To establish a foundation of trust and gauge compatibility, Blend worked on quick-win projects. The initial focus was on implementing design UI/UX best practices, enhancing site speed, and developing a custom shipping threshold calculator. These improvements laid the groundwork for a successful partnership.
Recognising the need to align our goals and strategies, Blend conducted an immersive, two-day in-person workshop. During this workshop, we immersed ourselves in the nuances of the aquarium business and collaborated closely with Aquarium Co-Op to devise strategies for future growth. This deep dive allowed Blend to understand Aquarium Co-Op's unique challenges and aspirations, fostering a deep connection and paving the way for transformative collaboration.
Following the workshop, Blend and Aquarium Co-Op forged a three-year growth partnership. This collaboration entailed innovation, iterative website development, and continuous testing to optimise the Aquarium Co-Op online experience.
Some of the key accomplishments include:
- Redesign and Custom Theme Build: Recognising the limitations of Aquarium Co-Op's existing theme, Blend worked on a complete redesign and custom theme build. By prioritising customer data and best practices, Blend developed a highly customised theme based on Shopify's Debut, ensuring a seamless and lightning-fast browsing experience for Aquarium Co-Op's customers.
- Accessibility and Brand Enhancement: Blend worked closely with Aquarium Co-Op to improve accessibility and extend the brand's visual identity. The core green colour adopted by Aquarium Co-Op was modified to be more accessible, with a vibrant yellow hue and enhanced legibility through black text. This change enabled a broader audience to engage with Aquarium Co-Op's content effectively.
- Full-scale Redesign and Front-end/Back-end Development: Blend undertook a comprehensive redesign of Aquarium Co-Op's entire website, meticulously focusing on simplicity, accessibility, and speed. The redesign encompassed both front-end and technical back-end enhancements, ensuring a functional and stylish site that delivered superior conversion rates. Additionally, Blend seamlessly managed the front-end and technical back-end aspects of the account area, further enhancing the overall user experience.
To provide an authentic voice and firsthand experience, we approached Aquarium Co-Op to share their thoughts on their partnership with Blend. Check the video out that highlights the remarkable impact of the collaboration between Blend & Aquarium Co-Op.