Who do we work with?
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, complex Mercantool customizations, 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.”
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.
WillaKenzie Estate Winery (NextGEM client since 2001)
Mercantool e-commerce, extensive content management
WillaKenzie is one of the premier wineries in Oregon. They first approached us in 2001 when their web designers needed a wine-specific e-commerce package to integrate into their new website.
We worked alongside the designers to integrate Mercantool into their templates and went on to provide full website management after they completed the launch. We have since built an extensive Content Management toolset and the WKE staff does an excellent job keeping their content fresh and updated.
In 2007 we worked with WillaKenzie's new graphic designer to jointly create this completely new website which assures cross-platform compatibility with valid HTML/CSS design.
This installation demonstrates some of the flexibility we built into Mercantool including a highly accurate shipping price module and content management.
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 that we call home here in British Columbia, Canada. Salt Spring Dollars are a wildly successful alternative to the national currencies we're all used to.
The SS IMF 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 new 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.
Sokol Blosser Winery (NextGEM client since 1999)
Site development: design, Mercantool, large-scale content management systems, continuing updates
Sokol Blosser was one of the first wineries in Oregon and an early adopter of the internet as a marketing tool but their initial website was threatened with an outage in late 1999. With only a month of warning, we were assigned to re-invigorate their entire site and prevent the interruption.
Over the years, we've updated their site design, integrated Mercantool e-commerce, and added feature after feature.
Sokol Blosser maintains the freshness of their website with monthly offers and they notify their opt-in mailing list of new releases, events, and fun information regularly.
We're sure this contributes to the incredible success they've seen from their e-commerce website.
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.
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.
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.
“LJ and Raistlin 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.”
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. AFSB compiles dozens of facts on each of the top fairs then publishes over a dozen annual guides — all duplicated and expanded on the web.
We are wholly responsible for the development and maintenance of AFSB's Online Format 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 which 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
Five years after creating their first website, LRS Architects returned for a full redevelopment based on their updated branding.
“Thank you for the wonderful new website you designed... We are very proud.”
Huntco (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.
Wine by Joe (NextGEM client since 2006)
Mercantool e-commerce integration
This fun-loving retail wine website works in parallel with Joe Dobbes' first domain, dobbesfamilyestates.com. Working in concert with a third-party designer, we integrated both systems to be managed with a single backend control panel.
By leveraging the highly customizable nature of Mercantool, we engineered two sets of templates for a single installation. This reduces costs dramatically for the client and also provides an integrated backend for lower effort in management of their sites.
Chocolatt... from Belgium (NextGEM client since 2008)
Web development, Mercantool e-commerce
Chocolatt... from Belgium imports the most delicious Belgian chocolates and needed a website that reflected that.
When you walk into Tarcis' shop in West Los Angeles, you immediately smell his product. We decided to simulate that as much as possible with deep chocolate browns and cool magenta tones. Maybe you can't exactly smell the chocolate but we bet you can imagine smelling it.
“Working with LJ is a real pleasure... I had been looking for a while to find the right person to entrust the re-creation of my new website. What I appreciate the most is that he is capable of taking in my thoughts and works from there. His experience enabled me to trust his input and let the creation happen right there in his hands. Along the way, we were openly bouncing off ideas which LJ guided in the right direction.... Thank you LJ. If I need another website, I would ask for your services again.”
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.
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.
“Thanks for the great work. We look forward to moving on with the next phase soon!”
Freddy Guys (NextGEM client since 2009)
HTML/CSS redevelopment, design updates
When Freddy Guys came to us they were generally pleased with the old look of their pages but the old webmasters had moved on and they needed someone to manage their site. We suggested little changes here and there until we greatly improved, modernized, and strengthened the site.
The first step in any website rescue is to assure the HTML/CSS is well-written. Until this codebase is strong, nothing else can really be counted on to work.
Next we'll revisit some of the early design choices. Is the page width appropriate for modern monitor sizes? Was the logo used well? Font usage? Copy writing? In the case of Freddy Guys there were a hundred little updates: The navbar was plain and disorganized, the framing around the homepage photo was jaggy, and much of the content was hard to find. In the end we maintained and improved the spirit of the original design.
“WOW!! It is just shockingly better.”
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.
Cavu Creative (NextGEM client since 2007)
Website design and development
A delightful and lightweight design created for a freelance technical writer specializing in the healthcare industry.