Case studies

Every business on this page had a different problem, so each site was planned differently. What they share is the method: understand how customers choose, build a fast and clear site around that, and leave the owner able to run it.

An independent shop in the town centre

The problem. A long-established gift and homeware shop near the high street had a dated website with no online sales. Customers regularly phoned to ask whether an item was in stock before making the trip into town, and staff spent a lot of time answering the same questions.

What we did.

• Built a Shopify store around the shop's best-selling ranges, rather than trying to list every item on day one
• Added click and collect, plus local delivery for nearby postcodes
• Put opening hours, parking and directions on every page footer
• Designed product page templates so new stock always has the same clear layout
• Trained staff to photograph and add products from a phone

What changed. Regular customers can check stock before they visit, new customers can find the shop online, and the shop team runs the site day to day without outside help. See our e-commerce websites service.

A research spin-out at the Knowledge Gateway

The problem. A small team developing specialist software from university research had a one-page placeholder site. Potential customers and investors could not tell what the product did or who it was for.

What we did.

• Interviewed the founders and rewrote the core message around the problem the product solves
• Created a use-case page for each target sector
• Added a technical overview for evaluators and a short team page
• Built a simple demo request form instead of a long contact form

What changed. The founders now have a site they are comfortable sending to investors and enterprise buyers, and the explanation of their work is consistent across sales conversations. Read more in explaining technical work clearly.

A family-run restaurant near the castle

The problem. The menu on the website was a two-year-old PDF, there was no online booking and Google showed the wrong opening hours. Staff took booking calls during service.

What we did.

• Replaced the PDF with an editable menu page, with allergens and dietary options clearly marked
• Connected an online booking system and added gift vouchers
• Fixed the Google Business Profile: category, hours, menu link and booking link
• Made the site fast and simple on a phone, with directions and parking information up front

What changed. Information is accurate everywhere customers look, and fewer calls interrupt service. Our hospitality website checklist covers the same ground.

A building firm working across Stanway

The problem. A reputable builder relied on word of mouth and a free website builder template. Searches for extensions and loft conversions in Colchester returned competitors.

What we did.

• Built a WordPress site with separate pages for extensions, loft conversions and renovations
• Organised the project gallery by job type, with honest descriptions of each job
• Added area content for the places the firm actually works
• Set up local SEO foundations and the Google Business Profile

What changed. The website now reflects the quality of the firm's work and gives it a fair chance in the searches its customers make. See local SEO.

A food producer near Tiptree

The problem. A small producer selling preserves and hampers at farmers' markets wanted to sell online but had been put off by complicated platforms.

What we did.

• Built a simple online shop with seasonal products and gift hampers
• Set sensible delivery rules, including local collection
• Wrote clear product pages with ingredients and allergens
• Added a newsletter sign-up to stay in touch between seasons

What changed. The owner runs the shop alongside market days and has a direct way to reach customers when new products are ready.

A professional services firm moving premises

The problem. An accountancy practice relocating out of the town centre needed a new website without losing the search visibility it had built up over many years.

What we did.

• Audited every existing page, its search traffic and the sites linking to it
• Redesigned the site with clearer service pages and an updated location page
• Mapped every old address to its new home with permanent redirects
• Checked Search Console after launch and fixed the few errors that appeared

What changed. The practice has a modern site that reflects its new location, without starting from scratch in search. See website redesign.

What these projects have in common

Common problem	What usually fixes it
Customers phone with the same questions	Put the answers on the site, near the top
Out-of-date information	Make editing quick, and keep Google in step
Not showing up in local searches	A page per service, solid technical foundations, a well-kept Google listing
Technical work nobody understands	Lead with the problem solved, then the detail
Fear of losing rankings in a redesign	Audit first, redirect everything, check after launch

If your business has a similar problem, tell us about it.