B & B Press

B&B Press are one of the most highly respected printers in the North of England. Trading since 1958, B&B deliver print solutions for a wide range of blue chip companies, councils, education establishments and government departments.

Requirement

B&B wanted a website that reflected their reputation and supported their sales team. In addition to listing their services and qualifications they also wanted a site which was aesthetically pleasing, to quote their brief, ‘more Mercedes than Mondeo’.

B & B are committed to minimising their impact on the environment and adhere to a clear environmental policy. They wanted their commendable stance on the environment to be clearly promoted within the site, both via a policy page and also through a news section, which would also be used to promote all other commercial developments.

B & B also have a wide range of templates and formes available for client use. These needed to be accessible via the site with easy to download files.

In addition to a dedicated print service, B&B also offer an office supplies and stationery arm. Therefore this service also needed to be prominent on the site, with clearly indicated links through to their existing e-commerce function.

Solution

Arkom worked closely with B & B to develop a style that they felt was befitting to the credentials of the organisation. The result is a clean and crisp design with user-friendly navigation and clearly marked page tabs and downloads. This site will support the sales team throughout their meetings, adding to the credibility of the company.

The site also features a news section which enables B & B to independently update the content. The copy is then automatically put into a format which follows the site’s style. Rolling stories from the news section are also promoted on the home page so that users can click through to get the full story. This is complemented by the ‘Environment’ page, which outlines B & B’s policy and the measures they are currently taking to protect the environment of the local community and manage the international impact of their industry.

The stationery arm of the business is promoted on the site with a separate page and introduction — which then links onto the shop in a separate window so that users can easily return to the main B&B site if needs be.

Cutting Foremes are readily available on a titled page, with thumbnails providing visual prompts to the specific nature of the download.

More substantial documents, for example the complete B&B brochure, or the details on how to supply artwork, with downloadable submission guidelines are featured on the right hand side of the page. These are constantly featured on screen separate from the main page copy but ready for click-through at any point in the site visit.

Arkom also built the site around a ‘liquid layout’ meaning that regardless of the screen resolution of the user, the site expands to fit the screen.

Benefits

• Content Management System is easy to use, easy to update.
  The design is clear and easy to follow — aiding site users in navigating themselves around the site.
• Clear Search Engine guidelines issued to maintain a high profile of B & B site across all Search Engines.
• Improved design, accessibility and usability present a more appropriate image of the company.
• Site seamlessly links through to existing online stationery shop.
• Key downloadable documents are accessible from any point on the page.
• ‘Liquid Layout’ ensures the site looks good regardless of the screen resolution of the user.
• Access keys and instructions for use alongside a number of browsers were included to ensure the site was accessible to users with disabilities.