Table XI Blog

Costa Rica Is Pura Vida

Posted on: March 7th, 2012 by Matthew Lineen

Before our trip, I found myself in conversations with clients and friends, trying to articulate why we were bringing all our employees, their significant others, and their children to Costa Rica for a weeklong corporate retreat. Most were congratulatory at being able to provide such an experience; many requested jobs; a handful, I suspect, if even for a moment, thought this might be a junket.

The reality, however, is that the trip is an extension of who we are as a company. It’s a progression of our flexible hours, catered lunches, and ability to work abroad—perks that allow us to compete for talent in our industry and find employees who are more than just employees. We endeavor to provide an environment that elevates an individual from trusted colleague to friend.

Our recent growth—including 11 employees last year—as well as the departure of two long-time staffers necessitated a renewed focus on our team and where we’re headed as an organization. In much the same way we encourage clients to meet at our office and step outside the day-to-day of their existence, we wanted to do the same.

Bertrude the Parrot

Bertrude the Parrot

Our fearless leader

Our fearless leader

Project presentations

Project presentations

Project presentations

Project presentations

Project presentations

Project presentations

Lunch prepared by Chef Aram

Lunch prepared by Chef Aram

Micah does some hammock development

Micah does some hammock development

Heading to the Marina del Rey

Heading to the Marina del Rey

Smith, Josh, and Jason wait at the boat bar

Smith, Josh, and Jason wait at the boat bar

Hiking at Rincon de la Vieja volcano

Hiking at Rincon de la Vieja volcano

Waterfall at Rincon de la Vieja volcano

Waterfall at Rincon de la Vieja volcano

Koapi

Koapi

Sunset

Sunset

The official shirt

The official shirt

We used this time to review development best practices and testing strategies. We intermingled teams exploring the depths of the Facebook API, cut our teeth on mobile platforms, exposed developers to new languages, and leveraged unfamiliar tools like mailgun and Refinery CMS, which will have immediate utility for our clients.

(more…)

The Pacific Beckons

Posted on: February 28th, 2012 by Kathryn Achenbach

The time: 6am, Saturday morning. The place: O’Hare. The destination: Costa Rica.

50 of us, including TXI staffers, significant others, kids, and a few friends all arrived in Playa Grande, Costa Rica this past Saturday. Following a company welcome dinner that night and boat ride on Sunday, we’ve buckled down for the past two days working on new techniques, new projects, and new tans.

But this trip isn’t just about fun in the sun. It’s easy for big picture items to get lost in day-to-day minutia, so we leverage this chance to take time, take a step back, and take stock of where we can make improvements company-wide.

Primarily, we’ll be looking at ways to run and deliver projects with greater efficiency and transparency. We’ll be talking about engineering best practices like automated testing and continuous integration, as well as the latest project management tools that will give our clients more insight and control around their projects and budgets. These advances will have a huge impact on our clients, allowing us to work more efficiently and cycle talent onto projects faster. They will also give clients more flexibility to change or add features along the way, without fear of upset apple carts or blooming budgets.

We’ll also be examining how we communicate what we do to the marketplace. We’ve done good work for a lot of people, but thus far have remained mostly under the radar. Our marketing team has some great ideas about how to elevate the profile of our organization, and we’re looking forward to putting that plan into action.

There will be a lot more to report once we return in early March. We’re so grateful that we as a company have the ability to take retreats like this, and ultimately we think our clients will be, too.

We’ll be uploading photos to Facebook throughout the week, so check in for some vicarious sunshine.

Foxycart Checks Out

Posted on: February 6th, 2012 by Kathryn Achenbach

Sometimes when a client comes to us with a new project or problem, we have to build software from scratch, but other times there’s a ready-made solution already in the marketplace. Part of our job is figuring out when to build and when to buy: Developing software to support a third party application to fit a client’s needs can save a heap of time and money.

For our recent renovations of Old Town Oil’s and Strange Cargo’s online stores, we found an innovative platform in Foxycart, a hosted shopping cart application. The headaches of many e-commerce solutions include storing and processing all the shopping cart data, like sensitive order, password, and credit card information, as well as staying current with regulated compliance processes. Foxycart handles all of this backend work, but is still compatible with highly customized user interfaces on the front end, like Old Town Oil’s oil and vinegar pages, which contain detailed tasting notes and suggested pairings.

For services that Foxycart does not provide, such as certain order fulfillment processes like creating shipping labels and emailing customers about shipments, we developed our own software called Foxcage to work in conjunction with Foxycart. This combined solution of using both third party and custom developed software gives our clients exactly what they need.

Want to talk more about your e-commerce site? Drop us a line.

6 Ways an Online Facelift Can Lift Traffic and Sales

Posted on: February 1st, 2012 by Kathryn Achenbach

When we launched Strange Cargo’s new website in November, co-owner Jay Schwartz called the new site “bigger, bolder, and better.” We’re excited to have the numbers back up Jay’s words: In the month leading up to Christmas, the t-shirt retailer saw an improved conversion rate, an increase in the average order amount, and more than 50% growth in online revenue.

What’s making the difference? A cleaner, more compelling interface and newly created content have led to more traffic and sales conversions. Here are six changes that have contributed to improved sales performance:

  1. Longer, keyword-rich product descriptions increase visibility among search engines while capturing the brand’s irreverent style and voice.
  2. More customization options and a user-friendly, graphic interface make it quick and easy for shoppers to navigate the site and design the products they want.
  3. New product images feature real people wearing Strange Cargo’s merchandise, evoking the store’s sense of fun and community.
  4. New product pages promote accessories and other items not previously available online.
  5. A one-page checkout process streamlines purchasing, leading to greater sales conversions.
  6. Newly added Facebook and Twitter buttons have increased social interaction and helped draw attention to social media promotions.

Curious about similar opportunities for your site? Let’s talk.

Tech Tip: G+, Social Search, and Why it Matters

Posted on: January 18th, 2012 by Kate Garmey

G+, the social network that Google launched last June, has grown to more than 62 million users in only six months. G+ allows users to connect over Google features like Stream (a newsfeed), Sparks (a recommendation engine), Hangouts (a video chat service), Circles (a friend management service), Games, and Photos. In November, Google rolled out “pages” for brands.

But given the ever-changing social media landscape, we’ve heard our clients say, “I have enough trouble staying up-to-date on Facebook, let alone Twitter. Does G+ even matter?” In short, yes, and here’s why:

 

(more…)

Tech Trend: E-Commerce

Posted on: January 5th, 2012 by Kathryn Achenbach

Leading up to this last holiday season, shoppers spent $18.7 billion in e-stores, up 15% from last year. Cyber Monday sales were up 33% over 2010, with a growing number of consumers making purchases from their smart phones and tablets. The message is clear: E-commerce isn’t just an afterthought or a “nice to have” anymore—it’s the mainstream.

Managing a successful online store requires a different set of skills than running a brick-and-mortar operation, however. Long after a site launches, retailers face challenges like finding new customers in a crowded web space and tweaking their sites based on customer and market feedback.

According to The Wall Street Journal, retailers like Target, Kohl’s, and Coach are tackling these problems by hiring Chief E-Commerce Officers (CECOs) “who can build and manage websites, handle increasingly complex inventory management, and unsnarl the logistical problems that come with developing a new sales channel.” Unfortunately, CECOs don’t come cheap. “E-commerce heads—who a decade ago made $50,000 to $100,000 a year and lurked in the back offices of retailers’ catalog businesses or in tech support—have joined the C-suite. Their salaries now range between $300,000 and $500,000, on a par with heads of merchandise or marketing.”

At Table XI, we often play this role for mid-market companies desiring the expertise of, but lacking the budget for, a full-time CECO. If you ever want to talk with someone who knows as much about doing business online as you do about running your business offline, drop us a line. We’d love to chat about your needs.

Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow

Posted on: December 29th, 2011 by Kathryn Achenbach

We’re jazzed about the new year, but it comes with a spot of the blues. After tomorrow we’ll be saying a bittersweet goodbye to Greg Baugues and his wife, Rachel. The Baugueses have planned a three-month move to Europe where they’ll work on organic farms in Spain, France, and Germany. Greg has been an integral presence at Table XI for the last four years, and while we’re sad to see him go, we’re so excited for the incredible experience awaiting him.

You can keep up with the Baugues’ adventures by visiting their blog.

Good luck, Greg, and know that you’ll always have a seat at our table!

Working Hard, Playing Hard

Posted on: December 28th, 2011 by Kathryn Achenbach 1 Comment

Our company thrives because we’re a group of dynamic individuals with passions and hobbies that extend far beyond the workplace. Lest you think we’re just a bunch of coders chained to our monitors, this year Table XI staffers:

  • Participated in band gigs, choir concerts, improv shows, 5k races, half marathons, and triathlons;
  • Got married;
  • Welcomed nieces and nephews into our families;
  • Spoke at tech conferences and meet-ups in Chicago and Indiana;
  • Recorded an album;
  • Travelled to Canada, Mexico, Belize, Argentina, Uruguay, Switzerland, Turkey, and the Philippines;
  • Won an award from the Illinois Women’s Press Association;
  • Took classes in classical music history, persuasive communication, improv comedy, rock climbing, surfing, and Portuguese;
  • Worked from all over the US and Canada, including Chicago, New York, Seattle, San Francisco, Denver, Austin, Minneapolis, and Toronto;
  • Cooked Thanksgiving dinner in the kitchen of famed Chicago restaurant Next;
  • Spent hundreds of hours volunteering for local organizations, including cooking for homeless shelters, tutoring students at the Metro Center for Girls, helping create mobile apps and strategies for the nonprofit Kids in Danger, and launching a community family movie night.

We can’t wait to see where people’s interests take them in 2012!

2011: The Year in Review

Posted on: December 22nd, 2011 by Kathryn Achenbach

2011 was a year of positive growth and change for Table XI, as we launched a slew of projects, hired a host of people, and found a new home in the West Loop. For a quick rundown, over the course of the year we:

  • Launched six new websites for Ebert Presents At the Movies, Facing Disability, Design Without Barriers, The Spice House, Old Town Oil, and Strange Cargo.
  • Welcomed eleven new staffers: Micah Gates, Chris Stump, Kate Garmey, Tushar Samant, Alicia Drucker, Mark Rickmeier, Jon Fernandez, Jason Hanggi, Jason Pearl, Mike Laurence, and Dan Rench.
  • Helped launch our sister company, Pegmo, a new social media portal that rewards members for using their favorite brands.
  • Started working with new clients Noble Schools, PUSH Wellness, and GoldDigger—stay tuned for more on these projects in 2012.
  • Took a company retreat to Kohler, Wisconsin, for some fun and strategic planning, and started prepping for our second company trip to Costa Rica in February, 2012.
  • Moved into a new loft space to accommodate our growing team and celebrated with clients, families, and friends at an open house.
  • Welcomed to our kitchen chef Aram Reed, who has joined Ellen Brast in cooking us delicious lunches a couple of days a week.
  • Hosted our first “Lunch & Learn” meet-up focusing on social media tips and tricks. We’ll be organizing more of these next year, so let us know any topics you’d like us to cover!

Strange Cargo: Better, Stronger, Faster

Posted on: December 12th, 2011 by Kathryn Achenbach

In early November we rolled out a slew of new websites. Last on the docket: the relaunch of Strange Cargo.

Strange Cargo is your one-stop shop for Chicago-themed, sports, or funny and irreverent t-shirts and accessories. The t-shirt retailer has had a storefront home in Chicago’s Wrigleyville neighborhood since 1993, and they came to Table XI looking to update some features on their website. However, after a thorough analysis of the then-current site and what owner Jay Schwartz was looking for, we realized that the easier, more cost-effective solution was to rebuild everything from the ground up.

We embarked on a creative overhaul of the site, seeking a look and feel that mirrored Strange Cargo’s playful, colorful personality. ”T-shirts aren’t formal, so their website shouldn’t be either,” says TXI’s Daniel Strabley, who led creative direction. “They’re a fun, funky brand, and we wanted to translate that laid-back vibe of the store to the site.”

To involve the store’s avid community fanbase, we integrated Facebook and Twitter conversations on the contact page. Fans who “like” Strange Cargo can get “friends only” notifications of contests, coupons, news, and new merchandise.

New product pages better showcase Strange Cargo’s extensive custom t-shirt offerings, and a restructured design process makes it faster and simpler for customers to create the shirts they want online. We also added sections for custom-lettered shirts, children’s shirts, and accessories like hats and mugs. On the back end, a streamlined work flow helps Strange Cargo’s staff manage the site’s content more easily.

Jay was very happy with the results and that the site saw sales on the first day of the launch: “I love the way Table XI worked organically. The new site met the vision–it’s user-friendly, bigger, brighter, and better.”

Thanks for the good words, Jay!