Caldwell Launches New
Caldwell, a provider of standard and custom lifters, has been working on the relaunch for almost a year, having set out last spring to position the business even closer to end users, distributors and potential partners. The new website also captures Caldwellâs status as a âLifting Solutionsâ provider, which is the tagline of a revamped logo.
At the heart of the site, powered by web developer WeCreate, is Caldwellâs full catalogue of below-the-hook and other lifting equipment, and SmartSpec, a digital tool that allows distributors to configure products. SmartSpec resembles other advanced product configurators but is unique in giving customization options to dealers specifically looking for non-standard equipment.
Darrin Noe, director of sales at Caldwell, said: âAs an organization, we have been putting a lot of emphasis on evolution, whether it be through our products or our internal culture. The website needed to better reflect that same mindset. Also, we keep talking about improving the customer experienceâhow can we make our partnersâ lives easier? The website was a big part of that. The pricing and quoting aspect built into the site will ultimately help customers become more efficient, whether itâs dealers logging in to view standard catalogue pricing or source custom solutions.â
He added: âIf you want a catalogue product, itâs right there in front of you. If you want something a little more customizable, you can simply click a button to take you to SmartSpec. And if youâre hunting for a full blown, one-off system, you can contact our sales staff from that same window. We want to be the worldwide leader in providing lifting solutions and the old website didnât reflect that. The new one does.â
Noe explained that the new logoâs colour theme represents continuity of the brandâs identity, while also indicating towards a new era and direction for the company. He credits Jose Pelaez, a Minnesota-based designer with the âslung Câ concept, versus the more tightly cradled look of the old logo. Pelaez provided a rendition of the logo that was slightly edited into what it is today. The modernized sling look originated from his work, however.
Caldwell has blended the products of J.C. Renfroe (JCR) and RUD with the siteâs comprehensive product offering. JCR is a subsidiary of The Caldwell Group, and the only clamp manufacturer in the world that can meet ASME BTH (below-the-hook) Design Category C; Caldwell and the RUD Group, meanwhile, have united their sales and marketing activities in North America for material handling and lifting devices within a common organization.
It has been a long-term strategy to maintain these brand identities, while continuing to synthesize them into the Caldwell family. The Renfroe section currently links to the existing JCR website, but the plan is to begin overhauling that particular site in the coming months. A new landing page was developed by RUD partners in Germany that is specific to the U.S. and Canadian audiences.
Noe added: âLifting Solutions is what we do and who we are. Whether itâs a simple pipe tong or a complicated lumber lifter, we provide solutions for your lifting issues. The new website and brand collectively chime with that ethos.â