Home and Hardware Wollaston

Case Study

I redesigned this independent, family-run store’s website to reflect its welcoming character and help customers explore its products and services. Matching business cards extend the look into print, while ongoing support keeps the website looked after.

Website Design and Development

Creating a more professional presence online

The store’s existing website had become dated, some elements had stopped working, and its content no longer reflected their expanding product range. Although it provided an online presence, it felt cold and lacked the personality of the business.

The owners wanted a modern, warmer website that retained the feel of a traditional hardware store. It needed to introduce the business, explain its products and services, and make it easy for customers to enquire or plan a visit.

The Approach

Making a wide range easy to explore

One of the biggest challenges was showing the breadth of the store’s range without overwhelming visitors.

Listing every individual product would have created a large, difficult-to-maintain catalogue and could have suggested that customers could buy online. Instead, I planned the pages and wrote the copy around clear product categories and services, helping visitors understand what the shop stocks while encouraging them to contact the team for specific requirements.

From tools and plumbing supplies to housewares, gardening products and key cutting, the website gives customers a clearer picture of what is available beyond the shop window.

Design and Usability

Traditional character, modern usability

I designed and built the website to balance modern presentation with the warmth and familiarity of a local, family-run business.

The design and copy work together to reflect the team’s friendly, practical approach. Clear page layouts keep the information approachable, while opening hours, contact details and a map help visitors take the next step, whether that is phoning with a product question, sending an enquiry or visiting the store.

The website adapts to desktop, tablet and mobile screens. Accessibility informed the design and development, with attention to the needs of people with visual impairments and those using assistive technology, including screen readers. I also optimised the site’s performance to support fast loading and a smooth browsing experience.

Warm, casual style

A classic, timeless design that reflects the heritage of the business.

Responsive layout

Ensures a great experience on desktop, tablet and mobile.

Accessibility in mind

A clean structure, clear typography and good colour contrast throughout.

The Outcome

Delivery and feedback

Home & Hardware Wollaston now has a website that better represents the business and its range, giving customers a clearer route from discovering a product or service to contacting or visiting the shop.

The owners have received positive feedback from customers about the website’s appearance and how easy it is to find what the store offers.

We recently had our website updated by Macast Media, and honestly, we couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. From the start, Matt really understood what we were looking for and came up with some great ideas we hadn’t even thought of. He was easy to work with, kept us in the loop throughout, and were always quick to make any changes we asked for.

The new site looks fresh, modern, and is much easier for our customers to use. We’ve already had some really positive feedback, which is great to see.

Matt also strengthened our website’s security, giving us peace of mind that it’s protected against hacks. He was professional, helpful, and easy to work with throughout. Highly recommended."

Karen

Director at Home and Hardware Wollaston

Beyond Launch

Ongoing care for the website

I continue to maintain the website through my monthly Support Plan, covering security monitoring, software updates, daily cloud backups, performance reviews and ongoing accessibility reviews.

When the website faced a hacking attempt, I responded as part of that ongoing support. Having someone to handle technical issues has given the owners reassurance that their website continues to be looked after, leaving them free to focus on running the store.

Graphic Design

A consistent look across web and print

Following the website redesign, Home & Hardware Wollaston returned to me to design business cards that would complement their updated online presence.

I carried the website’s slate blue and warm cream colour palette into the cards, pairing traditional typography with a clear, straightforward layout. This kept the design in keeping with the shop’s established character while creating a consistent look across their website and printed materials.

Together, the website and business cards give the store a more cohesive presence, reflecting the same welcoming, traditional business wherever customers encounter it.

Give your business the attention it deserves

Whether you need a new website, ongoing support, or just a one-off piece of design work, get in touch and let’s discuss what you need.