HOUSTON, TX -- (Marketwire) -- 08/31/10 -- IKEA, the world's leading home furnishings company, has often blazed its own trail. Although most global brands prefer a centralized marketing approach, IKEA Houston today announced that Schipul - The Web Marketing Company (www.schipul.com) has completed the ground-up redevelopment of a Houston-focused website, www.IKEAHouston.com. The newly relaunched website coincides with the recent grand reopening of the IKEA Houston store, which was renovated and remodeled to enhance the shopping experience.
Schipul used the open source Drupal content management platform to organize and present the IKEA Houston online catalog and order from the local store online. Unlike most online retailers, however, the Houston store follows up with a phone call to verify the order and arrange for pick-up or delivery.
"We consider the IKEA Houston website to be an extension of the in-store experience, which means we make it friendly and personal," said Kim Castillo, marketing manager with IKEA Houston. "The Schipul team did a great job of redesigning the website to be inviting and visually interesting while also enabling us to keep it updated with the latest products, events and promotions."
With the open source Drupal software powering their site, IKEA Houston can update and revise the written and visual information on the site without going through a third party. Upcoming 'Free Wednesday Workshops,' daily restaurant specials and product additions to the catalog are maintained and promoted with utmost ease.
The new website also features the store's social media activities and makes it easy to friend IKEA Houston on Facebook and follow the Houston store on Twitter.
"The upgraded IKEA Houston website is designed to empower the Houston store to intensely focus on the interests and needs of their Southeast Texas community by delivering valuable information and opportunities to interact," said Schipul - The Web Marketing Company founder and President Ed Schipul.
Schipul's addition of a customizable line of Drupal-powered Web sites extends and complements the Tendenci® online management software it develops and markets. Schipul's Drupal Site Design packages include installation, module enhancements, Drupal upgrades, and custom Drupal themes.
About Schipul - The Web Marketing Company
Schipul - The Web Marketing Company developed and builds on the Tendenci Web marketing application, a powerful online tool with over a half million people logging in during the past year and millions of users overall. Schipul is based in Houston, and provides marketing services on the Internet to more than 300 organizations from a variety of service industries in local, national and international markets. Schipul's clients include Brennan's of Houston, Locke Bryan Productions and MosquitoMax Misting Systems, among many others. Additional information about Schipul is available at www.schipul.com and www.tendenci.com.
About IKEA Houston
IKEA Houston is located on I-10 near Antoine. The 300,000-square-foot IKEA Houston store originally opened in November 1992 and employs approximately 300 coworkers. In addition to 10,000 exclusively designed items, IKEA Houston showcases 55 room-settings, 18 kitchens, three complete home interiors under 500 square feet, a supervised children's play area, and a 350-seat restaurant serving Swedish specialties such as meatballs with lingonberries and salmon plates, as well as American dishes. Other family-friendly features include a Children's IKEA area in the Showroom, baby care rooms, preferred parking and play areas throughout the store.
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