The new and improved Detailed Image homepage has arrived. It wasn’t too long ago since our last homepage design but after taking a few steps backwards in that design we started a new homepage to return to our roots as an ecommerce site with a design that is up to par with the rest of the site.

Hover over the image below to see some of the key features in the design

Using the CSS image swap I posted about back in February you can hover over the above image to see some of the key design features we implemented. Some highlights of the new design include CSS3 @font-face and drop shadows which was nice because we had the opportunity to try CSS3. Ultimately the new design should convert better with the focus on selling products then content.

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This Super Bowl weekend we got something fun in the works at Detailed Image.  We’re doing a Super Bowl free shipping promo with a special bonus for free products. The special bonus is if you pick the winner of the Super Bowl between the Colts and Saints you’ll automatically receive a free 8oz Optimum No Rinse and Microfiber All Purpose Towel.

This is another example of the creative promotions we can do at Pure Adapt. Last April we did this cool little Easter egg promotion where eligible orders received a random plastic egg with a gift certificate in it.

It’s exciting when we really get to be creative with our marketing.  We try to keep it fresh so that our promotions don’t get mundane and over done.  We’ve done a great job in my opinion in keeping things pretty flexible so that we can do promotions like this.  When I’m planning out our marketing promotions I can see it getting repetitive and it’s nice when you get something new out there for our customers.

The thing I like best about his promotion is how the customer gets involved in the promo for a chance to get some free products.

Here are the complete details to our Super Bowl XLIV promotion:

Super Bowl Free Shipping
Coupon Code:  superbowl44
Bonus - Pick the winner of the Super Bowl and get a free 8oz Optimum No Rinse (ONR) and 1 DI Microfiber All Purpose Towel. Enter your Super Bowl pick in the comment field as “Colts” or “Saints”.

Minimum purchase $75 is required for free shipping and bonus. You must place a valid order using coupon code superbowl44 to make your pick eligible for free products. This offer cannot be combined with any other offers. Free shipping is only valid to 48 contiguous US states. Offer ends Sunday, February 7, 2010 6:00 PM EST.

I’m looking forward to a great Super Sunday, can’t wait.

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It’s been just about 2 years since Tastefully Driven was launched in April 2008 and sadly to say it’s not working out for us and it will be closing down for good on March 1, 2010.

Why close down?

• Streamlines our warehouse and shipping processes
• Eliminates the cumbersome Amazon sales
• Lack of resources to make Tastefully Driven successful
• Focus on the growth of Detailed Image
• Opens up opportunities for new non ecommerce projects
• Amazon customers we get have no loyalty

The bottom line right now is that Tastefully Driven requires too many resources for a minimum profitability. There were big hopes for Tastefully Driven but unfortunately the resources just weren’t there to really do what we wanted to. Every time I go to the site I’m a little bit surprise on how great the site was developed but this is the best decision.

I personally like the decision to go less ecommerce because we’re in this vicious perpetual cycle of debt because of how retail works. As we grow we will need more inventory, which cost more money up front, which will continue to happen over and over till you max out your growth and profits are put towards debt and that’s not even including any expansion to new products. My view is that this cycle won’t stop for a while and this year we hope get more into self sustainable sites that make us money like a Sports Lizard or our new WoodyPaigeQuotes.com which should generate some ad money.

Overall this was a pretty simple decision for us to make as we always review what we do in our business and make the necessary changes. This is what I love about the business that my partners and I have created, is the fact that we have the flexibility to do what is needed and what we want to do.

Good bye Tastefully Driven! CLOSING SALE – 30% OFF EVERYTHING

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The holidays are upon us and it’s time to kick the holiday marketing into full throttle.

Earlier this month I already noticed companies getting into the holiday spirit through newsletters and mailings. I recently reviewed our holiday marketing plan and tactics at the end of October and was surprised that it’s been a full 2 months since I put the plan together because I wrote “Happy Holidays in August” at the end of it. Time has passed with the swiftness and it’s time for implementation.

We have already started some of our holiday promotions with free ground shipping for US orders over $150 at Detailed Image. I designed a nice little header for our holiday free shipping promo (see below). This is a nice subtle way to transition into the holidays and feature our shipping promo.

We really kick things off today when we start our “Shop Early and Save Big” event. The primary goal of this sale is to get the customer shopping for the holidays a little bit early.

Competition starts to heat up with sales everywhere and inbox real estate is ever so more important as Thanksgiving nears.  We’re ready to get this holiday party started. I think we have a great plan heading forward and can’t wait to implement everything. As December comes near I’m also very excited to implement a little more festivity into the site design.

If you detail or are interested in detailing please take advantage of our Big Sale. Today through the 11/16/2009 11:59 PM EST save 20% at DetailedImage.com with coupon code EARLY09 and receive free shipping on orders over $150 (some restrictions apply).

Happy Pre-Holidays!

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The Zappos tour was quite an experience and totally worth it. It was a fun and inspiring learning experience. Here is a recap of my tour at Zappos.

Everyone involved in the tour was a pleasure to meet right from the get go. Zappos offers complimentary shuttle service to and from Zappos headquarters and we were picked up in the Zappos Escalade.

In the lobby displays the pair of shoes that started it all. When Nick Swinmurn was unsuccessful in finding a pair of shoes in store and online it lead to the start of Zappos.com.

The Zappos name tag ball named Lucille of the many people who’ve taken the tour.

Our first look into the offices and to the right you can get a glimpse of our guide Heaven, yes her name is Heaven.

A live sales map of products being purchased throughout the US.  In another part of the office they also had about four big screens with live web analytics, which was crazy to watch.

Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh’s office.  Zappos has an open office policy and employees can basically see anyone they want.

The rest of the tour included visiting various departments throughout the building.

In the  fraud department we had the opportunity to speak to one of the employees there and learn how they dealt with fraudulent charges and charge backs.  We have had our share of charge backs and fraud and it was great to see how Zappos prevents the situation from happening.

In the HR department we learned about their recruiting process and how they offer a buy out of $2000 to potential employees after they finish training to weed out those that don’t really want to work there. The recruiting department also spoke about the importance fitting into the culture and Zappos’ core values.

Zappo Core Values

1. Deliver WOW Through Service
2. Embrace and Drive Change
3. Create Fun and A Little Weirdness
4. Be Adventurous, Creative, and Open-Minded
5. Pursue Growth and Learning
6. Build Open and Honest Relationships With Communication
7. Build a Positive Team and Family Spirit
8. Do More With Less
9. Be Passionate and Determined
10. Be Humble

Throughout the tour you can see the unique culture that Zappos has built and how much it stresses the importance of customer service.  The work environment is a fun and inviting one where everyone knows everyone. While I was there, I’m pretty sure I was almost hit by a Nerf gun lol. Even though the atmosphere may seem lax, employees are hard at work and take responsibility for what needs to be done.

The tour rounded up with a visit to Dr. Vik’s office, where I got sit on the throne where at Zappos I’m royalty. Dr. Vik is the resident coach at Zappos who helps employees be successful in personal and business matters so that they can perform at high levels and provide excellence in service.  Zappos really takes care of their people and it really shows through as you make your way through the offices.

The tour ended back in the lobby where everyone received a Zappos Culture Book and a complimentary book  from the Zappos library.  The books are there to inspire the “Power of Service” and I’m pretty sure that they said Tony Hsieh has read all the books there.

Thanks to everyone at Zappos for the amazing tour.  Special thanks to Renna, our guide Heaven, the Mayor, Pam, Dr. Vik and anyone else I may have forgotten for the great tour.

11/10/2009 Comments (0)

I wrote about going to the SEMA Show earlier and while I’m out there I will also be visiting Zappos Headquarters. I have an exciting day ahead of me tomorrow with the SEMA Show and Zappos tour.

Zappos is a very unique e-commerce company that has built a culture with happiness as a key. CEO Tony Hsieh has created fascinating and successful culture over at Zappos. After reading a great article in Inc. Magazine about Tony Hsieh it was hard to pass on the opportunity visit their headquarters.

The tour is free and they even offer complimentary shuttle services to their office. It took me a while to find information on the tour but after a bit of searching I finally found a contact form specifically for the tour or I think you can email them from what I read from other people’s visits there. They recommend you make a reservation 48 hours in advance so you could set up a tour on the fly if you’re out in Vegas.

I’m looking forward to seeing a successful e-commerce company at work and hopefully learn a few things. This is going to be a great experience and I look forward to writing about my adventures in Vegas.

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