Overview
LaMonica Beverages, a large beverage distributor for northern Illinois and it’s merchandise store TheBeerGearStore.com are two websites that I updated and worked on from 2007 to 2016. lamonicabeverages.com is a corporate website, while thebeergearstore.com is an online store that sells beer-related merchandise such as glasses, t-shirts, and hats. The goal of the project was to create two visually appealing websites that provide a seamless user experience for customers.
Design Challenge
The main challenge of this project was to create two websites that share a similar brand identity, while also serving two different purposes. Lamonicabeverages.com needed to be a corporate website that allowed customers to easily browse beer online, while thebeergearstore.com needed to be an online store that showcased beer-related merchandise and encouraged customers to make purchases.

Implementation
The websites were built using WordPress and WooCommerce, with the e-commerce system being implemented on thebeergearstore.com. The sites are fully responsive, ensuring that they look great on all devices. The e-commerce system includes features such as product categories, product variations, and shipping options. The checkout process was designed to be straightforward and easy to understand, with clear instructions and prompts for customers.
Design Process
The design process began with research into the craft beer industry and beer-related merchandise. This included analyzing competitor websites and studying customer behavior. The goal was to create two websites that would stand out in the industry and provide a seamless user experience for customers.
Once the research was complete, wireframes were created to outline the layout of each website. The focus was on creating a clear hierarchy of information, with a user-friendly interface that made it easy for customers to browse and make purchases. The wireframes were then turned into high-fidelity mockups, with the lamonicabeverages.com and thebeergearstore.com brand colors and imagery being incorporated throughout the design.
One of the biggest challenges was creating an e-commerce system for Thebeergearstore.com that seamlessly integrated with the rest of the site. It was important that the shopping cart and checkout process were user-friendly and intuitive. To solve this, a simple and straightforward e-commerce system was implemented that allowed customers to easily add items to their cart and make purchases.
Conclusion:
Overall, the lamonicabeverages.com and thebeergearstore.com websites successfully showcase the brands’ identities and provide a seamless user experience for customers. The e-commerce system on Thebeergearstore.com allows customers to easily browse and purchase beer-related merchandise. The websites are a great example of how design can enhance the user experience and support the branding of a company. Within one year of updating thebeergearstore.com the store needed to hire staff and became a profitable part of LaMonica Beverages.

Design Case Studies
3METAD | Liquid Soul | Bliss Photographics | LaMonica Beverages | Zavius Jewelers | Loomis
3METAD | Liquid Soul | Bliss Photographics | LaMonica Beverages | Zavius Jewelers | Loomis