Charleston Tech Agency Receives International Recognition
Expert Insight
_June 7, 2012 _- CHARLESTON, SC - Blue Acorn, a Charleston-based eCommerce agency that drives revenue growth for online retailers and brands, has received the award for Most Innovative Magento Site of 2011 from Magento, Inc. for their role in Reed & Barton's new eCommerce site.
Magento Inc. was acquired last year by eBay, and its eCommerce platform has quickly emerged as a worldwide leader in the space. Magento currently powers approximately 20% of the top 100,000 eCommerce sites, and that number is growing at a feverish pace. Some of their more notable clients include OfficeMax, The North Face, TOMS, and Samsung. Needless to say, Blue Acorn had some stiff competition for this award.
"Our competition for this award came from some great companies based out of the top tech communities and big cities around the world," noted Kevin Eichelberger, Founder & CEO of Blue Acorn. "We were really just honored to be mentioned alongside them as a finalist for the award. Winning it was validation that starting an eCommerce agency in Charleston, SC wasn't that crazy an idea after all."
The announcement took place on the final day of Magento Inc.'s recent 2nd Annual Imagine eCommerce Conference in Las Vegas, NV and is the first time the company has given such an award. Entries came in from Magento Solution Partners around the world, and a team from Magento, Inc. narrowed the field down to three finalists. The finalists had their respective sites showcased at the start of the Magento Imagine eCommerce Conference, and the winner was chosen by conference attendees.
"When we set out to find the most Innovative Magento Site of 2011, our number one priority was finding a site that maximized the possibilities of Magento Enterprise," stated Jary Carter, Vice President, Magento Global Sales. "Blue Acorn's work with Reed & Barton stood out as a site that not only exhibits remarkable creativity and ingenuity, but also showcases Magento Enterprise features, customizations, and integrations. Although many partners and merchants found creative ways to utilize Magento Enterprise's capabilities, Blue Acorn's expertise in leveraging the platform as a central component of delivering eCommerce growth was exemplary."
The client for this project, Reed & Barton, is a well-established American company based outside of Boston, MA that is nearly two centuries old, and they had their pick of the hundreds of Magento Solution Partners around the world to build their new eCommerce solution. They chose Blue Acorn.
"This was an extremely difficult project," admitted Tim Riddle, President of Reed & Barton. "The consumer site, I feel, was at one level, and with the dealer site, I feel we kicked it up to a completely different level. The functionality is just so perfect. It's going to be extremely beneficial for us."
The initial numbers are already in, and it turns out that Reed & Barton's decision to go with Blue Acorn was a smart one:
- Increased user engagement exhibited by pages per visit ratio up 280% and total page views up 396% YOY
- The new site has lifted user retention as evidenced by a bounce rate that is down 67% coupled with a total time on site up 276% YOY
- Instant revenue growth, with the average order value (AOV) up 39% and B2C gross sales trending towards a 250% increase YOY
"The work we did for Reed & Barton is a shining example of what great teams can do with the power of Magento," said Eichelberger. "The new site has already seen dramatic gains in traffic, the amount of time users are spending on the site, and most importantly - sales. The best part is that this is just the beginning. Reed & Barton is now positioned to leverage this new platform and their relationship with Blue Acorn to continue growing their revenue numbers for years to come. Thankfully, getting them to Charleston for face-to-face meetings is never a problem."
**About Blue Acorn **Blue Acorn is an award-winning, full service eCommerce agency helping retailers and brands achieve eCommerce growth through a build - attract - optimize approach. This comprehensive approach to eCommerce is a reflection of their commitment to building long-term relationships with our clients, and it promotes their goal of delivering intelligent eCommerce solutions that are rooted in data and driven by best-in-class design, development, and marketing capabilities. Today, Blue Acorn works with companies such as Reed & Barton, DJO Global, Char-Broil, Speck, SmartWool, Apera Bags, and others who prefer a relationship-based approach from their partner in eCommerce success.
**About Magento **Magento is a feature-rich, professional open-source eCommerce solution that offers merchants complete flexibility and control over the look, content, and functionality of their online store. Magento's powerful marketing, search engine optimization and catalog-management tools give merchants the power to create ecommerce sites that are tailored to their unique business needs.
**About Reed & Barton **For more than 187 years, Reed & Barton has enjoyed a longstanding reputation as one of the country's foremost marketers of fine tableware and giftware. Reed & Barton products are renowned for their superb design and superior craftsmanship. In addition to flatware, stemware and dinnerware, the Reed & Barton name also graces a full complement of unique giftware including picture frames, children's gifts, crystal and metal serveware, Christmas ornaments, and hardwood chests. For stylish entertaining, cherished gifts or simply making everyday a little more beautiful, Reed & Barton is the choice for those with discriminating taste.
**Contact: **Justin Poole, Marketing Manager Blue Acorn 635 Rutledge Ave, Suite 101 Charleston, SC 29403 877.944.2583 x215 justin@blueacorn.com
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