Barker & Geary is a third-generation family business in Kings Somborne, Hampshire, established in 1945. For more than 80 years it has supplied gates, fencing and security across the South of England, from handcrafted timber gates to automation and commercial site security. Its yard and shop serve trade professionals, farmers and DIY customers, and its own installation teams fit bespoke gates, automation and security systems across Hampshire and neighbouring counties.
The business sells two ways. Customers enquire about bespoke gates and installations, and they buy fencing and materials to collect or have delivered.
Barker & Geary had a website for each, and neither did the business justice.
The main site had been built by another agency a long time ago. It looked dated and no longer reflected a business with eight decades of craftsmanship behind it. For a company selling handmade gates on quality, a tired website works against every enquiry.
The online shop had been set up in-house on Shopify, using a default template and the limited knowledge of a team whose expertise is gates and fencing, not ecommerce. It looked like any other shop and brought in very few online sales. It also treated every customer the same, with no way for the trade buyers at the heart of the business to see their own prices online.
And fencing is rarely one product. A customer needs posts, panels, rails and fixings in the right quantities, and working that out alone is enough to put them off ordering online at all.
A fully responsive design that reflects the brand's heritage and presents gates, fencing and security the way the business deserves.
A proper online shop for fencing and materials, built to sell, with a back end the team can run day to day.
Trade customers log in and see their own prices, so they can order online at the right rate instead of calling to check.
Customers enter their requirements and get an estimated cost, with every product they need listed and added to the basket in one click.
Enquiries through the main site are up 40%, led by gates. The new store has turned a shop that barely sold into one with online sales growing month on month, and trade customers now buy at their own prices without picking up the phone. The fencing cost calculator turns a customer’s measurements into a costed, ready-to-buy order in a single step. Both sites now look as professional as the business behind them.
We are pleased with the websites HITS designed and built for Barker & Geary. They look professional, are easy to use and represent our business far better. Communication was excellent, with the team listening, offering advice and demonstrating strong technical knowledge. The ongoing support has also been excellent, with the team responsive to questions or changes. We would highly recommend HITS to any business looking for a professional, knowledgeable and reliable website design agency.
