Norkraft.ca - Custom Business Website & CMS

Custom Website Solution for Small Business Showcase

Norkraft needed a professional website to showcase their work while maintaining complete control over their content management. Rather than adapting to the limitations of existing CMS platforms, they wanted a custom solution that would meet their specific requirements for gallery and banner management with maximum simplicity.

Client Testimonial

"I'm very happy with James' work. He delivered exactly what we needed - a simple, professional website that's easy for us to manage. The custom admin panel works perfectly for our gallery and banner updates. Would definitely work with him again."

Gene Suprun, Owner - Norkraft

Project Requirements

No Wordpress: After years of Wordpress-related headaches, the client was no longer interested in using ANY off-the-shelf solutions for updating his website.

Gallery Management: Easy upload, organization, and display of work samples without the complexity of traditional CMS gallery systems.

Banner Control: Straightforward banner image management for seasonal updates and promotional content.

Technical Solution

Authentication Scaffolding: Leveraged Laravel's built-in authentication system to create secure admin access without reinventing security protocols.

Component-Based Design: Modular Vue.js components for different admin functions, making the interface both user-friendly and maintainable.

Intuitive Workflow: Admin panel designed around the client's actual content management process rather than generic CMS assumptions.

Custom Management Features

Gallery System

Drag-and-Drop Upload: Simple file upload interface that didn't require technical knowledge to operate effectively.

Automatic Processing: Backend handling of image optimization and thumbnail generation to maintain site performance.

Flexible Organization: Custom categorization system that matched how Norkraft naturally organized their work samples.

Banner Management

Visual Editor: Easy-to-use interface for updating homepage banners and promotional content without touching code.

Preview Functionality: Live preview of banner changes before publishing to ensure perfect presentation.

Development Approach

Client-Focused Design: Every interface decision was made based on the client's specific technical comfort level and business workflow.

Scalability Planning: Architecture designed to accommodate future feature additions as the business grows.

Project Delivery

The Norkraft website was delivered on time and within budget, demonstrating the efficiency advantages of custom development when requirements are clearly defined:

Streamlined Functionality: Only the features Norkraft needed, without the complexity of features they would never use.

Perfect Fit: Admin interface that matched their exact workflow, reducing training time and ongoing support needs.

This project exemplifies how custom web development can provide superior value for small businesses with specific requirements that don't align well with generic CMS solutions. By building exactly what was needed-no more, no less-Norkraft received a website that perfectly supported their business goals while staying within budget constraints.