A Web Design Journey in Bundaberg – My experience with Roundhouse Designers

Living in Bundaberg, Australia, has always been a bit of a dream. It’s a place where the pace is just right—slower than the big cities, but busy enough to keep life interesting. For the past five years, I’ve been running a small organic coffee shop here called “Bean There, Brewed That.” The shop has grown from a passion project into something the community really loves, and we’ve built a loyal customer base. But I started to notice that our online presence wasn’t keeping up with our in-store success.

The Realization: We Need a New Website

It all started with a conversation with Kelly, one of my regulars who runs a small flower shop down the street. She mentioned how most of her new customers were finding her through her website. That’s when it hit me—our website was ancient, clunky, and barely functional on mobile devices. It hadn’t been updated since the shop opened. It was clear that we needed to either redesign our existing site or create a new one entirely. And we needed to do it fast, especially since the tourist season was right around the corner.

The Problem: An Outdated and Non-Responsive Website

The website we had was a DIY project from years ago. It was basic—just a few pages about the shop, our menu, and contact information. But it looked outdated, the loading times were painfully slow, and it wasn’t responsive on mobile devices. Given how many people use their phones for everything these days, this was a huge problem. I wanted something modern, sleek, and most importantly, user-friendly. The urgency was building, and I knew I couldn’t do this on my own.

Finding the Right Web Designer

I started asking around for recommendations, and that’s when I heard about Website Design Bundaberg by Roundhouse. My friend Sarah, who owns a local boutique, raved about them. She had recently worked with them to redesign her online store, and the results were fantastic. Her website was not only visually stunning but also easy to navigate, which led to a noticeable increase in her sales. That was enough for me—I decided to give them a call.

Website Design Bundaberg by Roundhouse

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +61 1300 727 749

Url: https://websitedesignbundaberg.com.au/

B1088/157B Bourbong St

Bundaberg Central, QLD 4670

The Initial Meeting: Laying Out the Challenges

I set up a meeting with the team at Website Design Bundaberg. I met with James, the lead designer, and Sophie, the project manager. They were both incredibly knowledgeable and made me feel at ease right away. I explained our situation—how our website was outdated, slow, and not mobile-friendly. I also mentioned the urgency of getting the new site up before the tourist season.

James did a quick audit of our existing site right there during the meeting. He pointed out several issues that I hadn’t even thought about. For example, the website’s SEO was virtually non-existent. No wonder we weren’t showing up in local search results! He also noted that our site wasn’t secure, which could turn off potential customers who might want to order coffee beans online.

The Design Process: Learning Along the Way

Once we decided to move forward, the team got to work right away. They started by asking me a lot of questions about the brand, our target audience, and what I wanted the website to achieve. I hadn’t really thought about it before, but these were crucial considerations.

1. Brand Consistency: They emphasized the importance of maintaining brand consistency across the website. The color scheme, fonts, and even the images needed to reflect the vibe of the coffee shop. James explained how a consistent brand identity could help customers connect more with the shop, making them more likely to return.
2. User Experience (UX): Sophie walked me through the importance of user experience. She explained how the layout should guide the visitor smoothly from one section to another. They planned to include features like an easy-to-navigate menu, a blog for coffee-related content, and a streamlined online ordering system.
3. Mobile Responsiveness: One of the biggest things I learned was how essential it is for a website to be mobile-friendly. The team showed me examples of how our new site would look on different devices. They designed everything with a “mobile-first” approach, ensuring that the site would function flawlessly on smartphones and tablets.
4. SEO Optimization: The importance of SEO was another major lesson. They took the time to explain how the right keywords, meta tags, and fast loading times would improve our visibility on search engines. This was something I had never considered before, but it made a huge difference in how we approached the content for the new site.
5. Security: James also highlighted the need for better security, especially since we planned to sell products online. They implemented an SSL certificate and other security measures to ensure that our customers’ data would be safe.

The Launch: Seeing It All Come Together

After a few weeks of back-and-forth on the design, we finally had a website that I was proud of. It was sleek, modern, and truly reflected the spirit of our coffee shop. The launch was smooth, and the feedback from our customers was overwhelmingly positive. Many people mentioned how easy it was to navigate the new site, especially on their phones.

We also noticed an immediate impact on our business. Online orders increased, and we started getting more inquiries about hosting events at the shop. It felt like everything had come together perfectly, and I couldn’t have been happier with the results.

Reflection: The Lessons Learned

Working with Website Design Bundaberg by Roundhouse was a game-changer for us. I learned so much throughout the process, from the importance of a strong online presence to the technical aspects of web design that I never knew existed. The team was not only professional but also patient and understanding of our needs. They delivered a website that exceeded my expectations, and they did it within our tight timeline.

Looking back, I realized how crucial it is for any business, no matter how small, to have a solid online presence. In today’s digital age, your website is often the first point of contact with potential customers. If it’s not up to par, you could be missing out on a lot of opportunities.

Conclusion: A New Chapter for Bean There, Brewed That

Thanks to the new website, “Bean There, Brewed That” is now thriving both online and offline. We’re reaching more customers than ever before, and our brand has a stronger identity. The experience taught me the value of investing in the right expertise, and I’m grateful to Website Design Bundaberg by Roundhouse for their incredible work.

If you’re ever in Bundaberg and need a website designed or redesigned, I can’t recommend them enough. They don’t just build websites; they build platforms that help your business grow.