Vanhie: from physical experience to digital growth accelerator

How ClickForest led a 100-year-old store into a new digital era with smart webshop strategy, UX audit, campaigns, and conversion optimization.

Quote about the collaboration

"Vanhie was facing a significant digital leap. Frederiek combined his knowledge of retail and e-commerce with a hands-on approach that yielded immediate results."

Challenge: An established store of almost 100 years, thousands of m², but with limited online visibility and a webshop that was more of a hobby project than a core business.

Approach: ClickForest combined a complete UX/UI audit (Hotjar), redesign of the in-store customer journey, restructuring of the online offering, and customized digital campaigns.

Physical and digital transformation

Michael Vanhie engaged ClickForest to prepare the store and webshop for the next generation. The physical store was completely redesigned: garden machinery and outdoor cooking were given their own zones, while indoor and outdoor ambiance creators were placed in an inspiring setting. Thanks to a well-thought-out customer journey, visitors now discover all of Vanhie's assets, both indoors and outdoors.

Digital Strategy & UX Audit

Using Hotjar heatmaps and recordings, we thoroughly mapped customer behavior on the existing webshop. Based on these insights, the site was redesigned: clear categories for garden furniture, wellness, ambiance creators, and outdoor cooking. Every step was aimed at greater ease of use and higher conversion.

New Menu Structure & Logical Layout
Loyalty Program & Smart Discount Strategy (Shopify marketing)
SEO Optimization & Smooth Navigation (SEO for e-commerce)

Online Campaigns & Conversion Boost

With targeted Meta campaigns (Facebook & Instagram), Google Search, Google Display, and Shopping, Vanhie became visible to every target audience: from garden enthusiasts to wellness fans and hobby chefs. Thanks to smart retargeting campaigns and personal follow-up, Vanhie's online share grew at a record pace.

New Customers via Social & Search (Performance marketing)
Returning Buyers via Loyalty Program
Revenue Increase Thanks to Sharp Seasonal Promotions

Also read: structured data and visibility in Google

The result: the webshop grew from a supporting role to an essential engine of the core business. The client has since become a loyal ClickForest fan and also engages us for individual AI and strategy training.

+130% more webshop sales

After the relaunch, the number of purchases via the webshop surged.

More Store Visits & Exploration

The redesigned customer journey led to more store visits and higher spending per customer.

Loyal Customers

The loyalty program and personal approach turned shoppers into returning customers.

Client testimonial

"The collaboration with ClickForest not only launched our webshop but also gave our entire business a new boost. Frederiek's personal approach really works!"
– Michael Vanhie, Vanhie.be

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