Project: Rousseau’s Fine Furniture & Interior Design
Role: Web Design & Digital Strategist Focus: Luxury E-Commerce, Heritage Brand Modernization, Digital Catalog Management, Interior Design Lead Gen
Project Overview Rousseau’s, a 4th-generation family business in Whitby since 1929, is known for high-end furniture and bespoke interior design. The challenge was to translate the “showroom experience”—where texture, quality, and scale are paramount—into a digital environment. The new website needed to serve as a robust e-commerce catalog for browsing while simultaneously selling the intangible expertise of their design team, ultimately driving foot traffic to their historic Mary Street location.
Key Deliverables & Features
- Luxury Product Catalog Architecture:
- Curated Browsing Experience: Unlike mass-market furniture sites, the catalog is structured to feel like a boutique. High-resolution imagery and detailed product storytelling (e.g., “Performance Fabrics,” “Canadian Made”) educate the buyer on value, moving the conversation away from just price.
- Live Inventory “New Arrivals”: A dynamic section allows the team to showcase fresh floor models and accessories immediately as they arrive, creating a sense of urgency and encouraging frequent site visits from loyal clientele.
- Service-First UX Design:
- Bridging Retail & Service: The site effectively separates the two core business pillars. While users can shop for a “Bernhardt Sofa,” they are also guided toward “Interior Design” pages that explain the process of working with Rousseau’s designers for full-home projects.
- Inspiration-Led Navigation: The “Portfolio” and “Blog” sections serve as an inbound marketing engine, using high-quality project photography to inspire users and position the Rousseau’s team as tastemakers, not just retailers.
- Brand Heritage & Trust:
- Storytelling: The “About Us” and history sections leverage the company’s nearly 100-year legacy to build immediate trust—a critical factor when asking customers to invest significantly in high-quality furnishings.
- Local Authority: SEO strategy targets the specific Durham Region market, reinforcing their status as the local alternative to big-box Toronto retailers.
- Operational Integration:
- Content Management: The backend is built for ease of use, allowing staff to update the “Clearance” and “Sale” sections instantly, keeping the digital inventory aligned with the physical showroom floor.
The Outcome The new Rousseau’s website successfully modernizes a historic local brand. It functions as a polished 24/7 showroom that pre-qualifies customers, educating them on quality before they walk through the door, and provides a streamlined path for booking design consultations.
