Love Coco, the 2023 Sustainable category winner of the ‘Gift of the Year’ award, specialises in providing a diverse selection of eco-friendly homeware and kitchen essentials. Their product offerings encompass a wide variety of items, from coconut bowls and ebony cutlery to soy wax candles and beyond. Their gradual expansion of product lines has been complemented by their active presence at numerous events, garnering accolades and recognition along their journey.
Love Coco’s primary customers are environmentally conscious individuals who prioritise sustainability and organic materials in their purchasing decisions. These customers are typically looking for high-quality, eco-friendly kitchenware that aligns with their values of reducing waste and supporting sustainable practices.
Project Overview:
The primary purpose of this project was to help Love Coco rebrand and launch a new website that would enhance its online presence and user experience. The project aimed to create a modern, user-friendly website that effectively communicated the brand’s commitment to sustainability and improved the overall customer journey.
Project Goals and Objectives
Primary Goals:
- Improve Customer Experience: The primary goal was to enhance the user experience on Love Coco’s website, making it easier for customers to navigate, find products, and make purchases.
- Increase Brand Trust: Another key goal was to build and reinforce brand trust through a comprehensive rebrand that clearly communicated Love Coco’s values and commitment to sustainability.
Secondary Goals:
- Boost Online Sales: An additional objective was to increase online sales by creating a seamless and engaging e-commerce experience. Previously, the majority of Love Coco’s sales were made at events and roadshows, and the goal was to transition these sales to the online platform.
- Expand Brand Awareness: The rebrand aimed to increase brand awareness, reaching a broader audience and attracting new customers who value sustainable products.
Challenges and Requirements
Initial Challenges:
- Low Online Sales: One of the main challenges was that customers were not purchasing products through the existing website. The website did not provide a satisfactory user experience, leading to low conversion rates.
- Event-Centric Sales: The majority of Love Coco’s sales were being made at events and roadshows. The company needed to shift its sales strategy to drive more online purchases.
- Outdated User Experience: The old website was not user-friendly, making it difficult for customers to find information and products, leading to frustration and abandoned carts.
Project Requirements:
- Website Redesign: Love Coco required a complete website redesign that conveyed their commitment to sustainability and provided a modern, engaging user experience.
- E-commerce Functionality: The website needed features that allowed customers to purchase both single products and product bundles easily.
- Trade System: A trade system for bulk purchases was necessary to cater to business customers and wholesalers.
- Shop Locator: A shop locator feature was needed to help customers find physical stores that stocked Love Coco products.
Research and Planning
Market Research:
- Competitor Analysis: We conducted an in-depth analysis of other brands selling sustainable, planet-friendly home products, such as Cora+Spink, Hortology, and Jungle Culture. This research provided valuable insights into the competitive landscape, including how these brands communicated their values and engaged with their customers.
- Visual Brand Elements: Our research highlighted the importance of visual brand elements, such as imagery, colours, fonts, and patterns, in conveying a brand’s values. We used these insights to inform the design of Love Coco’s new website, ensuring it effectively communicated the company’s commitment to sustainability.
Strategy and Approach
Design Strategy:
- Blank Page Approach: We started the design process with a blank page, allowing for creativity and innovation. This approach ensured that the new website design was unique and tailored to Love Coco’s brand.
- Prototyping and Feedback: Based on our research, we developed new visual brand elements and started prototyping the website design. We created several iterations and gathered feedback from the client at each stage to ensure the design met their expectations.
- Bespoke Design: Our belief in bespoke design allowed us to create a website that truly reflected Love Coco’s brand identity. The customised design provided a unique and cohesive user experience.
Technology Stack:
- Figma for Prototyping: We used Figma to create detailed prototypes of the new website design. This tool allowed for easy collaboration and feedback throughout the design process.
- WordPress with Woo-commerce for Development: The website was built on WordPress, a versatile platform that supported the bespoke design and offered robust e-commerce capabilities.
- Elementor for Implementation: Elementor was used to implement the custom design elements, ensuring a seamless and visually appealing website.
- Renewable Hosting Solutions: WordPress’s self-hosted nature allowed us to offer 100% renewable hosting solutions, aligning with Love Coco’s commitment to sustainability.
Project Plan:
Timeline: The project was divided into two main phases over a 12-week period.
- First Release (8 Weeks): This phase focused on developing the customer-facing website and establishing brand guidelines. Key milestones included finalizing the design, implementing core features, and conducting initial testing.
- Second Release (4 Weeks): The second phase involved developing and integrating the trade system for bulk purchases. This phase also included additional testing and final adjustments before the full launch.
Design and Development Process
Wireframes and Prototypes:
- Initial Design Concepts: During the initial design concept stage, we experimented with various UI element designs and layouts. We presented multiple wireframes to the client, showcasing different possibilities for the website’s structure and visual style.
- Client Feedback: We gathered feedback from the client on the initial concepts and made adjustments based on their preferences and requirements. This iterative process ensured the final design aligned with the client’s vision.
Design Iterations:
- Curvature and Fluidity: Our initial concepts featured more curvature and fluid structures to create a modern, organic feel. However, based on client feedback, we adjusted to straighter edges and a more rigid layout to better align with the brand’s identity.
- Visual Consistency: We focused on achieving visual consistency across the website, ensuring that all elements worked together to create a cohesive user experience.
Development:
- Elementor Implementation: Using Elementor, we built the website section by section. We started with repeated elements, such as headers, footers, and product grid items, to ensure consistency and efficiency.
- Responsive Design: We prioritised responsive design, ensuring the website provided an optimal user experience on all devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones.
- Challenges and Solutions: One challenge we faced was integrating the trade system for bulk purchases. We overcame this by customising existing plugins and developing new features to meet the client’s specific requirements.
Testing:
- QA Testing: The website underwent rigorous QA testing to identify and resolve any issues. This included functionality testing, user experience testing, and performance testing.
- User Testing: We conducted user testing with a select group of customers to gather feedback on the new design and functionality. This feedback was invaluable in making final adjustments before launch.