SPRING LAKE, MI – Ten years ago, a talented team of people introduced a cool, affordable office furniture business—originally called izzydesign—to architects, interior designers and facility managers at NeoCon World’s Trade Fair in Chicago.
Then, founder and CEO Chuck Saylor outlined the company’s mission: to support new technologies, the environment, the 24/7 blending of life and work—and a new generation searching for fulfillment beyond the corner office. His prediction: The New Workstyles of collaboration were the new power of, by and for the people.
Now, technology and the way we work completely reflect that insight. And izzy+ is in the right place at the right time with the right digital tools, at the newly designed izzyplus.com, to support people at this new level of engagement. In other words, the izzy+ brands—ABCO, Fixtures Furniture, HÅG, Harter, izzy and Zoom Seating—that joined in 2008 to become a single business, just digitally grew up to be Better Together.
“We have wanted to do this for a long time. I am so excited,” says Saylor. “Now our customers can find what they need and search between our brands seamlessly. And we are reaching out to them online, to ask questions, to learn, and to establish the same kind of real and engaging relationships that we build every day in person. The new izzy+ Web site speaks volumes about who we are. And we’re just trying to be ourselves.”
At Home on the Home Page
At izzyplus.com, the digital storytelling starts (where else?) on the home page. Meet the izzy+ team behind this uniquely appealing, approachable business—at the new Truman lounge. As you browse the brand pages, they’re peeking out from behind the Audrey storage unit, perched on top of the Dewey classroom table and demonstrating the mobility of Zoom Seating products. (They definitely are not professional models.) And they’re having fun throughout the site with the products they make, sell and use.
That’s quite a departure in the office furniture industry, where products often lead and people hang back in the supporting cast. But at izzy+, people and relationships are a key part of the brand.
Our Favorite Things
That’s why the home page of www.izzyplus.com features a Dewey bookshelf stocked full of their favorite things, including ice cream, a mini MINI Cooper and ingredients for S’mores. A row of photos includes Isabelle (the Izzy of izzy+), Hannah (Izzy’s sister and namesake of one of the company’s top-selling chairs), and smiling babies, curious toddlers and top-of-the-class kindergartners who inspired the company’s product names. But take a closer look—literally. Click on one of those photos.
ZUI (Zoomable User Interface) Technology
You can zoom in on cartoon-like balloons on the bookshelf, using Seadragon tiling image technology that works just like mapping a street address online. The closer you get to the bookshelf, the more detailed the stories you’ll uncover about the importance of good design, quality coffee and teaming up with others. Many of the stories are self-contained. Others link to pages within the Web site. It’s all part of the izzy+ brand: genuine, fun and a little unexpected.
Helping Customers Find What They Need
From the home page bookshelf, the left-hand navigation or the brand categories located across the top of the page, customers and specifiers can navigate in many ways through the company’s products and brands, now in one integrated site. They can search by market, explore potential furniture settings and rely on the izzy+ Fuzzy Floorplan™ to design more inspiring, human-centered places and spaces. They can also find resources, from fabrics, colors and finishes to brochures and CAD symbols, brand histories, a company timeline, news, and product images.
Going Mega Social Media
At www.izzyplus.com, people can use social media to be part of the smart, engaged, global community that company leaders envisioned in 2001. Designer professionals and facility managers can connect and share best practices. Sales reps and dealers can add installation photos and problem/solution examples. The new Community page encourages customers and visitors to tag photos, post ideas and recommend video links through Flickr, Twitter, Facebook, Vimeo, and more.
“Ask a question, start a conversation or like what you see,” says Debbie Goode, director of marketing communications for izzy+. “The people who design, make and sell our products are ready to learn even more about how our customers live, learn and work. Our goal is to continue creating new and better products to support people in the work places and learning spaces of the future.”
Design Vox created the new site for izzy+, with new photos of izzy+ employees, friends and family by Dean Van Dis Photography, both from Grand Rapids, MI.
About izzy+
The people at izzy+ (www.izzyplus.com) design, manufacture and market office furniture and seating that help designers create inspiring spaces for Learning, Working, Living and Healing. You can find these award-winning products under the brand names izzy, HÅG, Harter, Fixtures Furniture, Zoom Seating and ABCO Office Furniture. Based in Spring Lake, MI, izzy+ is a business of JSJ Corporation of Grand Haven, MI.