Stories of Success

Enjoy a few tales of Brilliance at work,
and see ways customers can benefit

While there is no company quite like yours, many manufacturers share the same struggles and are inspired by the same solutions. Here are a few experiences from existing clients that may help you in exploring your own Brilliance solution.

Schiff Ribbons

Brilliance helps U.S.A. beat the world by tying up a manufacturer's loose ends

About
Since 1918, the Lawrence Schiff Silk Mills has been supplying fine fabric ribbons and trim to manufacturers of everything from apparel and luggage to gifts and publishing. Notable current clients include Coach Leather and Victoria's Secret.

The Challenge
Many of the company's smaller customers were beginning to buy from overseas competitors with lower prices. Schiff was finding it harder to stay competitive, thanks in part to the high cost of customer service in an order fulfillment environment that was largely non-automated.

The Solution
Brilliance created a comprehensive e-commerce shopping cart and tied it to Schiff's back office computer system, completely automating the process of pricing, inventory, order entry and fulfillment for the company's online customers. Stocking levels, price changes and order status are updated automatically.

The Result

The new Brilliance e-commerce site paid for itself in six months, and has seen double digit sales growth in the six years since implementation
90% of all online orders are shipped in the same day, with very few errors
Customers who once ordered offshore came back, due to Schiff's superior order fulfillment and customer service

Wisconsin Lifting Specialists

How Brilliance helped a custom products manufacturer give online sales a lift

About
Founded in 1969, Wisconsin Lifting Specialists has become the state’s largest full service rigging supplier and its most trusted source for lifting products. While it sells many standard off-the-shelf items, the company's key strength is in designing and fabricating customized slings, lifts and other lifting solutions.

The Challenge
Customers searching for lifts, slings, riggings and other lifting supplies on the Web weren't finding the Wisconsin Lifting site. The few that did were unable to access the products they wanted on the company's existing site, and they rarely followed up their visit with a contact to a sales representative.

The Solution
Wisconsin Lifting undertook a complete site redesign: graphics, writing, user interfaces and a DotNetNuke content management system to allow for easy in-house updating. Search engine optimization maximized the company's rankings for the phrases customers Googled most. Content was designed for easy shopping, yet ingeniously constructed to present the company's custom product message and drive shoppers to a sales team member.

The Result

Eight Google top ten rankings for Wisconsin Lifting's target keywords, driving a wealth of new visitors and product orders
A consistent flow of new sales leads from the Wisconsin Lifting web site, from customers around the world...far outside the firm's normal Wisconsin sales territory
10% of all visitors become a sales lead, as compared to 0% before the new Brilliance site went online

MarCum Technologies

Integration of WorkWise, marketing messages
convince customers to take the bait

About
One of the industry leaders in fishing electronics, MarCum underwater cameras and sonar products are aimed at the serious sport fisherman. They pride themselves on staying at the pinnacle of technology, which maintains their status as the preferred brand among tournament anglers and fishing guides.

The Challenge
The technological excellence of MarCum's products and the company's advanced WorkWise Enterprise Resource Planning software didn't extend to the company's underwhelming e-commerce system on the Web. In addition, the marketing messages from MarCum's ad agency weren't coming across. The marketing team wanted to use video to dramatize product benefits, then provide a clear opportunity to order products online.

The Solution
Brilliance engineered a complete redesign of the MarCum site from front to back, beginning with an attractive visual design and continuing through complete integration between a new e-commerce shopping cart system and the company's WorkWise ERP software. Brilliance professionals incorporated video clips from MarCum's outside video producer into product pages, and cooperated with the company's marketing communications agency to keep visual style and messaging consistent with MarCum's other marketing materials.

The Result

Far less staff time and effort spent maintaining the e-commerce site
Excellent satisfaction with the look and message of the new MarCum site
Skyrocketing sales, despite a launch late in the 4th quarter gift-giving season. Web based sales were so strong that they created product shortage

Bock Water Heaters

Improving an independent rep's access to info heats up sales to a distributor network

About
Bock Water Heaters sells a diverse line of water heating and hot water storage products to a nationwide network of independent distributors. An employee-owned company, Bock maintains its market competitiveness by keeping a small but versatile staff at its Madison, Wisconsin headquarters, and by improving company efficiency through a WorkWise Enterprise Resource Planning system.

The Challenge
The rep network needs easy access to product info, pricing and stock availability for sales success in its territories. Sales growth made it increasingly difficult to quickly respond to reps with up-to-date pricing and inventory information. Product experts at Bock were bogged down with information requests, causing a potential bottleneck in the sales process.

The Solution
Brilliance created an e-commerce web site linking information from Bock's WorkWise ERP system to a web interface where both salespeople and in-house staff can reach it instantly with ease. Separate password-protected channels of information were tailored to the unique interests of different groups of channel partners.

The Result

Improved satisfaction with the relationship between Bock and its trade customers
Easier access to technical data and pricing information without the need for employee assistance
Improved sales success in competitive bidding processes, thanks to quick availability of specifications and pricing

Schiff Ribbons
Wisconsin Lifting
MarCum Technologies
Bock Water Heaters

Stories of Success

Enjoy a few tales of Brilliance at work, and see ways customers can benefit

Schiff Ribbons

Brilliance helps U.S.A. beat the world by tying up a manufacturer's loose ends

Wisconsin Lifting Specialists

How Brilliance helped a custom products manufacturer give online sales a lift

MarCum Technologies

Integration of WorkWise, marketing messages convince customers to take the bait

Bock Water Heaters

Improving an independent rep's access to info heats up sales to a distributor network

Enjoy a few tales of Brilliance at work,
and see ways customers can benefit

Integration of WorkWise, marketing messages
convince customers to take the bait