WebCitz started working with this client in 2007
- Client: A Gift from Home (website offline)
- Platform: WordPress
- Industry: Retail / E-Commerce
- Services: Digital Marketing, Ecommerce, Maintenance / Support, Web Hosting
The Challenge
A Gift From Home offered a specialized service allowing parents to send gourmet gift baskets and bakery treats to college students away from home. The business was originally built on Volusion, but the owner found the platform to be increasingly expensive and difficult to customize. The client needed a more cost-effective, flexible e-commerce solution that would allow for better brand control and lower overhead, along with high-quality imagery to showcase their perishable goods.
The WebCitz Solution
Following a feature on WebCitz in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the client engaged our team to lead a full digital transition and provide ongoing support:
- Platform Migration: We migrated the storefront from Volusion to osCommerce, providing the client with an open-source environment that eliminated high monthly platform fees and allowed for deeper customization of the ordering process.
- Product Photography: To ensure the bakery items looked as appealing as possible, WebCitz provided hands-on product photography services. The client mailed physical samples (such as Kringles) to our studio, which we staged and photographed for use across the website.
- Custom Design & Maintenance: We developed a warm, inviting design that resonated with parents and handled all technical maintenance to ensure the site remained stable during peak gifting seasons.
- Secure Hosting & Support: WebCitz provided the hosting infrastructure and consistent technical support for the duration of the business’s operation.
The Result
The move to osCommerce allowed A Gift From Home to significantly reduce its monthly operating costs while gaining a more professional, custom-tailored digital presence. By providing end-to-end services – from the technical migration to the actual product photography – WebCitz acted as a comprehensive partner that allowed the owner to focus on fulfillment and customer connection for several successful years.
