Since its launch in 2012, Bleacher Report has led the charge in sports media, delivering top-tier content. However, their Shopify store didn’t capture the brand's dynamic energy. With outdated design, clunky navigation, and inefficient site management, it was time for a refresh. Bleacher Report teamed up with Platter to rebuild their online stores (Bleacher Report and House of Highlights) and turn them into high-performing, fan-focused experiences.
Unified two brands, creating a seamless shopping experience for fans.
Made it easier for the Bleacher Report team to make store updates, reducing the reliance on third-parties.
“It's huge to have our two sites [Bleacher Report and House of Highlights] connected and updated into beautiful, highly-optimized storefronts. Platter's been great to work with.”
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Before building their storefronts with Platter, Bleacher Report encountered several issues with their ecommerce setup:
Inconsistent Design & Branding
Bleacher Report’s previous store design was anything but fan-worthy. Their shopping experience was clunky, with inconsistent fonts and a lack of modern features like videos, models in product imagery and reviews. The navigation between Bleacher Report and its sub-brand House of Highlights was non-existent, creating a disjointed user experience.
Inefficient Storefront Management
Updating the storefront was a headache. Every minor change required the involvement of their merchandise vendor, causing costly delays and inefficiencies. The lack of full utilization of Shopify's native features meant the shopping experience was subpar, missing key functionalities that fans expected.
Disconnected Brand Experience
Navigating between Bleacher Report and House of Highlights was a non-existent and confusing experience for customers. There was no way to seamlessly navigate between the two brands and it disrupted the brand experience, negatively impacting traffic and sales. Co-marketing opportunities were lost in the process.
Unifying the Brand Experience
Platter tackled these challenges head-on by creating a unified, seamless shopping experience. The redesigned storefronts captured the dynamic energy of both Bleacher Report and House of Highlights, allowing fans to navigate effortlessly between the two, discover new products, and enjoy promotions that kept them coming back for more.
“It's huge to have our two sites [Bleacher Report and House of Highlights] connected and updated into beautiful, highly-optimized storefronts. Platter's been great to work with.”
“It's huge to have our two sites [Bleacher Report and House of Highlights] connected and updated into beautiful, highly-optimized storefronts. Platter's been great to work with.”
Enhanced Design and Usability
Platter transformed Bleacher Report and House of Highlights into visually striking, conversion-optimized storefronts. The new design not only reflected the rich, energetic identity of Bleacher Report but also included flexible sections to embed videos, reviews, and other engaging content. This was a game-changer, aligning the ecommerce experience with the dynamic world of sports culture.
Operational Efficiency
With Platter, Bleacher Report drastically reduced its dependency on external developers and agencies. Site updates, optimizations, and collection management could now be handled in-house, saving both time and money. This newfound agility allowed the team to implement changes on the fly, keeping the sites fresh and relevant.
Unified Brand Experience
The creation of two interconnected storefronts for Bleacher Report and House of Highlights allowed for a unified brand experience. This seamless connection enabled customers to easily navigate between the two stores, improving traffic flow and increasing sales opportunities through cross promotion.
Platter’s collaboration with Bleacher Report was a game-changer, transforming their websites into fan-centric, easy-to-manage storefronts. The new shopping experience not only reflects the passion of sports culture but also positions Bleacher Report to continue dominating the competitive media and sports industry, bringing fans closer to the game they love.
