Mimi Vanderhaven Online
URL: www.mimivanderhaven.com
Product: An online extension of the hugely popular Mimi Vanderhaven’s
Fabulous Buys print publication which is currently mailed to about 220,000
homes and businesses in Northeast Ohio
Campaign: Web Development, Programming, Content Management
Time Frame: July 2007-Present
Challenge: Our biggest challenge
with MimiVanderhaven.com was to combine the three main functions of the site – the
ability to publish content, e-commerce capabilities, and an online community –
into one seamless site. All aspects of
the site had to be consistent with Mimi brand and be aesthetically pleasing to
Mimi’s user base. We also had to
incorporate Mimi’s advertisers, but without the site looking cluttered with
banner or image ads. In short, MimiVanderhaven.com needed to be a pretty site,
but it also needed to be a powerhouse of “under the hood” programming.
Results: We
worked closely with Mimi and her team to create a vibrant online community
where visitors can shop online, get great deals, learn about the latest local
businesses, view local happenings, and more. Here are some of the site’s
features:
- Feature business stories,
polls, recipes and more on the homepage
- Velvet Cushion society news
- Mimi’s Calling Cards which
recommends local businesses and contractors
- Mimi’s Boutique where
visitors can shop online
- Dining Deals featuring great
deals and gift certificates for local restaurants
- Mimi’s Diary, full of tips
and advice from Mimi
- Mimi’s Calendar of Events
To keep the site from looking too cluttered with advertising, we used creative design elements like yellow sticky notes and feature articles instead of traditional ads.
Overall,
the site has a warm, inviting feel with lots for Mimi’s visitors to explore.
Services Used:
- Web Application Development (PHP Development)
- Web Design
- Content Management System