accounts:
Enabled customers to create accounts to save their information, view order history, and track shipments.
Testing and Quality Assurance
Functional Testing:
Tested all e-commerce functionalities, including product browsing, cart updates, checkout process, and payment processing.
Usability Testing:
Conducted testing sessions to gather feedbak on navigation, design, and overall user experience.
Responsive Testing:
Ensured consistent performance and appearance across various devices and browsers.
Security Checks:
Verified SSL certificate implementation for secure data transmission.
Ensured compliance with privacy regulations and payment security standards.
Challenges and Solutions
Challenge: Creating a Balance Between Professionalism and Fun
Solution: Achieved a balance by using a clean layout with playful color accents and engaging imagery. Professionalism was maintained through intuitive navigation and high-quality content, while fun elements were introduced through graphics, animations, and the brand's unique personality in the copy.
Challenge: Showcasing the Handmade Process Effectively
Solution: Developed a dedicated page with a visual slideshow of the crafting process. Included photos of the jewelry being made, providing transparency and connecting customers to the brand's craftsmanship.
Challenge: Setting Up Complex Shipping Rates
Solution: Configured Squarespace's advanced shipping settings to accommodate various shipping scenarios. Created shipping zones and rules based on geographic locations, weight ranges, and order values to ensure accurate shipping costs at checkout.
Challenge: Ensuring Optimal Site Performance with High-Quality Images
Solution: Optimized all images for web use by compressing files without compromising quality. Used lazy loading techniques to improve page load times, enhancing user experience and SEO performance.
Key Features and Highlights
Modern and Fresh Design:
A vibrant color scheme reflecting the brand identity.
Eye-catching visuals and engaging content.
User-Friendly Navigation:
Clear menu structure with logical categorization of products.
Breadcrumbs and filters to enhance product searchability.
Seamless E-commerce Experience:
Easy-to-use shopping cart and checkout process.
Secure payment gateways supporting multiple payment options.
Detailed Product Information:
Comprehensive descriptions and specifications.
High-resolution images from multiple angles.
Interactive Elements:
Hover effects on product images.
Animated icons highlighting product features.
Responsive Design:
Optimized for viewing on all devices, ensuring accessibility and convenience for users on the go.
Visual Portfolio
Results and Impact
Enhanced Brand Perception:
The professional yet fun Squarespace design effectively communicates The Lilac Coral's brand identity.
High-quality visuals and engaging content build trust and attract the target audience.
Increased Online Sales:
The user-friendly Squarespace e-commerce setup has streamlined the purchasing process, leading to higher conversion rates.
Accurate shipping rates and multiple payment options reduce cart abandonment.
Improved Customer Engagement:
Social media integration and customer reviews encourage interaction and community building.
The newsletter signup has grown the email list for ongoing marketing efforts.
Greater Visibility and Reach:
The informative content and blog posts enhance SEO performance, increasing organic traffic.
Sharing capabilities expand the brand's reach through social networks.
Operational Efficiency:
The Squarespace platform simplifies site management, allowing the client to update products and content with ease.
Inventory and order management tools improve back-end efficiency.
Client Testimonial
"Absolutely loved working with Dylan @ Winn-Brown & Co. on my handmade jewellery website. He was extremely patient with me, even when I changed my mind. I was offered a lot of feedback sessions, which really helped me think and assess what my customers and I were really looking for. His suggestions were on point and I would highly recommend him for any website design you may require. Thank you Winn-Brown & Co!! 5 stars all round!
— The Lilac Coral
Our Squarespace Design work for The Lilac Coral resulted in a vibrant and functional e-commerce website that truly reflects the brand's unique offerings. By focusing on modern design principles, seamless user experience, and robust e-commerce functionality, we've helped The Lilac Coral establish a strong online presence poised for growth. This project showcases our ability to deliver tailored solutions that meet our clients' specific needs while exceeding their expectations.
Ready to work with Expert Squarespace Designers in the United Kingdom to take your business’s online presence to the next level?
Contact us today to discover how we can transform your website into a powerful tool for your business.
A few SEO Best Practices Implemented
Structured Headings: Used clear H1, H2, and H3 tags to organize content for better search engine indexing.
Image Optimization: Compressed images to enhance load times and accessibility.
Mobile-Friendly Design: Ensured the site is responsive to cater to users on all devices.
Social Sharing Options
Help spread the word about Long Gut Miss Pinny's grand opening!
Comments and Engagement
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Note: This case study is part of our portfolio showcasing our recent projects. To view more of our work, visit our portfolio page.
