Mando Newsletter
Read our newsletter, to find out what Mando have been doing over the past few months.
Mando Group celebrates 10 years in Liverpool…
In November we gathered together a nice group of clients, colleagues and friends at the Static Gallery in Liverpool, to mark the occasion of Mando Group’s 10th year in business in the city.
One of Liverpool’s most successful entrepreneurs and leading creative industry personalities Professor Phil Redmond was guest of honour at the party on 22nd November.
He commented “Mando Group epitomises all that’s good about three things I feel passionate about – entrepreneurship; social responsibility and using digital technology to empower people to communicate more effectively. I am delighted that they have reached this milestone in the development of their business. Their success story really should be an inspiration to others”.
Matt Johnson and Ian Finch started up a web development business on leaving university in 1997. Having managed to survive the shaky times for web industries not long after, and since then have seen the company grow to a team of 35 working for high profile clients such as ACC Liverpool, HSE, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Hill Dickinson, The Culture Company and Liverpool Biennial to name a few.
“It’s been an amazing 10 years,” says Mando Group Chairman Matt Johnson. “We have been fortunate enough to be able to build on the success which we and our partners and customers have achieved together at each stage of the company’s growth.”
For more images visit our Flickr site
Mando Group recently launched the new web site for Rare Fashion, a Merseyside based retail fashion outlet.
Rare branded clothing is already distributed through 21 concession-based outlets within Topshop. With celebrity endorsement, and coverage in the fashion press, such as Reveal, they are growing significant brand recognition in their market.
Rare Fashion were looking for a new website, with improved design and functionality plus a high level of flexible content management in order to be responsive in promoting their products. The site needed to integrate with their existing barcode system. They were seeking a long-term web partner who could help them grow their on-line retail business.
Mando Group delivered a site that is rich in design, usability and e-commerce technology. With expandable and flexible content management provided by their Control-C CMS system, Rare have the ability to mange the Flash features on the homepage, promote products as required, and tailor their content around particular Trends and Collections. They have the ability to recommend products based upon user choices. The site also features RSS feeds allowing users to be kept aware of the latest products as they come available. A key issue for the business was trying to limit the number of returned items. To minimise this, the site features size guides and multiple images for each garment, showing photographs in each available colour, with the ability to zoom in and see each in greater detail.
The site features ‘Create the Look’ which gives users the ability to select items to create an outfit, based around colours, trends or collections.
They are soon to launch ‘Ask Sally’ where Rare’s fashion adviser Sally will answer customer’s fashion and garment queries. Also look out for ‘Catwalk’, which will feature all the Rare Fashion collections.
Raj Shalwar, Managing Director of Rare knows how important it is to stay fresh in the fashion industry. “Mando Group has developed a website that has enabled us to step ahead of our competitors through the functionality available on our site. The fully content managed site allows us to be responsive. We’ve benefited from improved functionality such as barcode integration, order tracking, and the ability to cross sell related products. Not only have we seen a decrease in the number of returned items, we have also experienced a significant increase in sales since the launch of the site.
When Travis Wild, Managing Director of Trade1st saw gap in the market he came to Mando Group with his idea for an ecommerce site aimed at the painting and decorating trade.
Trade1st which provides a unique offering, being the only company selling a full range of high specified branded products specifically for the painting and decorating professionals.
Travis Wild required a comprehensive e-commerce website to display the 400+ products available, that was simple to mange with a clear emphasis on the quality of the products being offered. As this was a new company, the development of a brand that would have a clear presence on the site was required.
Using their content management system Control-C Mando Group has designed a site that is easy to manage, with an emphasis on clear design and usability. The products are searchable by category of by brand, allowing the customer to find what they want quickly in the extensive range of products. The homepage features product categories, special offers and featured products alongside user-friendly and information provided by ‘Eddie’ the Trade1st decorators mate, who is featured on the site to highlight certain features and provide a welcoming customer experience.
The site features price breaks for purchasing quantities and for shipping. There are further discounts available as an incentive to register with the site.
“Mando Group has proved to be a valuable web partner for me in starting this business. They have delivered a sales platform that allows Trade 1st to exploit our unique market ‘competitive advantages’. Mando have clearly understood my objectives, and saw the potential in Trade1st. Through their holistic approach to branding, design and web development, we have received very positive feedback and strong sales through the Trade1st.co.uk site.”
Visit www.Trade1st.co.uk
Directors Cut…
To coincide with Enterprise Week, our November guest at Directors' Cut was 37 year old Tony Caldeira, who was featured on the Channel 4 documentary 'Brits Get Rich In China'.
Tony talked about how he took an enterprising idea of making cushions to sell on a Liverpool market stall to become the largest UK manufacturer of cushions in a matter of 12 years. Caldeira Ltd. is the UK’s market leader in the supply of cushions to volume retailers, selling products to over 20 countries worldwide, and has won many awards for sales growth and entrepreneurial flair.
With a business that grew at 50% per year over that time, Caldeira was able to share some of his business experience with the audience who were keen to hear how he successfully set up a 250,000 sq ft factory complex in China, after almost loosing his UK based business due to the influx of unbeatably cheap Chinese imports. With a 'can't beat them, join them' attitude Caldeira went to learn all about the Chinese market. He shared some of his insights into the Chinese economy and their own hard-working and entrepreneurial work ethics. Tony believes in China’s strength as an emerging market.
Tony presented his Directors’ Cut film choice: 'Highlander', saying how he sees a parallel with the film’s story travelling to New York, as Caldeira has just opened a showroom there on Fifth Avenue.
The video of the event appears on our website www.mandogroup.com
Or visit www.directorscut.org.uk
Liverpool Phil website wins yet another award
Mando Group client Royal Liverpool Philharmonic has been awarded another award for their site www.liverpoolphil.com
The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic website has been recognised once again, this time at England's Northwest Tourism Awards.
The website developed for the Liverpool Phil, by Mando Group, was awarded 'Tourism Website of the Year'
Mando Group Video Channel launch
Due to an increasing demand for online video content Mando are pleased to announce their in-house video facilities. We have recently completed work for The Mersey Partnership, the City Council's Lifestyle health clubs. If you are interested in producing video content ask Mando.
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