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Gorilla Named ICIC Inner City 100 Winner

Tue, 15 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Chicago, IL – Gorilla Commerce, an award winning, full-service ecommerce solutions provider, has announced that the nonprofit Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) has named Gorilla an Inner City 100 winner. Based on certified revenue growth over a five year period, Gorilla ranked number 65 on this year’s list of the fastest growing companies located in America’s inner cities out of the more than 450,000 companies, which are eligible for consideration nationally.

“Being named to the Inner City 100 list is one of the most significant awards Gorilla has received. It speaks directly to our deep Chicago roots and commitment to hiring local talent to support our business goals and growth. We are extremely proud to have been selected,” said Brian Grady, Principal at Gorilla Commerce.

As a byproduct of achieving the annualized revenue growth rate necessary for selection to the Inner City 100, Gorilla has increased staffing at its Chicago headquarters by nearly 400% since 2008. Building internally has been a key component of the company’s growth strategy and a major factor in its success.

Gorilla’s Chicago team currently numbers over 70 full-time employees, with virtually all team members recruited from the greater Chicagoland area. These highly skilled positions, including interactive designers, website developers, and consultants, have made a significant economic impact on the local community and contribute to Chicago’s position as a leading high tech center.

With corporate sponsors including Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Chevron and Fortune, The Inner City 100 brings together the entrepreneurs behind the winning companies for a day-long educational and networking symposium, in addition to the awards ceremony. Featuring a keynote presentation by ICIC founder Harvard Business School Professor Michael Porter, the Inner City 100 is now in its 14th year of recognizing high growth companies, and their CEOs, as role models for entrepreneurship, innovative business practices and job creation.

About the ICIC
The Initiative for a Competitive Inner Cityis a nonprofit research and strategy organization and the leading authority onU.S. inner city economies and the businesses that thrive there. Founded in 1994by Harvard Business School Professor Michael Porter, ICIC strengthens innercity economies by providing businesses, governments and investors with the mostcomprehensive and actionable information in the field about urban marketopportunities.

Our New Client’s Revamped Site Will Fit Them to a Tee

Thu, 10 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Our new client is a ground-breaking clothing brand, with a devoted following numbering in the millions. In the first phase of the project, we’re going to pull out all the stops in order to help our client maintain their leading online presence, with a new site that provides scalability for future growth and minimizes ongoing maintenance needs. Plans for the new site include implementing our Adapt responsive design interface to make the site fully cross-device and cross-platform compatible. Additional site integrations will include an ExactTarget integration to manage multiple customer newsletters, affiliate feed integration to help oversee their affiliate program, and Authorize.net CIM integration to enable credit card tokenization for secure payment transactions. We’re set and ready to help our client create an industry-leading website to match their artfully crafted merchandise.

Gorilla Commerce Honored with Magento Partner Excellence Award

Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Chicago, IL – Gorilla Commerce, an award winning, full-service commerce solutions provider, has announced they were presented a Magento Partner Excellence Award at the 2012 Imagine eCommerce Conference. Replacing the Magento Partner of the Year award, which the company won in 2011, The Partner Excellence designation recognizes Gorilla’s ongoing dedication to producing exceptional sites for brand manufacturers, multichannel retailers, and web-only merchants on the world’s fastest growing ecommerce platform.

“Magento’s Solution Partner channel plays a critical role in the growth and development of Magento. These creative, innovative and technically astute companies are at the heart of our success,” said Scott Dahlgren, Department Head, Channel Sales at Magento.

Gorilla is one of only ten solution partners to receive the prestigious Partner Excellence Award, among the more than 330 official solution partners worldwide. The Partner Excellence Award is presented based on a range of criteria including, Magento Enterprise revenue, implementation quality and overall customer satisfaction.

Gorilla, a Magento Gold Solution Partner, has built a dedicated, in-house design, development and strategy team to support the most complex Magento Enterprise projects, from initial discovery to post-launch managed services. This has led to numerous other honors for the company, including multiple Webby and Interactive Media Awards for their Magento work.

A significant component of this success with Magento is the company’s embrace of the Magento Certified Developer program. With a firm-wide plan to certify all developers on staff, Gorilla has taken a leadership position in this category, with 15 certified Magento engineers at the time of the award.

“Winning the Magento Partner Excellence Award is the result of a complete team effort. It’s a reflection of the outstanding work our design, development, strategy and post-launch support teams contribute to producing innovative ecommerce solutions for our clients on the Magento platform,” said Brian Grady, Principal at Gorilla.

About Magento
The Magento ecommerce platform serves more than 110,000 merchants worldwide and is supported by a global ecosystem of solution partners and third-party developers. Magento is a feature-rich,open-source, enterprise-class platform that offers merchants a high degree of flexibility and control over the user experience, catalog, content and functionality of their online store.

Our New Client is on Their Whey to a Beautiful Magento Re-Design

Mon, 07 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

As one of the leading purveyors of artisanal cheeses and gourmet food products, our new client has been catering to the culinary needs of discerning “foodies” for far longer than the term has existed. To reach their expanding nationwide audience more efficiently and effectively, our client is going to maximize their ecommerce efforts with a redesigned site on Magento Enterprise. Among many custom features, we’ll be adding custom shipping options for customers and integrating a BizSyncXL module to communicate with our client’s custom mail order management system. This interactive site will provide customers with a personalized ecommerce experience reminiscent of the in-store shopping experience, minus the delectable aromas, and help our client achieve their ecommerce channel goals.

Gorilla Commerce Wins Two 2012 Interactive Media Awards

Fri, 04 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Chicago, IL – Gorilla Commerce, an award winning, full-service commerce solutions provider, has announced that the company has been recognized by the non-profit Interactive Media Council, winning two (2) coveted Interactive Media Awards for their client work. The awards, for Outstanding Achievement in the B2B category for the re-launch of networking solutions provider Grid Connect and Best in Class Blog for pro-audio maker Shure, marks the second consecutive year Gorilla has won multiple IMAs.

The Best in Class IMA for the Shure corporate blog (http://blog.shure.com/) is the result of a complex content migration project that took four separate multimedia content sources and unified them on a single platform within the Shure corporate site. Involving content strategy, design and development teams, the newly designed blog maintains consistency within the overarching Shure brand, while giving the blog its own unique identity. With an integrated feel reminiscent of a standalone media site, the new blog provides greater visibility for multiple content streams aimed at specific segments of the overall Shure audience. “This project illustrates the evolution of the corporate blog,” said Randy Kohl, Content Strategist at Gorilla. “Where the traditional blog has long served as a singular messaging vehicle, the Shure blog provides a content-rich customer engagement tool that maintains clearly defined paths to information discovery for a diverse set ofusers.”

The IMA for Outstanding Achievement in the B2B category for Grid Connect stems from a project that involved the complete redesign and re-platform of the Grid Connect site to the Magento Enterprise platform. A number of design and development factors play into the success of the Grid Connect site. Modern, clean design elements showcase the brand and its array of highly technical products. Simplified product discovery, achieved through updated information architecture, guides customers to the exact product they need, and into the conversion funnel, faster. Accelerated site performance, with page load speeds across the site clocking just over 1 second, enhances the user experience throughout their online shopping process. With the award, the Grid Connect site joins the elite company of some of the world’s largest B2B companies, including Maersk and Accenture. (http://gridconnect.com/)

The Interactive Media Awards were established in 2006 to elevate the standards for excellence on the internet. Winning entries are judged on the basis of design, content, feature functionality, usability, standards compliance, and cross-browser compatibility. With only a small percentage of entrants receiving this prestigious honor, Gorilla is delighted to have been recognized by the Interactive Media Council in multiple categories for excellence in website design and development on behalf of their clients.

About the IMAs
The Interactive Media Awards™ recognize the highest standards ofexcellence in website design and development and honor individuals andorganizations for their outstanding achievement. Created by the InteractiveMedia Council, Inc. (IMC), a nonprofit organization of leading web designers,developers, programmers, advertisers and other web-related professionals, thecompetition is designed to elevate the standards of excellence on the Internet.

We’re Set to Supplement our new Client’s Digital Commerce Capabilities

Thu, 03 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Our new client is a leading manufacturer and marketer of all-natural nutritional supplements distributed directly to the professional healthcare industry. In order to keep their ecommerce presence in tip-top shape, our client has recruited Gorilla to help them construct a B2B2C site on Magento Enterprise. To ensure this project is a success, we’ll be integrating a JD Edwards ERP, a custom payment gateway to allow for SmartCommerce payments, adding In Store pickup functionality, as well as enabling customers to setup subscription products and make reoccurring payments. We’re going to be pulling out all the stops on this site, to help our client create a healthier ecommerce channel.

For our New Client, A Better Ecommerce Channel is in the Cards

Tue, 01 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

For over 70 years, our new client has been supplying legions of fans with some of the world’s best known collectibles and confections. In order to continue to drive sales and acquire new customers, they’ve teamed up with Gorilla to help them redesign their ecommerce site and re-platform it on Magento Enterprise. The new site will include Authorize.net CIM integration to securely store customer payment information, MailChimp integration to manage email marketing, UPS Worldship integration to ship products globally, and integrating Google Checkout and PayPal payment gateways to add even more payment options for customers. We know that this new site is going to help our client continue to be an integral part of pop culture and bring their one-of-a-kind products to a wider audience.

An Elegant Magento Design to Fit Our New Client’s Line of Luxury Apparel

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Our new client is a popular designer of stylish casual clothes and sportswear who is looking for a new design for their current Magento ecommerce site to improve site usability and increase traffic. Gorilla has been enlisted to help our client reach these goals by integrating key back end and front end extensions into a classic design. To help our client get the most out of their Magento site, we’ll integrate a Blue Cherry ERP system, a store locator feature, and an Avalara tax solution module. We’re confident that by the end of this project, our client’s site will suit their distinctive sense of style.

Gorilla Launches Grid Connect on Magento Enterprise

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Chicago, IL – Gorilla Commerce, an award-winning, full-service ecommerce solutions provider,has announced the launch of a newly redesigned site for Grid Connect [gridconnect.com], a leading manufacturer anddistributer of networking technology components. Built on the Magento Enterprise platform, Gorilla delivered an elegant, feature-rich ecommerce solution to support the rapid growth of Grid Connect’s digital sales channel.

In re-platforming to Magento, Grid Connect was able to enhance our customer’s online experience through simplified navigation, increased site speed, simplified checkout and wishlist functionality," said Adam Justice, Vice President at Grid Connect. “Gorilla took ownership of the entire process and gave us a site that puts Grid Connect on the same footing as our largest competitors.”

In migrating the site to a new ecommerce platform, Gorilla’s Webby Award-winning design team took the opportunity to implement an entirely rethought design concept. This includes a streamlined information architecture structure to simplify product discovery and extends to the subtle color palette used throughout the site. This creates an inviting, modern feel and places the primary focus on the high resolution product imagery, which serves to drive site visitors quickly into the sales funnel. To complete the streamlined user experience, Gorilla’s development team implemented a customized one-page checkout feature to lift conversions and lessen the potential for cart abandonment, a primary concern throughout the ecommerce industry.

Additional function enhancements across the site both improve the user experience and allow for more efficient back-end site administration. On the frontend, this includes integrating live chat functionality to proactively address customer service issues and questions, UPS and FedEx Integration allowing for customers to pay for shipping with their company account number in checkout. Also added was the “gridLIST”, which adds wishlist and sharing functionality to the site with a B2B focus. On the backend, Gorilla integrated Netsuite ERP utilizing a connector from Celigio, installed Cybersource payment security to the Magento solution to ensure PCI compliance through payment tokenization, and integrated Bronto email marketing software with Magento to extend customer engagement.

With the launch of the new site, Grid Connect is now equipped with a sustainable, best-in-class ecommerce solution, which positions the company to bring their unique mix of sophisticated networking products to a wider audience and grow sales through a more efficient ecommerce solution. Both Gorilla and Grid Connect will be attending the Magento Imagine Ecommerce Worldwide Conference,April 23-25 in Las Vegas. For more details on the new Grid Connect site visit gridconnect.com/new

About Grid Connect
Grid Connect is a leading networking technology company focused on providing excellent products, superior customer service and expert technical knowledge. In addition to hundreds of great products, Grid Connect also provides custom hardware and software solutions for small startups up to Fortune 500 companies. To learn more visit Grid Connect at gridconnect.com

Gorilla Named as 16th Annual Webby Awards Official Honoree

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Chicago, IL – Gorilla Commerce, an award winning, full-service ecommerce solutions provider, has announced today that they have been named an official honoree for the 16^th Annual Webby Awards in the Professional Services category for work on the Gorilla corporate site. This prestigious award, presented to a select number of companies from a pool of nearly 10,000 submissions representing over 60 countries, marks the third time in four years Gorilla has been recognized by the Webbys for excellence in website design and user experience.

“The Webby Awards are unquestionably the premier award in our industry, and the Professional Services category is fiercely competitive, so it’s a particular honor to be recognized” , said Ethan Smith, Creative Director at Gorilla. “The award is not only a reflection on our design team, but on everyone at Gorilla who has contributed to making the site what it is today.”

Just as with every client project, the Gorilla site is a collaboration among the company’s in-house design, development, marketing and content strategy teams. The clean, yet vibrant, aesthetic and instinctive user interface has become a vehicle not only for building the brand image, but to serve as a valuable piece of the company’s business development process. The site places a focus on showcasing client work and the real-world challenges the Gorilla team is able to solve functionally through design, development and strategy. The site’s ongoing content strategy ensures a steady stream of fresh and informative content to keep both new and returning site visitors engaged and up-to-date with the brand message.

The most recent honor follows 2 previous Webby Awards presented for client site work in 2009 and 2010. The 3 total Webby Awards in the span of four years places Gorilla Commerce in the elite company of some of the world’s largest interactive agencies and best known media companies. This underscores the company’s commitment to producing exceptional work for every site the company produces.

Organized by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, the 16th Annual Webby Awards will take place in New York on Monday, May 21, 2012, and will be streamed live on http://www.webbyawards.com beginning at 5:30EST.

About The Webby Awards
The Webby Awards is the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet. Established in 1996, The Webbys is presented by The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, which includes an Executive 1,000-member body of leading Web experts, business figures, luminaries, visionaries, creative celebrities, and Associate Members who are former Webby Award Winners and Nominees and other Internet professionals. www.webbyawards.com

We’re Giving Our New Client’s Website a Facelift with a Re-Design on Magento

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0400

After years of research and testing, our new client has made a skincare breakthrough that will change the way people think about anti-aging remedies. Gorilla has been recruited to help promote their revolutionary line of products with a new ecommerce site that is built on Magento Enterprise. Some key features on the new site will be integrating a customized “ModiFace” module for virtual before and after pictures, integrating Authorize.net for secure tokenized payments for reoccurring orders, and adding social features to provide customers with expert advice. After ironing out any wrinkles during the development and QA process, the new site will present a clean and modern design that is sure to engage customers. By the end of this project, the new site will lead our client to the top of the beauty industry.

Gorilla Appearing at University of North Carolina Retail Conference

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Gorilla will be well represented today at the 1^st Annual UNC Retail Conference in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Held on campus at the Kenan-Flagler Business School on the university campus, the one day conference will feature keynote speakers and panel discussions designed to provide retail education and engage in strategic discussion surrounding hot topics in the retail industry.

Two key members of the Gorilla team, who share a passion for digital commerce and, coincidentally, a first name, have been tapped to participate on the conference’s E-Commerce panel. Justin Finnegan, COO at Gorilla and a well-regarded expert in management and technology consulting, and Account Executive Justin Saviano, will share their insights and experiences with the educators, business leaders and post-graduate students in attendance at the conference.

Panel topics will include creating customized experiences for differing online customer segments, integrating traditional sales channels with the ecommerce space and current and future challenges facing online retailers. Look for a follow up post from Justin and Justin on our blog next week. In the meantime, if you want to learn more about the UNC Retail Conference, check here: http://uncretailconference.com/ or here: http://uncretailconference.com/panel-sessions/e-commerce/

Gorilla Set to Knit a Stronger Ecommerce Fabric for Our New Client

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0400

An American arts and crafts giant has recruited Gorilla to help them redesign their site on Magento Enterprise. For the last few decades, our client has been a power source for arts and crafts content, and now they are taking a big step in combining their award winning content with Gorilla’s track-record of award winning designs. Gorilla plans on implementing a series of modules to support and manage back office operations, customer subscriptions, shipping, and payments to simplify our client’s site administrative needs. With these integrations we’re confident that this site will be the jewel of the online arts and crafts community.

Frankly Speaking Our New Client Will Hit a Home Run with a Revamped Ecommerce Site on Magento Enterprise

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Gorilla has stepped up to the plate to help our client take down the competition with a redesigned website on a more versatile ecommerce platform. This sporting giant has been a part of backyard and professional sports for over 50 years and now they’re ready to take their site to another level on Magento Enterprise. The new site will initially consist of a virtual showroom that will display the variety of different sports and entertainment products that our client offers. We also plan to help our client develop a strong brand presence online by creating a site that is easy to use and easy for people to find. All in all, this fresh design is bound to help our new client rack up some points with their customers.

Gorilla Gets Ready to Help Our New Wireless Client Do More with Their Site

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Our new client, a global leader in the wireless industry, has called upon Gorilla to redesign their corporate site and provide complete content strategy services to amplify their brand message. The redesigned site will educate customers, prospects and prospective employees, about the company’s rich history and full line of value-added service offerings. The reimagined site will tell the brand story through a reworked user interface that engages visitors on multiple levels through an array of written and multimedia content. All of this will be packaged in a modern, flexible design that is sure to keep people connected and up to date with the ever-changing wireless industry.

Gorilla Will Be Exhibiting at IRCE 2012 June 5-8

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0400

Gorilla is happy to announce that we are going to be exhibiting at booth 1706 for this year’s Internet Retailer Conference & Exhibition (IRCE)show. The show will take place at the McCormick Place West Convention Center fromJune 5^th to the 8^th in our hometown of Chicago, IL. IRCE shows have historically been the year’s biggest and best ecommerce event, and this year’s show is sure to live up to those high expectations. Featured and Keynote speakers for the event include CEOs from Walmart, OKCupid, and Barnes& Noble, as well as the co-founder of Gilt Groupe.

While the show is still a few months away, we can’t help but be excited about being a part of a conference that has a reputation for being the best ecommerce networking event. With over 570 exhibiting companies and over 7,500 people expected to attend the event, it’s clear to see why retailers, manufacturers and developers (big and small) are clamoring to take part. For more information about IRCE or to register for the event, please visit the conference website http://irce.internetretailer.com/2012/.We look forward to seeing you there.

Gorilla is a Gold Sponsor for the 2012 Imagine Ecommerce Conference April 23-25

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0500

After the 2011 conference in Los Angeles, Magento’s Imagine Ecommerce Conference has become the mecca for Magento experts and the X.Commerce community from around the world to come together and share their knowledge. The follow-up to last year’s event will take place April 23-25 in Las Vegas, and it promises to be bigger and better than ever. Gorilla will have a booth at the event to feature our Magento expertise as well as our GEMS—Gorilla Enhanced Managed Services— solutions.

In addition to sending over a team of Magento solutions experts, Gorilla is a Gold Sponsor for this year’s event. Gorilla is proud to partner with Magento for this premier event, which helps to shape the future of ecommerce. We can’t wait to share some of our ecommerce expertise during breakout sessions and keynote speeches.

Please visit the Imagine home page for more details about the conference and stay tuned for more information on Gorilla’s involvement at the event.

Gorilla Helps Our New Client Get Ready for a Brighter Ecommerce Future

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Our new client, one of the most trusted names in emergency preparedness, approached us to help them redesign and re-platform their site on Magento Enterprise. Their goal is to create a more simplified buying process that improves customer interactions on the site and ties in to the lifestyle component of their brand. To get there, we’ll introduce a revamped user interface and information architecture, implement customer segmentation to allow for more targeted marketing and enable a range of new payment options, including Google Checkout and PayPal. We’ll also be implementing a new WordPress Blog that will operate alongside Magento, allowing our client to interact with customers on a new level. With this new site, we’re confident our client will be well equipped to take on the competition.

Gorilla Clients Mentioned in the Media

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Three of Gorilla’s clients have been mentioned in a recent article on Practical eCommerce. The article showcases 10 innovative ecommerce websites that were built on the Magento platform. Gorilla is proud to say that work we’ve created for our clients didn’t make the list just once, but three times. Outdoor Research, Bonobos, and Clad have all been named to the list of sites that are innovating the way people interact with ecommerce sites. Read the article to get the whole scope and check out all of the noteworthy sites.

The Great (FedEx) Migration

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

For the past 5 years FedEx has been rolling out their next generation API service called FedEx Web Services. While offering this new service, FedEx has been gradually phasing out their previous API service. Towards the end of last year FedEx announced that they were going to be discontinuing their legacy API service, and allow current users to migrate their existing FedEx shipping infrastructures into the new Web Services solutions. The final cut off day for FedEx API services (FedEx Ship Manager API & FedEx Ship Manager Direct) will be May 31st 2012. This means that customers who haven’t migrated to Web Services by this date will no longer be able to process FedEx API transactions (shipping, label printing etc.,).

FedEx has set up a resource page on their Developers site, where FedEx API customers can find guidance on how to migrate to the new Web Services solution. Here customers can find guides for how to make Web Services accounts, and advice on how to integrate your new account information into your website’s code.

Because migrating to Web Services can be a somewhat lengthy process, FedEx wants to ensure that customers have enough time to make the transition by sending reminders early and often. FedEx knows that customers have different complexities and needs, but they estimate that this process may take at least 1-2 weeks to completely integrate. This is crucial because without migrating to Web Services or another shipment service, a customer’s website will no longer be able to complete transactions through FedEx. If you believe you may need help preparing for this change, contact Gorilla to see how we may be able to help.

Gorilla Is Named an ICIC Inner City 100 Award Winner

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Gorilla has been selected as a winner of the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City’s (ICIC) Inner City 100 award. The coveted award is given to the top 100 fastest growing companies located in American inner cities. Past winners have included well-known companies and brands such as American Apparel, Belkin Corporation, Pandora and Angie’s List. Gorilla was chosen from a group of over 1000 nominees that consisted of companies from a variety of different industries.

The ICIC was founded in 1994 by Harvard Business School professor Michael Porter. Porter’s goal was to create a foundation that helps businesses thrive within inner city communities. In addition to promoting these businesses specifically, the ICIC also hopes to promote a more robust urban marketplace by providing businesses and governments with more information on how to help urban areas grow economically.

Gorilla is excited and proud to have won this prestigious award, and to be recognized by this great organization that is doing so much to strengthen the economies of America’s urban centers. As the 2010 Magento Enterprise Partner of the year and INC. 500|5000 honoree, Gorilla has made a commitment to producing high quality ecommerce solutions for all of our clients. With this in mind, we have been able to grow our company and our vision, even during the recession. With this mentality Gorilla hopes to continue to grow and expand within Chicago and other areas in the coming years.

Gorilla is pleased to be attending the ICIC Symposium and award ceremony on May 9th 2012, to be held at the Harvard Business School and Sheraton Boston, respectively. The symposium will consist of a small business expo, seminars, and workshops that will educate inner city CEOs on how to improve their business while also improving their community. The rankings of the Inner City 100 finalists will also be presented during the ceremony by national media partner Fortune, which will also publish a featured article highlighting the Inner City 100 winners.

Whether we end up number 100, number 1, or somewhere in between, Gorilla is honored to have received this recognition. We’ll be sure to follow up and let you know where we land, after the symposium.

Ecommerce Success is the Goal for our New Sportswear Client

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Our new client is a well-known maker of high quality sportswear, looking to strengthen their direct-to-consumer ecommerce channel. With our reputation for producing exceptional sites for companies throughout the apparel industry, they chose Gorilla to deliver a highly Customized Magento Enterprise deployment matched with a site redesign that will take their brand to new places and create a more fluid shopping experience for their customers. From ERP integration to utilizing Adobe Scene 7 functionality for richer product detail pages, we’ll be creating a site that is uniquely their own, while providing all the benefits the Magento platform has to offer. Check back for more project updates and a first-look at this sporty new ecommerce solution.

Gorilla Takes the Lead with Magento Developer Certifications

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Gorilla has been recognized in Magento’s ecommerce blog for getting a head start on Magento certifications for our amazing developers. When the exams went worldwide in December of last year, Gorilla jumped at the opportunity to demonstrate our developer’s Magento know-how. Our own COO, Justin Finnegan, sat down with Magento to talk about the importance of this certification and what we hope to gain from certifying all of our Magento developers. To read what Justin has to say and get more information on the certification, please visit Magento’s blog.

New Gorilla “Every Screen Ecommerce” Design Service Renders Mobile Sites and Smartphone Apps Obsolete

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Chicago, IL – Gorilla, an award-winning, full-service ecommerce solutions provider, today announced the launch of Adapt, a new design capability that brings the power of “every screen ecommerce” to online retailers. Built using the principles of responsive design, Adapt gives online retailers a competitive advantage by allowing them to deploy sites that intelligently adjust to screen size and resolution, without regards to device or operating system, eliminating the need for retailers to operate and maintain separate smartphone apps and mobile websites.

“The Adapt framework allows us to create sites that present a fluid user experience, whether the end user is viewing a site on a desktop or laptop, a tablet, a smartphone, or even a web-enabled TV,” said Ethan Smith, Creative Director at Gorilla. “When factoring the cost and resources necessary to build, maintain and update separate websites, mobile optimized sites and smartphone apps, the advantages of this responsive design-based service are immediately clear.”

Adapt doesn’t simply resize a website to fit a given screen size, a process that often renders websites unreadable and unusable on mobile devices. Instead, Adapt intelligently recognizes both screen size and resolution and then reformats the user interface and page content in a way that is tailored to the screen on which the website is being viewed.

The advantages of this flexible approach to website design are numerous. No longer do companies need to invest in separate mobile optimized sites (also known as m dot sites), running parallel to their primary website. And unless there is a specific need to integrate a smartphone feature, such as camera functionality, creating multiple smartphone apps to reach customers on tablets and smartphones becomes redundant. This removes the initial investment required in building these separate mobile instances. It eliminates the need to dedicate ongoing resources to maintain and update these sites and apps, and companies no longer need to allocate resources to maintain content across multiple platforms. All of which can translate into significant short-term and long-term cost savings.

Adapt is mobile optimized for iOS, Android, Windows Mobile, and all other major operating systems. Adapt utilizes the latest design technologies including, HTML5, CSS3, Media Queries and a modular design. Gorilla will be demonstrating Adapt at the 2012 Internet Retailer Website Design and Usability Conference (IRWD 2012), February 13-15 in Orlando, Florida (http://irwd.internetretailer.com/2012/), at booth 202 on the exhibition hall floor.For more information, including a fully functional demo of Adapt in action, visit Adapt.gorillagroup.com.

About Gorilla: Since 1994, leading brands, retailers, manufacturers and wholesalers have turned to Gorilla to solve their toughest ecommerce challenges and innovate solutions that elevate their businesses across channels. Inspiring design, impeccable development and unmatched experience are why Gorilla delivers a smarter species of ecommerce. www.gorillagroup.com

Gorilla’s Thinks Fashion Forward with Our New Client

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Our new client is in the business of promoting ideas that give back. In the spirit of giving, our client’s new project aims to give consumers an easy and less expensive way to shop for their favorite celebrity fashions. This project will combine the features of a celebrity style blog, with the layout and functionality of an online “lookbook”, creating a one-stop online resource where consumers can find a high-style look and instantly locate where to buy it for less. Now it’s up to Gorilla to design and build their new site while steering clear of the fashion police.

Gorilla Helps New Client Get Serious About Selling Nutrition

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

A new client comes to Gorilla armed with a bottle of juice and a mission to bring a new sense of purity to the average North American diet. Experiencing increasing popularity, our client is ready to take their business to the next level on the Magento Enterprise platform. The end product will be a site that features a customer calendar checkout and recurring billing options that are sure to please their customer’s palates.

Prime 8 Art League Announces Open Call for Artists

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Chicago, IL – The Prime 8 Art League, an offshoot of award-winning ecommerce solutions provider Gorilla Commerce, today announced an open call for artists for the gallery’s inaugural exhibition May 25, 2012 (www.prime8artleague.com). Curated by the Prime 8 Art League staff and professional gallery owners, the initial call for artists will result in the selection of up to 5 individuals, who will be commissioned to produce original artwork to be exhibited within the Prime 8 Art League’s one-of-a-kind “working gallery.”

“The Prime 8 Art League was formed to support new and emerging artists and provide an outlet for their work in a venue unlike any other in Chicago. ”, said Andrew Vitale, Head of Monkey Business at Prime 8 Art League and Senior Designer at Gorilla.

Submissions for the gallery exhibition will be accepted from January 30 through March 5, 2012. The curating period will run from the close of entries through March 19, 2012, when the selected artists will be announced. To apply, artists should visit the Prime 8 Art League website to complete the online submissions form. Along with their contact information, artists will be required to upload one (1) sample image of their work that is representative of their overall style. Judging will be conducted by the Prime 8 Art League staff, made up of the Gorilla Commerce Design team, and guest curators, including Kirby Kerr of Rotofugi Designer Toy Store & Gallery (http://www.rotofugi.com) and Tristan Hummel of the Chicago Loop Alliance (http://www.chicagoloopalliance.com/).

Artists who are selected for the exhibition will be paid $750 each to produce one or more original works to fill a predefined space within the gallery. The works will then be displayed through a series of public gallery showings and related promotions designed to maximize the exposure of each artist’s work.

Housed within the working West Loop loft offices of Gorilla Commerce, The Prime 8 Art League offers one of the most unique gallery spaces in Chicago, a perfect fit for the original, eclectic artwork that will be curated for the exhibition. The Prime 8 Art League was founded by the (currently) 8 member Gorilla Design team, with the generous support of Gorilla’s leadership. The inspiration for this unique gallery concept originated as a way for the Design team to share their collective love of art and provide support for the art community at large. The inaugural exhibition is just the first of many events planned for the space.

For more information on the Prime 8 Art League, complete rules for the call for artists submission process, and an informative and entertaining video, please visit the Prime 8 Art League website. You can also follow the Prime 8 Art League on Facebook www.facebook.com/prime8art for news, events and updated exhibition information.

Gorilla Begins Fabrication on a Site for Our New Client

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

As a leading provider for metal manufacturing materials and machinery, our new client has turned to Gorilla to help them expand their b2b ecommerce channel in both new and existing markets. We will be helping them develop sites for their new UK, Australia, and Germany stores, as well as updating their US online store. Among a slew of other features for these new sites, Gorilla plans to help our client integrate an online quote request system to better support their customer’s needs. We look forward to helping our new client grow as they look to expand into new markets and better serve their existing customers.

Partnering with an Iconic Food Purveyor is Making us Hungry

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Our new client has been one of the best known names in packaged foods for 75 years and is a leading division of one of the world’s largest food manufacturers. Needing an interactive and content-rich site to better connect with their customers, Gorilla has been asked to provide frontend and backend development services to functionally enhance the Sitecore platform to turn their vision into reality. Over the course of the project, we’ll build new CMS templates, enable the submission of user-generated content, custom integrate Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and SoundCloud, and align the site more closely with their POS system, among other details. We’ll follow up with more information and results, as soon as this project is served.

Our Blog “The Jungle” Gets a New Look

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Keeping with the trend of “out with the old, in with the new” we’ve has updated the look of our blog. The blog (AKA “The Jungle”) the redesigned blog offers new features like the search bar, keyword lists, and other features to enhance our viewer’s experience on the site, and help them find information faster. In addition to all of the great new features, we’ve removed the Jungle Book theme, and replaced it with a more traditional Gorilla look that’s easy on the eyes. Visit our blog at blog.gorillagroup.com and watch our jungle grow.

Our New Client Looks to Clean Up the Competition

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

With over a dozen brands aligned along four strategic business units, our new client has grown into a truly diversified leader in their market segments over the last 65 years. To help them stitch together a B2B-focused ecommerce solution that encompasses their multi-channel business, Gorilla will initially embark on a Discovery process that looks to provide an overarching strategy for their operating businesses. At first, this project will lean on our ecommerce knowledge rather than our labor. And dependent on our findings and recommendations, this may potentially become a full design and development engagement. Either way, we’re confident we’ll provide our new client with the tools and actionable information to grow their ecommerce channel.

Gorilla Moves to New GorillaGroup.com Domain

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Chicago, IL – Gorilla, an award-winning, full-service ecommerce solutions provider, has today announced the transition to a newly created internet domain, GorillaGroup.com. The change, after more than a decade under the former gorillachicago.com domain, marks the next phase in the company’s growth strategy that includes ongoing office expansion and the launch of new products and services.

“While Chicago will always remain our home and headquarters for client site deployments, our rapid growth and expansion made our former domain less indicative of the Gorilla brand,” said Brian Grady, Principal at Gorilla. “Switching to the Gorilla Group domain better reflects the global reach of our company as we move in to new markets to better serve our clients, while removing any potential misperceptions that we are in some way limited by our Midwestern roots.”

The Gorilla domain name transition coincides with the company’s overall expansion. This includes the upcoming opening of a New York City Sales & Account Services office in the first quarter of 2012. It also follows Gorilla’s recent acquisition of R3Si in Kiev, Ukraine, which added a skilled team of Magento, Demandware and Sitecore engineers to meet the intense market demand for Gorilla Enhanced Managed Support, a proactive, turnkey site monitoring and post-launch maintenance service known as GEMS.

Beyond the URL change itself, the move in no way impacts the overall Gorilla brand, or how clients, prospects or partners do business with Gorilla. All corporate emails are being forwarded to the gorillagroup.com domain, and 301 page redirects were put in place for every active site URL to ensure proper content transition. The new gorillagroup.com is still home to the same Human-Centered Design, onshore Development, Strategy and Post-Launch Support teams that have fueled the company’s tremendous growth and led to Gorilla being named Magento Partner of the Year, selection to the INC. 500|5000 list of fastest growing privately-held U.S. companies and its receipt of 2 Interactive Media Awards in 2011.

Gorilla Principal Brian Grady Featured in Mo.com Interview

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

We’d like to take a moment to mention that we’ve been mentioned on M.O. In fact, Gorilla’s principal, Brian Grady, is the featured interview in the January 16th edition of mo.com. M.O. is a site dedicated to interviews with entrepreneurs across industries from around the world. For some interesting information on where Gorilla has been and where we’re going, as well as some thoughts on the future of ecommerce, we hope you’ll take some time to read the M.O. interview.

Gorilla Lends a Helping Hand to Our New Client

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Gorilla is pleased to announce a new client relationship with a leading full-service independent mortgage banker. The complete redesign and development project will utilize the Sitecore platform to create a content and feature-rich site that brings the bank closer to its customers. We look forward to revealing the client’s name and project results after launch, so we hope you’ll take an interest in our work and check back for future news updates.

Look for Gorilla at IRWD 2012 Booth 202 February 13-15

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

IRWD 2012 is coming up just 5 short weeks from today. If you’ll be attending, be sure to look for Gorilla. We’ll be located at booth 202 on the exhibition hall floor ready to answer your questions and talk about what comes next in the world of ecommerce design and usability. Gorilla Creative Director Ethan Smith and Senior Designer Andrew Vitale will also be on hand to provide complimentary design consultations.

The theme of this year’s show is “Designing Web Sites That Stand Out from the Crowd”. And to go along with this theme, we’ll be unveiling a new ecommerce-focused design service that promises to be a game-changer for merchants looking to engage customers across digital channels. Look for an official announcement on this new service as we get closer to the show.

With a great roster of speakers, keynotes and events, IRWD 2012 promises to be an exciting event for all involved. Complete information on IRWD 2012 can be found on the conference website: http://irwd.internetretailer.com/2012/

Gorilla Launches Off the Hook Site for Leading Cabinet Hardware Maker Amerock

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

A division of Newell Rubbermaid, Amerock has been creating functional, beautiful cabinet fixtures, hardware and accessories since 1929. Gorilla was brought on to help open the door on a new era for Amerock, re-launching their site with a brand refresh and an updated showcase for a variety of new product collections and finishes. Built on the Magento Enterprise platform, the new site provides Amerock with a highly flexible ecommerce solution that positions them to pull ahead of the competition.

Take a peek at the case study to see more details on this project.

It’s a Wrap! Very Pashmina Another Happy GEMS customer

Thu, 22 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Since launch Gorilla’s GEMS proactive website support and maintenance program, the response in the industry has been overwhelmingly positive. Case in point Very Pashmina, a Chicago-based pashmina scarf retailer, has discovered just how valuable these GEMS can be after recently teaming up with Gorilla to improve their ecommerce channel. GEMS, a 24/7/365 support program for Magento and Demandware retailers, has proven to be a diamond in the rough for Very Pashmina. “Very Pashmina is proud to be working with Gorilla’s Chicago-based team,” said Matthew Oldham the company’s founder. For more information on what GEMS is doing for Very Pashmina, read the full press release.

Gorilla Launches Peanut.com on Magento Enterprise

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Congratulations to The Peanut Roaster on the launch of the new peanut.com. Knowing that we’re nuts about ecommerce, The Peanut Roaster partnered with Gorilla to perform a full website redesign and re-platform on Magento Enterprise.

The new site gives The Peanut Roaster a great looking site, with a customized Magento implementation, through a project that was completed in near record time. For more information, and some delicious gift ideas for any occasion, view our project case study.

Gorilla Acquires R3Si to Bolster Industry-leading GEMS Magento and Demandware Support Service

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Chicago, IL – Gorilla Commerce, an award-winning, full-service ecommerce solutions provider, has announced today that they have acquired R3Si, a leading provider of dedicated website support services and a Magento Silver Partner. The acquisition provides Gorilla with a wealth of technical experience and adds the infrastructure to support the rapid growth of its proactive online store support offering, GEMS, while allowing its onshore development team to remain focused on client site deployments.

With the acquisition, “Gorilla gains a talented staff with significant expertise supporting the Magento and Demandware platforms through the use of industry standard protocols,” said Brian Grady, Principal at Gorilla. “This allows us to enhance our service levels and expand our service offerings, while functioning as a single company, under two separate and distinct business models that provide maximum value to our clients.”

Under the new corporate structure, all client site builds and deployments will continue to be managed and executed by Gorilla’s in-house development team in Chicago. Gorilla’s Webby Award winning Information architecture and user experience design teams will also remain exclusively based at the Chicago corporate headquarters. Gorilla Enhanced Managed Support [GEMS], a proactive support, monitoring and enhancement service for online store owners, will operate under a cost-efficient blended onshore/offshore model that allocates development resources based on the complexity and severity of client site needs and issues.

Based in Chicago, Illinois and Kiev, Ukraine, R3Si built its reputation delivering white label development and support services for over 50 brand manufacturers and retailers operating on the Magento and Demandware platforms. With the acquisition, Igor Rafalovsky, managing partner at R3Si, will assume the role of Director of Technology, at Gorilla’s Chicago headquarters. Operations at the Kiev office, which will retain its current management structure, will center on supporting Gorilla’s GEMS program.

GEMS, which is based on the industry standard ITSM framework, delivers 24/7/365 support for Magento and Demandware product offerings, regardless of which agency performed the initial site build and customizations. This provides not only the assurance to address minor site issues and bug fixes, but also the resources to plan for and schedule site customizations, enhancements and system upgrades. Through pre-defined, performance-based Service Level Agreements (SLAs), GEMS offers real-time system monitoring and alerts and a dedicated Customer Service Portal for both IT issues and frontline business user support. This reduces the need for online retailers to dedicate in-house resources to maintain their online stores, in a cost-effective business model that extends the lifespan of online store deployments.

“We’ve seen intense demand in the marketplace for dedicated online store support, and the scalable infrastructure and best practice processes, on which GEMS is built, has proven to meet that need head on,” said Grady. Complete details and planpricing can be found on the GEMSwebsite.

With locations in Chicago, Illinois, Kiev Ukraine, and a New York office scheduled to open in 2012, Gorilla has solidified its position as the go-to ecommerce solutions provider for mid-size business, delivering exceptional ROI through the digital channel.

A Bright Idea in Ecommerce: Gorilla Launches Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co. on Magento Enterprise

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

If you’re ever in the market for some timelessly cool lighting and fixtures, Schoolhouse Electric should be on your short list of shopping destinations. Their signature period lighting products have gained near iconic status among designers and discerning homeowners. And with the launch of their new ecommerce site on Magento Enterprise, Gorilla helped Schoolhouse Electric showcase their expanded product catalog, which adds entirely new categories of stylish furniture, accessories and housewares.

For the launch, Gorilla implemented some pretty slick front and backend functionality to support the company’s ready to ship and made to order shades, bulbs and fixtures. We tied-in their catalog and online channels and created richer product detail pages to better represent their wares. So, when you’re ready for classic style that falls somewhere between Boardwalk Empire and Madmen, checkout the Schoolhouse Electric site, right after you read our case study.

For Our New Client, A Better Ecommerce Channel is Fundamental

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

We’re excited to announce that we’ve just enrolled a new client, a leading provider of foreign language instruction, in our advanced “ecommerce success” program. Involving a full site redesign and re-platform on Magento Enterprise, this new project promises to be a learning experience for all involved. When complete, the company will benefit from a new look, improved site architecture and added functionality to better engage their customers and lift sales through their online channel. We look forward to delivering exceptional results for our new client, because when it comes to ecommerce, we speak their language.

Wonder! Launches First Ecommerce Channel on Magento Enterprise

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Wonder! is a startup multichannel retailer whose mission is to change the way parents shop for, and with, their kids. In creating a new type of retail experience that encompasses shopping, play and learning, Gorilla worked with Wonder! to design and build their ecommerce channel on Magento Enterprise, which coincided with the grand opening of their 130,000 square foot flagship retail location.

From helping to shape the brand and its message to incorporating vivid product imagery, to creating a full-featured gift registry, Gorilla worked to bring the in-store experience online. (Replicating their one-of-a-kind half acre play space online will have to wait for phase 2.) In the meantime, view our case study.

Gorilla Launches Clad on Magento Enterprise

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

For too long, stylish men’s clothing has been relegated to 2nd class status in the world of online retailing. Good thing we just launched Clad (www.cladmen.com), a refreshing blend commerce and content that represents a new concept in men’s fashion. For the project to create their ecommerce channel, Gorilla assisted with website design and site architecture, as well as performing all frontend and backend development on the Magento Enterprise platform. Add elements like integrating the site with an array of business critical systems and creating a customized group configurable products module to power the head-to-toe “Looks” section, and Clad is strictly 1st class among apparel sites.

Clad is the result of a partnership between Hearst Magazine’s Esquire and JC Penny Inc.’s Growth Brands Division. Beyond their catalog of sophisticated, hand-picked men’s apparel, shoes and accessories, deep WordPress integrations add authoritative style-focused content from Esquire in the form of the site’s Damn Good Advice section. This also powers features like the quarterly Clad Report, where Esquire editors provide commentary to accompany seasonal clothing collections from Clad’s deep product catalog.

If you’re a man of style, be sure to check out the Clad site. If you’re not, check out the Clad site, or at least view our case study.

Gorilla Becomes Demandware-Solutions Partner

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Chicago, IL – Gorilla, an award-winning, full-service ecommerce solutions provider, has announced they have become a Demandware Solution Partner. In adding the innovative Demandware Commerce platform to their solution mix, Gorilla is now positioned to offer their clients an even broader range of options for transforming their ecommerce channels.

“By partnering with Demandware, we’ve added a versatile ecommerce solution designed specifically to serve the direct-to-consumer channel for retailers and brands of all sizes,” said Brian Grady, Principal at Gorilla. “This gives our clients the flexibility to select the most efficient ecommerce platform for their business needs.”

“We’re excited to have Gorilla join Demandware as a solution partner”, said Tom Griffin, Demandware Vice President of Business Development. “Gorilla has a track record of building sustainable, value-driven ecommerce solutions and a unique capability to provide on-going site improvements that support the evolution of their clients’ ecommerce needs.”

As an on-demand platform, Demandware delivers an enterprise-class ecommerce solution that removes much of the IT burden associated with website infrastructure. At the same time, Demandware provides an integrated development environment that allows for customization of the look, feel and functionality of the site.

This aspect of Demandware plays directly to the strengths of Gorilla. In building their in-house ecommerce practice, Gorilla made the strategic decision to assemble on-shore design and development teams devoted to the ecommerce space. This, in addition to an innovative strategy team and strong project management practice, positions Gorilla to offer complete ecommerce solutions that directly lead to their client’s cross-channel success. And to support the evolution of their clients ecommerce needs, Gorilla offers a unique enhanced managed support service, GEMS, which enables on-going site customizations and enhancements to keep sites sustainable and competitive well after launch.

With over a dozen years of ecommerce experience, Gorilla has a wealth of expertise in creating unique digital experiences. This includes delivering dozens of successful site launches for clients across the luxury, apparel, outdoor and lifestyle industries, including such notable brands as Frette, Custo Barcelona, Bonobos, Outdoor Research and PrAna.

Gorilla is excited about this new alliance, and looks forward to evolving its ecommerce solutions through its relationship with Demandware.

Gorilla Announces the Creation of Our On-Site Art Gallery: Prime-8-Art-League

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Chicago has long been a great home to artists of all kinds. And with the launch of our latest internal project, Gorilla hopes to make the Windy City even more artist friendly. Coming in 2012, Gorilla will be launching the Prime 8 Art League, an alternative gallery space for original artwork housed and operated within Gorilla’s Chicago office.

The inspiration behind the Prime 8 Art league is three-fold: to provide local and emerging artists with much needed exposure in an alternative gallery space, to offer working capital for these artists to continue their artistic pursuits, and, not insignificantly, to liven up the exposed brick walls that are a dominant theme at Gorilla HQ—a much anticipated development for both Gorilla employees and our clients.

The Prime 8 Art League is working with the local gallery community to define a process for curating applicants who will produce original artwork for the space. This will culminate in 2 exhibits per year, which will feature artwork created specifically for the space, and will include showings that will be open to the general public. Stay tuned for more details, including the launch of a dedicated gallery website and details on the artist submission process for our inaugural showing. Until then, keep creating Chicago.

Gorilla Flexes Its Design Muscle for Top Internet Retailer

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0400

In ecommerce, looks are important, but functionality is everything. That’s why we’re happy to announce the launch of a newly designed American Muscle, the direct-to-consumer side of Top 500 Internet Retailer Take 5 Inc.

For this design and user experience engagement, Gorilla completely overhauled site navigation to cut the number of clicks it takes to drive customers to the parts that match their vehicles. New features were added to solidify American Muscle’s subject matter expertise and connection to the passionate Ford Mustang Community. And more than a new paint job, the updated site design presents a clean, powerful and focused look, maximizing product attraction, while minimizing distractions. The result is a site that’s incredibly easy to use and just as hard to forget.

Shift gears and read the project Case Study, or find out more about our in-house design team’s capabilities.

Webinar: Strategies for Sustainably: Enhancing Profitability for the Holidays and Beyond

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Launching an ecommerce channel is a major undertaking in and of itself, but how do retailers and brand manufacturers keep their Magento sites competitive and profitable post-launch? Join Gorilla at 12:00 PM EST (9:00 AM PST) November 2^nd for our latest webinar: Strategies for Sustainably: Enhancing Profitability for the Holidays and Beyond. Here, participants will learn how to extend the longevity of their site implementation, while taking steps to keep the sales needle pointing up.

This webinar offers cost-saving strategies for Magento merchants to proactively improve their ecommerce channel on an on-going basis, generating a competitive advantage that will extend the overall life of their online store. The core of this is a one-of-a-kind service for Magento Enterprise, Professional or Community users, that provides enhancement, maintenance and support services, regardless of what types of customizations or integrations that have been implemented within their stores.

In this webinar, Gorilla, a Magento Gold Solutions Partner and 2010 Magento Partner of the Year, will show participants how to:

• Create a roadmap for ongoing site enhancements and improvements
• Use real-time IT and site performance analytics to increase site optimization and sales
• Employ 24/7 system monitoring to tackle site problems before they happen
• Proactively prepare for Magento system upgrades
• Minimize the burden of in-house IT and Business User support

In addition, the webinar will also offer design best practices for both transactional and branding-focused businesses, as well as development tips that can lead to noticeable front-end site performance improvements.

Webinar: Strategies for Sustainably: Enhancing Profitability for the Holidays and Beyond

Date: November 2, 2011 12:00 PM EST

Register here

Hurrah for the Launch of Luxury Lifestyle Retailer Huzza

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

We’re happy to announce the launch of the initial ecommerce channel for luxury lifestyle retailer Huzza. For over 30 years, Michigan-based Huzza has wowed their customers with a unique product mix that ranges from one-of-a-kind vintage home furnishings to contemporary women’s apparel. When Huzza made the strategic decision to bring their brand to a wider audience online, they turned to Gorilla to design and build their ecommerce solution. And we’re glad they did.

The new site is a strikingly beautiful addition to the luxury space that places the products themselves as the center of attention. With unique features like product details and pricing which are hidden until roll-over, to full integration with their POS ERP system, the new Huzza.net promises to make a lasting impression with longtime and new customers alike.

Read the full Huzza case study.

Gorilla Gives Bonobos a Better Fit for Their Fast Growing Ecommerce Channel

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

If you follow the fashion scene, men’s fashion in particular, you probably know about Bonobos. If not, let us fill you in. Bonobos is a hip, New York apparel maker and retailer, whose stratospheric growth has been fueled by their dedication to a better fit, “ninja service” and, like us, a penchant for well-played puns.

In our recently completed project for the online-only retailer, Gorilla worked with Bonobos to create a more efficient ecommerce channel by migrating their flagship site from their legacy ecommerce platform to Magento Enterprise. This involved coordinating the transfer of their entire product catalog and customer database, as well as performing extensive custom back-end development to support and simplify their no-hassle returns and free shipping policies. With their new site in place, we wish them very few happy (product) returns and many more happy, well dressed customers.

Is it pure coincidence that both Gorilla and Bonobos are named after particularly intelligent species of primates? Yea, probably.

View the full case study.

The New X Factor In Ecommerce: Gorilla to attend eBay's X.Commerce Innovate Conference In San Francisco

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400