Tom Wood and Alex Waller are well known to many in rugby circles. Both former Northampton Saints captains and with creative minds, they needed an outlet away from professional sports where they could use their hands to sculpt something other than the perfect spiral pass.
They also make accessories such as butcher’s blocks, chopping boards as well as accessories and homeware, and recently branched out into leather goods. As they reached the end of their seasoned (and somewhat legendary) rugby careers, it was time to look to the future and how the business could grow.
Over the past 18 months, Chris and AMB have transformed our business. What started as a creative way to use our hands away from sport has turned into a thriving business and continues to grow into something special.
Alex Waller
In 2016, they got together to form Waller + Wood Woodworks, a bespoke heirloom furniture company – creating large heirloom pieces from reclaimed woods and other regenerative sources. Wood is in the name, after all.
Following an initial meeting, AMB took on the task of revisiting their existing website, completely redesigning the look and feel while carrying out SEO improvements and building an eCommerce functionality.
It was important to Tom and Alex that we stayed true to the heritage of who they are – so we maintained the black, green and gold colours which they wore throughout their careers.
To compliment the website redesign, we looked at the portfolio of work that had been ordered over the past six years and identified a streamlined process to get the information needed to get a quote – which saw an instant rise in orders.
To finish off our work in this area, we took some updated imagery of orders that were recently finished to showcase the supreme craftsmanship and skill possessed. Every image we put on the website doesn’t get edited – it’s the picture as taken, so that the product talks for itself.
We then looked at what was needed to ensure a sustaining business, so built several unique tools specifically to make it simple. A customised app allows the backgrounds of any photo to be removed for eCommerce purposes, and there’s also a bespoke email marketing platform so keep customers up to date with the latest offers and care tips for their order.
Since the launch of the new website in early 2023, there has been significant increases in purchases, contacts and sign ups – which takes the business away from the traditional demographic of rugby fans in the local area, and more into the mainstream.
We achieved this by a series of boosted social campaigns, advertising in publications, remarketing and competitions featuring a range of prizes.
To complete our solution, we also provide Waller + Wood with ongoing design support for custom orders – allowing prospective clients to see what their furniture will look like in the setting of their own home before ordering.
“Working with Waller + Wood has been a delight” says Chris Boult, our Managing Director. “Not only have we been able to demonstrate all of our creative solutions, we’ve made a tangible difference. We look forward to working with each other for a long time, continuing the strong start we’ve had and continuing to implement new solutions as the business goes from strength to strength.”