FeSe Millinery

Client Overview
FeSe Millinery Hat is a Lagos-based fashion business specializing in handcrafted, elegant hats for special occasions such as weddings, events, and casual outings. Known for their unique designs and quality craftsmanship, FeSe Millinery Hat aims to cater to both local and international customers through an online store.

Project Scope
FeSe Millinery Hat needed an eCommerce website that:

  • Effectively showcases their beautiful range of hats.
  • Provides a smooth shopping experience, from browsing products to completing a purchase.
  • Integrates secure payment gateways and shipping options.
  • Expands their reach to both local and international markets.

Objectives
The main objectives of the project were to:

  1. Design an elegant and user-friendly website that reflects the brand’s luxury appeal.
  2. Ensure seamless product browsing and purchasing for customers.
  3. Incorporate secure payment and shipping methods.
  4. Optimize the website for mobile use, catering to a broader audience.

Design and Development Process

  1. Research and Discovery
    To understand FeSe Millinery Hat’s target audience, we conducted market research on millinery customers and luxury shoppers. The key customer personas were high-end fashion-conscious individuals, brides, event planners, and casual hat lovers. We also analyzed competitors’ websites to determine best practices for selling millinery products online.
  2. Wireframing and Prototyping
    We created wireframes to establish the layout of the website, focusing on product visibility, ease of navigation, and a frictionless shopping experience. An interactive prototype was developed to provide FeSe Millinery Hat with a clear vision of how the website would function across different devices.
  3. UI/UX Design
    We wanted the website design to reflect FeSe Millinery Hat’s brand as a luxury and artisanal hat maker. The design incorporates a minimalist yet elegant layout, using a soft, muted color palette with gold accents to convey a sense of luxury. High-quality product images and clean typography were essential to the design.

Key UI/UX design elements included:

  • Homepage Design: The homepage immediately draws visitors in with a large, visually striking hero image showcasing the latest hat collection. Below the fold, we included featured collections, customer testimonials, and a CTA to shop the latest designs.
  • Product Pages: Each product page is designed to showcase high-quality images from multiple angles, descriptions of the hats, available colors, sizes, and customization options. The “Add to Cart” button is prominently displayed for a seamless shopping experience.
  • Category Filters: We introduced filters for product categories such as “Bridal Hats,” “Casual Hats,” and “Event Hats,” making it easy for users to browse according to their preferences.
  • Cart and Checkout: The cart and checkout process is simplified for users to make quick purchases. We integrated secure payment gateways like Paystack for local customers and PayPal for international buyers.
  • Responsive Design: Given that many shoppers would visit the site using mobile devices, we made sure the website is fully responsive, providing an optimal experience on smartphones, tablets, and desktops.
  1. Features and Functionality
    • Product Gallery: We implemented a product gallery with zoom-in functionality, allowing customers to see the intricate details of each hat design.
    • Custom Order Options: For customers who want custom-made hats, we added a “Custom Order” feature, where users can specify their preferences and submit requests directly to FeSe Millinery Hat.
    • Secure Payment Integration: Payment gateways like Paystack and PayPal were integrated for seamless transactions, catering to both local and international customers.
    • Shipping Options: A shipping calculator was built into the site, allowing users to estimate shipping costs based on their location. Multiple shipping options (standard and express) were offered to meet different customer needs.
    • Customer Reviews: We integrated a review section on each product page to build trust and help customers make informed purchasing decisions.
    • Social Media Integration: Links to FeSe Millinery Hat’s social media accounts were embedded, encouraging visitors to follow the brand and stay updated with new collections.
  2. Development and Optimization
    The website was developed on WooCommerce, a robust platform suited for handling online stores. We focused on optimizing the website for fast load times, image compression, and mobile performance. SEO strategies were also implemented, focusing on product-related keywords to boost visibility in search engines.

Challenges and Solutions

  • Custom Product Display: One of the challenges was displaying the intricate details of the hats in a way that would attract buyers. We solved this by incorporating high-resolution images and a zoom feature, allowing users to inspect the designs closely.
  • Shipping Logistics: Shipping products internationally required a solution that calculates shipping costs accurately. We integrated an advanced shipping calculator that takes into account the user’s location and provides real-time shipping estimates.

Outcome
The eCommerce website for FeSe Millinery Hat launched successfully, with a positive reception from customers. The new online platform allows FeSe Millinery Hat to showcase their unique hat designs to a broader audience and provides a seamless shopping experience.