Might & Main

Store locators used to be limited to those large retailers who could afford to develop not only the logic but the data required to perform those complex location-based searches.  Thanks to Google Maps, the process of creating a store locator is a lot more feasible for even small businesses.

When we were approached by David Puelle to develop the site for Maine Fresh, a seafood pie producer in Washington County, Maine, we were drawn in by the company's unique and admirable mission. Driven by how hard the area was hit by the recent economic downturn, Maine Fresh reinvests 25% of its net proceeds into the Cobscook Community Learning Center to help enhance the quality of life of area residents.

Hannaford was also drawn in by this mission and offered Maine Fresh placement on over 100 of its stores. Quite a coup for a new grocery product.

With the site designed and copy written, there seemed to be little room for creative input when the project was delivered to us.  Still, we gave it the typical Forge critical eye looking for ways to make the brand experience even more positive for users.  When we got to the "Where to Buy" page and saw a list of over 100 stores, we knew a store locator was the perfect tool to add. 

Instead of being overwhelmed with a list of every store Maine Fresh is sold in, visitors are now presented with a curated list of locations near to them where they can buy the delicious lobster, crab, shrimp and scallop pies. The modern web user expects relevant content to be delivered to them; they don't expect to hunt through a long list of information to find what they're looking for. Providing a store locator helps visitors to cut through one mountain of information to give them what they need to put a Maine Fresh product in their shopping cart.

It's a small piece of functionality that helps drive a much larger mission.  We're happy to work with the Maine Fresh team to watch them succeed and watch Washington Country grow because of it.

Check out the site at www.maine-fresh.com.