Hot off the press!!!, ummm, well, the digital press anyway. Baby & I is a brand spanking fresh new Baby site providing a range of baby products at great prices. Their products range from maternity and babycare products to care for mother and baby before baby’s arrival to a range of pushchairs (twins, tandems & triples), prams, strollers, and car seats all the way to schoolwear and clothing for all ages up to 8 years of age.

Baby & I provide the latest offers and reviews on top brand baby products from leading suppliers such as Quinny, Mothercare, Bebe Confort, Silver Cross, Maxi Cosi, O’baby, Graco and many more.

I was approached by Baby & I’s management team with a unique problem they had. They wanted to break the mould and distinguish themselves from all the other baby sites out there. So far they seemed to find all the designs they had been previously provided were dull and not quite uplifting or colourful.

Originally contracted with the development of the site and fully managed Content Management System used for the daily running of the site, update and maintenance of their 20,000 strong product database, I was then briefed on the challenging design aspects of the site. I was able to come upo with a bright, colourful and attractive design which ticked all the right boxes in the brief.

Development of the sight was by no means an easy task in itself. Working with a set and existing product database which could not be altered. I had to figure out how I could get the relevant information needed out for product categories, product search results, sitemap creation and so on in a speedy manner.

Over a number of sleepless nights pondering, banging away at the keyboard and a  few stiff drinks (coffee just didn’t cut it this time), I was able to work my magic and weave my php wand through the site code coming up with some pretty impressive results.

The site features a fully managed Content Management System with varying levels of security clearance giving the Baby & I team control over all aspects of the daily running and promotion of the website.

Some key features of the site and CMS include:

• Automatic or managed daily product update
• Automatic or managed newsletter and promotional material
• Built in Link tracking (track best performing links and pages)
• Integrated twitter account (Automatic tweets from CMS)
• Advertising banner management and rotation
• Automatic sitemap generator and management
• Managed Friendly Dynamic URL’s
• Managed Location based Friendly Dynamic URL’s (all to add fuel to that S.E.O fire)

To see what all the fuss is about, drop by Baby & I and have a peek.

Recently completed, the development of the eagerley anticipated second phase to the Desperados Beer website. Desperados Beer is a French brand beer with a Mexican bite and is part of Heineken International (Europe) group.

The Die-Hards section of the site was developed to build upon the main site which was officially launched in January 2009 to further promote the Desperados brand and to drive brand awareness in the UK. The Die-Hards is an interactive social networking platform allowing fans of the beer to register and share videos and pictures of their favourite or most interesting Desperados moments.

The website offers regular competitions updated frequently featuring a range of prices from cases of Desperados Beer to weekend getaways to exciting destinations for you and your mates. The site also offers a custom Desperados frame generator (allowing users to frame their beloved pics with a range of Desperados frames to share on social networking sites such as Facebook), a range of wallpapers to trully give your computer that Desperados Beer flavour, oath facility allowing you to swear your allegiance to the Desperados brand by video or image upload and a cool desktop widget allowing you to set an alarm for that special moment you’ve set aside to get better aquainted with your ice cold pint of Desperados Beer.

To check out the Die-Hards and for your chance of winning some great competition prices for you and your mates, visit http://www.desperadosbeer.co.uk/die-hards 

Meet you on the other side Amigo…

If only in life we could be happy with who we are. Not envy – because lets face it, it is the green monster when you see someone driving your dream car and they are the same age as you or younger and you have years to go before you can even consider putting down a deposit – others but be content with what we have.  I guess the human race wouldn’t be where it is now if people didn’t always want more.  My boyfriend and I have this conversation often. Before we had a car, we’d bus it everywhere. The main wish in winter was, “Oh, if only we had a car”. But now that we have one, its not good enough. Its too small. Its not fast enough. The interior is all wrong. It doesnt lick my **** and give me a  screaming O. Oh. Go figure, that’s what’s wrong with people today. That’s why the whole freaking nation is depressed.

Sometimes we need to take time and appreciate what we have. Can you imagine if everything you had was taken away from you? Would you then say, “If only I was back where I was”? You can only live for the present. Yesterday is gone, and they say tomorrow is not guaranteed. Be happy with who you are and what you have. You only have one life, hey, so why spend it comparing yourself to the next man who is living his life? Dont get caught up in the paradox of happiness, needing to acquire something to be happy, then not being satisfied with your acquisition.

Kidrobot, the world’s premier designer and retailer of limited edition art toys and exclusive apparel is set to set up a Concept store at Selfridges Oxford Street from January 22 to February 21, 2009 located in the wonder room. Kidrobot merges urban street trends, fashion, and pop art to produce limited edition, collectible toys and apparel.