Managing Director Michael Brundle talks through the features
of F.H. Brundle’s state-of-the-art new
website.
In the 1890s, about the closest you’d get to a computer was the Babbage engine – the giant mechanical calculator that Victorian inventor Charles Babbage slaved over for decades, and never managed to perfect.
To him – or my great-great grandfather F.H. Brundle, the man who founded the company I run today – the internet would’ve looked like magic.
So it’s with a great deal of pride that we’ve unveiled F.H. Brundle’s new website – and not just any old website, but a cutting-edge ecommerce site packed with features that will make our customers’ lives easier.
The Amazon effect
Over the last twenty years, Amazon has changed the world. Online ordering used to be terrible – the interfaces were clunky and frustrating, and the deliveries themselves would take weeks.
But then, Amazon came along and transformed the way billions of people shop – and in the process, became one of the most successful companies on Earth.
Amazon has forced us all to up our game. And with the new F.H. Brundle website, our aim was to bring our customers the same streamlined buying experience that Amazon does to theirs.
We needed it to be quick and easy to use. To remember your past orders, and suggest related products you might need to buy next time. To help you efficiently navigate your way through the vast Brundle range.
And, fundamentally, to get you the products you need as fast as humanly possible.
With those core objectives in mind, we set about building in the features the site would need to make them a reality.
Saving time and effort
The first, and possibly the most important, was a greatly enhanced search facility. With suggested products and categories displayed in the search results, finding the right solution becomes a breeze.
To assist customers in making informed decisions, the website features a "You may also need" section.
This handy addition showcases what other customers have purchased alongside the selected product – helping you identify additional parts or accessories that may complement your purchase.
Viewing our catalogue online has also just become a lot easier. Click on the Catalogue button on the homepage and you can view our catalogue online – nothing new there you may be thinking.
But if you click on the section you need, you will be taken directly to it – and if you click on the product code, it will take you straight to the relevant page on our website.
Speedy selections
Something we’re particularly proud of is our new Selectors feature – a way of helping users find exactly what they need incredibly quickly and easily.
Let’s imagine you’re in the market for cantilever gates. You simply click on Selectors. Go to Gate Select. Choose Sliding from the available options. Choose a height, finish, and pale type. Then you’re immediately presented with all the options that fit your criteria.
To facilitate seamless collaboration or future purchases, we’ve also introduced shared baskets.
At checkout, a unique code is generated, enabling you to save your basket for later or share it with a colleague.
This feature promotes convenience and flexibility, allowing you to easily revisit and modify your selection or pass it on to others for their consideration.
A convenient purchasing journey
At the point of checkout, F.H. Brundle's new website provides customers with a delivery date confirmation.
This ensures transparency and allows for effective project planning. If a product is not currently in stock, an estimated delivery date is provided, allowing you to make informed decisions and adjust your timeline accordingly.
Lastly, F.H. Brundle's new website includes a "Buy it again" option at the checkout.
For customers with recurring purchases or those who have found their go-to products, this feature simplifies the process by allowing them to quickly reorder items they frequently require.
It's a time-saving solution that adds convenience to the purchasing journey.
We’d love to hear from you
Despite all this, we still see the website as very much a work in progress.
We’re extremely happy with the advancements we’ve made – but we’ll be constantly at work behind the scenes to make it even easier and more user-friendly.
If you’re a long-term Brundle customer – or even someone using us for the first time – we’d be delighted to hear your feedback on it. Please don’t hesitate to let us know your thoughts at csteam@fhbrundle.co.uk
For more information, call on 01708 398048, or visit www.fhbrundle.co.uk
