Hidef lifestyle Inc.
"From the beginning Status Controls has been a growing part of our success. Under their guidance we have grown from a humble garage based company, to a top competitor in the online electronics retail business. We look forward to a long and prosperous relationship." C. Aaron Sholtis, President
HIDEFLifestyle – ranked the 28th fastest-growing online retailer by Inc. 5000 – approached Status Controls with the desire to expand their online presence, upgrade their system, streamline administrative tasks and provide maximum customer satisfaction. Inventory and order management were overwhelming their staff.
Development
HIDEF Lifestyle's website had served them well for over seven years, but lacked key features common to most online retailers. Status Controls worked closely with management to compile a list of essential requirements for a new version – one with an attention-grabbing front end that featured product filtering, customer reviews, an enhanced navigational experience, and the addition of major functionality to the back-end architecture – all while retaining seven years of accumulated customer, product, and order data.
The project presented many automation-specific challenges as well. Status Controls developed a feed system to automatically control and automate the processing of thousands of products across several major marketplaces – Sears, Amazon, Buy.com, Neweggmall.com and more – all while following strict manufacturer regulations that determine which products can be sold and how they can be listed.
Design
HIDEF Lifestyle has set itself apart by focusing on high-end audio and video electronics for the AV enthusiast. Status Controls was presented with the task of representing this exclusivity in the framework of the company's dedicated knowledge, experience and customer support, while simultaneously maintaining HIDEF's close relationship with the manufacturers of the products it sells – making it desirable for those with restrictive online distribution rules to list with HIDEF Lifestyle, and thereby opening up several new lines to their customers.
With such a broad range of products, the company needed a system that allowed customers to easily navigate, filter, compare products and make purchases.
The Result
Since the September launch, traffic to the new HIDEF Lifestyle website has increased by 6%, and new revenue streams from marketplace feeds have put the company on track to set the highest records in its eight-years' of business.
Status Controls' commitment to an open working relationship with our clients allows them to take great strides forward in the world of online retail. We look forward to growing with HIDEF Lifestyle as we stake our claim in a rapidly-expanding frontier where social networking merges with ecommerce.
