Importers of fashion-forward footwear and accessories from the catwalks of Milan, Greece, Portugal and Brazil, Socrati understands the impact a great accessory can have on an outfit. It's this understanding that led the brand to approach So Interactive Digital Agency about giving its key marketing accessory - its website - a makeover that compliments its business outfit.
"Having worked closely with us for seven years, Socrati approached us to do the website not just because we're a Full Service Interactive Digital Agency but also because we understand their digital communication needs," explains Founder and Managing Member, Darren Mansour. "The previous site was outdated and no longer functioned correctly. We understand how important a dynamic online platform is - not only does it need to be functional and robust, but it must be visually appealing. Socrati needed to portray a stronger, more fashionable image online, and an image that would entice its target market - the discerning, upmarket shopper. That's where So Interactive came in."
Popular among high profile men and women with a keen eye for fashion, Socrati has a loyal customer base, having built its brand strength largely via word of mouth. The brief for the new website was to create a digital online platform capable of promoting the brand's product range, demonstrating its commitment to service and providing added value to its customers, all while reaching a larger audience, not just locally but throughout Africa. With these objectives firmly in mind, So Interactive got to work creating a sophisticated, elegant website that is as good looking as it is functional.
The new and improved website was launched on 2 March and is basically a standard products catalogue, it is a robust site with a user-friendly interface that encourages online visitors to sit back, relax and enjoy browsing. And, as initial feedback indicates - it's working! Built on the Wordpress CMS platform with custom modules to run the systems product catalogue, the newly launched site has already sped up browsing by 70%, leading to a marked increase in enquiries received by Socrati on a daily basis.
The new site is not just showing off its substance, but being recognised for its style, too. So Interactive have received a design mention on www.awwwards.com and been nominated for an award. High praise indeed - the annual 'awwwards' recognise and promote the talent and effort of the best developers, designers and web agencies in the world.
Want to see what all the fuss is about? Check it out for yourself at www.socrati.co.za and see the design, innovation and creativity that earned www.sointeractive.co.za its nomination.