Visual Marketing: 99 Proven Ways for Small Businesses to Market with Images and Design

2. A Website Showcases a Sense of Touch: Strong Navigation and Ease of Use for an Online Showroom

How do you get to Carnegie Fabrics? The usual practice of visiting the showroom is no longer the only way to see and choose fabrics. The website has become the new destination and growing sales tool for this family-owned business. The need for an effective website is essential for the future of an industry where face time is dwindling and decisions need to be made without a trip to the showroom. Carnegie needed to show an extensive collection of merchandise while maintaining its highly regarded service and ease of browsing that clients are accustomed to in their physical showrooms.

Why It Works

The website features a white screen with a larger rendering of the Carnegie logo. As you roll over the contents that are listed in neat columns, the patterns of different fabrics are revealed within the letters of the Carnegie logo. The primary audience consists of interior designers and architects who are looking for the highest-quality products for their clients. The Carnegie website allows the user to view the wide array of products and color/fabric swatches in a quick and straightforward manner. The details in the photography show off the textures of the materials. The previous versions of the website were more along the lines of an online brochure; with this incarnation users have the ability ...