Customer Spotlight: Ballard Designs

Ballard Designs is the most recent of Dirxion’s clients to get a monitor-sized boost to their brand. In 1982, the home furnishings retailer got its southern roots in Atlanta as a one-woman start-up and has since become a premier multi-channel retailer of unique, European inspired décor.

Not unlike our other clients, Ballard Designs came to us seeking a different way to connect with their customers. What we created for them was a digital edition that mirrors the experience of their printed catalog while giving them the interactive bells and whistles of a website.

Ballard Designs is another great example of a digital strategy done right. Their catalog isn’t just a link to some eye candy. By making good use of our information rollovers (which on a mouse over highlights products and gives shoppers the ability to click on product images within each page), their customers can now more intuitively shop by flipping through their catalog and yet still go straight to their e-commerce site to place orders.

They also wasted no time in doing their viral marketing. Last Friday, Ballard Designs broadcasted the arrival of their new digital catalog with an email to customers and through the usual social media outlets:
From Ballard’s Facebook Fan Page:
“Attn: Ballard Fans! We are very pleased and excited to announce for the first time we now have an online version of our catalog! This is a great interactive online version that allows you to click on an item where it will then take you to the item on …our website. We appreciate you as fans and wanted to share this with you first! Enjoy and let us know your thoughts!”

Our work with Ballard Designs was a classic case of taking two channels of retail marketing, a website and a catalog, and no longer making the two mutually exclusive. Our digital edition was the only real way to offer their same unique look and feel while tying in the ease and interactivity of their website.

See Ballard Design’s digital catalog here.

Walking the Talk

Dirxion customer and lifestyle footwear leader, SKECHERS, has a new product initiative called Shape-ups. How out of the loop I feel after having learned a little bit more about these so called Shape-ups …

As of September 21, the Skechers Shape-up shoes had hit #4 on the list of best-selling shoes on Amazon.com, having spent 79 days in the top 100. Shape-ups are also featured in the October issues of both Shape Magazine and SELF Magazine and even celebrities like Charlie Sheen and Melissa Rivers are checking them out! And just recently, Bonnie Hunt gave away pairs of Shape-ups on her show!
What are these Shape-ups you ask?

Shape-ups from SKECHERS are designed to get you fit while you walk, work, shop, and more. Used regularly.  Shape-ups will enhance the way you feel and look; muscles get toned, calories are burned and your posture improves.

A pretty neat idea if you ask me. Way to go SKECHERS.

If you feel out of the loop like I did, why don’t you take a peek (here) at these best selling shoes using SKECHERS’ interactive catalogs. Here, you can view all of their catalogs online, browse their pages for the hottest SKECHERS footwear, and buy your favorite styles… all in just one click.

Skechers Shape-Ups Digital Catalog

If you’re not quite sold yet, do a little research on Shape-Ups. Praise for these shoes is widespread in the blogrolls. Here are a few opinions.

Mom Logic
“Comfort? Less stress? Compliments about thinness…? What’s not to love?”

Bargainist
“…it’s really hard to find time to work out these days, what with the kids back in school, work, errands… We get exhausted just thinking about it! That’s why we were so excited to see the new line of Skechers Women’s Shape-Ups at Finish Line Sports.”

Fitbottomedgirls
“…they are super cushy and fun, and I loved wearing them. They spice up a walk just by making it feel different. And yes, I really do think they work your muscles in a slightly different way than your usual shoes….”

Some comments from blog readers about Shape-Ups:

“I was unsure of these as well until I bought a pair for my wife. She wears them on her normal three mile walk and she has fallen in love with them.  She definitely feels it in her legs and rump and has put her other walking shoes on the shelf.” - Larry

“I’ve used the shape ups for a month and I love them. I feel results already. It is perfect for my busy schedule. Me and co-workers go on Shape-Up walks for 30 minutes and wear them as we do our normal walking also. Try them before you knock them. Be consistent with it too. Just like any other work out, of course.” - Donna

A Mutual Appreciation…

At Dirxion Digital Publishing, we try to make a concerted effort to ensure our customer’s experience is as pleasant as possible. We always hope we are meeting or exceeding their expectations. Even still, it’s humbling when someone takes time out of their day to acknowledge that our work is appreciated. We recently received this great compliment from Davidson Titles, who sells a wide range of literature from Children’s books and Instructional to Financials and Career Planning.

“Davidson Titles has looked at utilizing interactive catalogs for several years, but the choices were just too cost-prohibitive. Recently we had noticed an increase in the use of interactive catalogs in the publishing industry, so we started investigating our options again.
We were actually very close to going with another company when, strictly by chance, we discovered Dirxion and their perfect solution to our interactive catalog needs. Dirxion offered much better features and customizable options that were just what we were looking for. After a few quick phone calls the process was underway, and within two weeks Davidson Titles had its interactive catalogs online.
The production team at Dirxion knew just what we were looking for in the finished product and delivered it exactly as we had envisioned. I don’t believe we could be any more pleased and would like to thank everyone at Dirxion for a job well done. Personally, you’ve made my job much easier and made me look good in the process. I look forward to a long relationship with Dirxion in the future.”

-Scott Reeves
Graphic Design/Marketing, Davidson Titles, Inc.

Scott and everyone at Davidson Titles, we’d like to thank you for your kind words and also for being a customer of Dirxion. Sometimes jobs can be hard work, and then you receive a compliment like this and it keeps you going.

Davidson Title’s digital publishing uses a great looking multi-publication interface, custom background and the new catalog library search.  They also went through the effort of redesigning their website to give their new digital catalogs a more significant presence.

2 New Clients, 1 Solid Strategy

We have always said that the value your digital publication brings to your business is only as good as the promotion it receives. To date no one has argued with us … about anything … ever. I’m starting to think that either what we say has some truth to it or we are really just that intimidating.

Two companies that recently “got our message” are Enslow Publishers and Olympia Sports. Both are new to the Dirxion family of clients, both were creating digital catalogs to help promote their products, and both were sure to highlight their new campaign with effective email marketing. Kudos to you two, I say. We like to see you out there pounding the proverbial Internet pavement and doing what it takes to keep your fans engaged.