Gary Plastic Packaging Corp.

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The Challenge

Streamlining operations and improving communications with distributors.

The Project

Garyline's staff of hundreds services a broad network of national distributors with round the clock operations. Garyline's distributors are a vital connection between the company and its customer base. To meet Garyline's business needs, improve communication with distributors and streamline business processes, our tasks over time have included:

• Designing, updating and maintaining a database that allows Garyline to manage products, pricing, purchase options, images, and other vital product information in real time.
• Developing a web content and online inventory management system.
• Designing an online order and invoice reporting system to reduce repetitive requests of the human resource department.
• Providing advertising tools that allow distributors to access approved and standardized high resolution artwork and ad templates.
• Creating a customizable e-mail ad generator for distributors that allows them to select products, enter customer contact information, and automatically generate and send pre-approved e-mails to multiple customers simultaneously.
• Building a product inventory search to provide distributors with easy access to timely information.
• Developing a private, password-protected site for distributors to view customer, order and invoice details.

• Developing a private, password-protected methodology for Garyline to distribute commonly requested documentation and information internally.

The Benefits

We've worked with Garyline for many years, responding to their evolving needs by adding new web site features, improving their management capabilities and implementing changes based on customer and distributor feedback. Some of the benefits to their business include:

• Time savings. By reducing the number of calls from distributors requesting advertising information and artwork, Garyline was able to devote human resources to sales and other business tasks.
• Money savings. Garyline was able to save money first, by providing distributors with artwork and templates online and eliminating the cost involved in purchasing and shipping media; and second, by performing site and inventory maintenance in-house.
• Improved customer service. The web site gave Garyline distributors product information at their fingertips, allowing them to provide prompt, knowledgeable customer service.
• Added value. Providing customizable sales tools for distributors on the web site added value to the relationship between the company and its distributors.

Our Client

Gary Plastics (Garyline) is a full-service manufacturer of personalized promotional products. Garyline's New York facility encompasses molding, manufacturing, assembly, printing and silk screening processes and supplies products to a national network of distributors.

Detailed Content Management

With a wide network of distributors and a large and varied product line, Garyline's content management needs were fairly intensive. After thorough planning we built a system that Garyline uses for both internal distribution of information and external site updates. And though their business needs have changed, the core of the system remains the same as we continue to enhance, expand and upgrade with minimal expense to Garyline.

An Evolving Design

Garyline manages everything from navigation to imagery. When it comes time to “redesign”, we define a structure and they provide the content.

A Decade Of Difference

This early version of Garyline's site shows that design and industry trends have changed quite a bit over the years. That's why it's a good idea to give your site a facelift every few years, just to keep it looking modern.