Some of Our Clients
Alaska Wild Berry Products (NextGEM client since 2003)
Design, e-commerce, copywriting, online marketing, website rescue
Alaska Wild Berry Products sells souvenirs and Alaska-themed gifts to tourist, locals, and Alaska fans throughout North America. In addition, they operate a small theme park and theater space that operates throughout the beautiful Anchorage summers.
This website project combined a very substantial initial build with continuing periodic marketing initiatives including creation and management of their monthly email newsletter, catalog maintenance, search engine marketing and analytics, and seasonal graphics updates.
“First-class job on the Alaska Wild Berry Products website. It's exciting, it's fun, it's informative, it's a website destination! It makes us all proud. Thank you so very much, Littlejohn.”
Carlton Farms (NextGEM client since 2010)
Website rescue, coding overhaul, design updates, e-commerce
Like many of our clients Carlton Farms came to us with a frustrating and painful history with their website. The previous developer outsourced all of his work to distant and unreliable subcontractors. This meant that even minor updates such as new product offerings, simple formatting changes, and bug fixes were major headaches which sometimes took months and cost thousands of dollars.
The owners of Carlton Farms asked a neighboring winery business why their website updates were so quick, easy, and inexpensive. And that led to us.
After a thorough codebase overhaul to simplify unwise technology choices the previous developers had inflicted on the website, we quickly implemented changes that the client had been hoping to achieve for years. As a side benefit the site operates much faster and will enjoy greater compatibility with search engines. And best of all we can now provide quick and easy control of every element from page design to text and photography to the processes of e-commerce.
Shop Lerant (NextGEM client since 2009)
Design, development, Mercantool E-commerce
Lerant is a well-established high-end furnishings retail establishment in Houston Texas.
Building an elegant site is easy with such spectacular product photography. Unfortunately many online retailers skimp on this area. We were thrilled when Lerant went to the extra effort to provide extraordinary photos and it shows in the results.
Salt Spring Dollars (NextGEM client since 2008)
Web design and development
The Salt Spring Island Monetary Foundation runs a community-based currency for a close-knit community of 10,000 in British Columbia, Canada. Salt Spring Dollars are a successful alternative to the national currencies we're all used to.
The SSIMF issues gold and silver backed dollars for local transactions between islanders, tourists, businesses, and all the bank branches on the island. Investment returns on the trust fund help local community organizations and projects. The website we designed will help improve awareness of the project and the extensive copywriting updates will help educate the public about this admittedly unusual service.
One Planet Photography (NextGEM client since 2011)
Website design, E-commerce, Content Management
Artist websites have been a special interest of ours for many years and photography is particularly interesting due to the challenges of fidelity and merchandising of visual products on the web.
Annie Turbin Designs (NextGEM client since 2010)
Site design and development, Mercantool e-commerce
Annie's gorgeous photos form the centerpiece of her new, growing website. Constructed quickly to meet a deadline, this website performs a simple function: display her designs to an appreciative audience and deliver orders to the client efficiently and safely.
Cheryl Holt, Best Selling Author (NextGEM client since 2004)
Website design
This site is really just about fun. Cheryl Holt is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author best known for erotic historical fiction.
This site is her official publicity vehicle and while the brash colors and animated Flash banner might seem out of place in our portfolio it really is correct for this website's audience. We include this site to show our range.
Luma Lighting Design (NextGEM client since 2002)
Website development
Working from designs supplied from the client, we've provided their HTML/CSS development for a decade. Luma's people are professional designers so they've always kept a close watch over the look of their own website. We've been able to make their designs and ideas come to life with a well-constructed, universally validated codebase.
“Your steady stream of creative ideas enhance the process and the product. You were on time and on budget, even with our changes and tweaks in the eleventh hour. I look forward to our next project together!”
Maysara Winery (NextGEM client since 2010)
Website design, e-commerce, content management
Maysara (which means "House of Wine" in ancient Persian) is a close-knit, family-owned vineyard and winery in the Willamette Valley viticultural area of Oregon. Their astounding Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Blanc wines are starting to get the attention they deserve.
Their new website, launched in January 2011, highlights the beauty of the Maysara label style while providing all the functionality a winery requires including direct online sales, cellar club memberships and discounting, specialized shipping calculator, and content management for distributor sales materials.
The Four Graces Winery (NextGEM client since 2009)
Website redevelopment, content management
In late 2009 when their previous web developer suddenly went out of business this winery found themselves in a difficult and urgent situation. They chose to move their services to NextGEM because of our long history with successful Oregon wineries and our specialized winery website skillset.
The design we migrated over was quite dated however and some of the choices made by the previous developers were holding our client back. We proposed — then delivered — a whole-site overhaul including reader-friendly colors and text formats, more rational architecture and navigation, valid HTML/CSS code, advanced display functionality, and content management tools so the client could update their own text and images.
Of course we've found it's important when redesigning established sites to gently reincorporate enough of the previous design to give existing customers an experience that's consistent and familiar. That's why the web design should evolve smoothly. When it's time to update branding it should be done with respect and attention to what's come before.
“It is a pleasure to work with NextGEM. They know how to improve our website in conjunction with our style guidelines, capacity to maintain the site and our budget. NextGEM facilitates changes easily and efficiently. I would highly recommend them.”
Sean Brown Artist (NextGEM client since Jan 2006)
Graphic design, site development, Mercantool
Sean Brown approached us in 2006 to build him a new website complete with a catalog to display his artwork. We built him a new website and integrated Mercantool, our e-commerce platform, so his customers and wholesalers could browse and purchase his products.
In 2011 we've redesigned the website to be fresher and brighter and expanded Mercantool to provide full e-commerce functionality for his customers.
Art Fair SourceBook (NextGEM client since 1997)
Site development: design, Mercantool, custom apps, updates, forum management
Art Fair SourceBook is a subscription service for professional artists who sell at the thousands of US art and craft fairs. They rely on AFSB to guide them through choosing and applying to the shows where they earn their living. AFSB compiles scores of organized data items for each of the fairs.
We developed and maintain AFSB's website which includes 300,000 facts compiled in a powerful searchable database. Interactive calendar and mapping displays and automated reminder emails assist artists in planning their exhibitions. Finally, an online forum brings hundreds of artists together to discuss professional interests. This forum promotes site loyalty.
“Since 1997 you have been critical to our success. The ground-breaking website you built and continue to expand for us makes us the focus of our industry.”
LRS Architects (NextGEM client since 2003)
Web development, Content Management
Five years after we created their first website, LRS Architects returned for a full redevelopment based on their updated branding. We created their website with content management for their portfolio which is now under their control.
Usually we maintain ongoing maintenance and hosting arrangements with our clients but LRS had specific business goals that mandated internal hosting. This limits our ability to watch over the website but we're willing to work in many capacities to meet our clients' needs.
“Thank you for the wonderful new website you designed... We are very proud.”
Huntco Supply (NextGEM client since 2004)
Site design and development, simplified e-commerce
Huntco manufactures and markets architectural site furnishings such as bike racks, outdoor benches, and concrete ash cans to architects and commercial builders.
By upgrading their previous design into a highly visual display, we've increased the visibility of their photography and the accessibility of their product documentation.
“NextGEM has helped me organize and grow my business without breaking the bank. Their response time continues to impress me and they have been extremely helpful on the creative front. They are always there when I need them and a joy to deal with.”
Chris Coffey Photographs (NextGEM client since 2005)
Website design and Mercantool integration
Chris Coffey, like about half of our clients, was starting his first website. A talented photographer with ambition of expanding his business to include internet sales, his exquisite, highly artful black and white images require a totally focused display to keep the eye's attention on the detail. We recommended a black background to allow the images to speak for themselves.
Chris Coffey's grand (and stark) black and white photography requires a special touch. The delicacy and power of his images can never be successfully reproduced on a computer monitor, but we've done our best with this intentionally minimalist, unornamented, greyscale design.
Nurtured Soul Retreat (NextGEM client since 2009)
Site development
Working with a design delivered by the client's graphic designer, we quickly and economically built and launched a complete website.
This site features some unusual design elements: each page is largely contained in a unique background image. This cheat allows us to stack visual elements on top of each other without playing difficult tricks with transparent images.
These elements were important to the designer's vision and we considered it a point of pride to reproduce them faithfully while maintaining a cost-effective structure.
Folin Cellars (NextGEM client since 2011)
Website rescue, coding overhaul, design updates, e-commerce
Folin Cellars asked us to transfer their website while integrating Mercantool e-commerce with some content management tools. At the same time we recognized the value of rewriting the HTML/CSS codebase for modernization, debugging accuracy, and general compatibility. By keeping their pre-existing general design we were able to keep the transfer and upgrade costs very reasonable.
VIP PDX (NextGEM client since 2008)
Website design and development
Starting with a do-it-yourself website, VIP PDX hired us to build a website more in keeping with their growing professionalism.
The Flash slideshows incorporated throughout the site give VIP PDX a chance to showcase their large collection of photography and entice new customers.
“NextGem created an outstanding website for our transportation business, VIP PDX. LJ's knowledge, guidance and timeliness were unsurpassed during the course of the project and we consistently get compliments on our site from clients. We couldn't be happier!”
NW Core Collection (NextGEM client since 2007)
Content management, website rescue
NW Core Collection serves wineries with complex distribution and research services. Our job was to develop sophisticated Content Management services through which NWCC could manage a vast store of marketing information for each of their clients.
“Finding NextGEM was a stroke of luck in the early days of our company. They helped design a useful website for our customers, and they built a great background framework for us to be able to do continual updates ourselves. I appreciate their willingness to provide suggestions and alternatives when I can't articulate what I want, too!”
Grand Cru Estates (NextGEM client since 2008)
Website design and development
Initial discussions involved building this entire site in Flash, but after addressing the drawbacks inherent in that method, the client decided to build traditionally while aiming for the visual appeal of Flash sites. This compromise allowed us to achieve the important technical advantages of HTML/CSS.
On this job we worked closely with the client's marketing manager who coordinated all copy, photography, and graphics assets as well as organized the client reviews. The job went smoothly and quickly and the results are excellent.
“They made an extraordinary website. Starting with the first telephone meeting and through every step, their technological explanations were understandable, they made important editing choices, and the finished product is finely tuned. They made the process understandable, do-able, professional, personal, and possible. Most importantly it turned out like I had always imagined it. I recommend this team highly for any project.”
W.J. Byrnes (NextGEM client since 2010)
Website design, Content Management
For over 100 years W.J. Byrnes of San Francisco has consulted in the complex field of international shipping logistics. Unfortunately their website was nearly as old as the business itself.
In 2010 W.J. Byrnes hired us to rejuvenate the design and technologies. The client was closely involved with both the look and content and we are pleased to have developed their vision.
Services included consulting which led to a migration to a new primary domain name, a long sequence of proffered designs with extensive input from the client, copywriting, complex form design, and custom backend data management tools. Their extensive collection of external links is unusual but fits their specialized needs.
“We knew from the start that redeveloping our web site would be a special project due to its scope, complex business area, and public image of the CEO. Littlejohn’s advice, technical guidance and development were essential to bringing our web site and ideas to life. We’re excited by the resulting site; our clients and overseas partners are, too. Thank you very much, Littlejohn, for helping us move forward.”
Spoljaric Consulting (NextGEM client since 1997)
Website development
Possibly our oldest client! We've been working with Darko Spoljaric and his family business Val Med, later purchased by ConMed, for over a decade. Darko is now starting a new consulting business and came to us for a brand new website to match his printed marketing materials.
Solena Estate Winery (NextGEM client since 2004)
Website design, Mercantool e-commerce, content management
Solena Estate Winery is owned by the powerhouse team of Laurent Montalieu and Danielle Andrus Montalieu whose winemaking activities are spread throughout Oregon's famous Willamette Valley.
Their flagship winery name is a combination of the Latin names for the Sun and Moon and is named after their daughter Solena.