Martin Andrews Case Study

Client Overview

Martin Andrews is one of Britain's highly recognised hot glassblowers, known for high-quality handcrafted work, skilfully made forms, and innovative colour work. With over 35 years of experience, Martin has exhibited internationally and produced work for galleries, private collectors, and corporate clients alike.

Based at the Ruskin Glass Centre in Stourbridge, the historic heart of British glassmaking, each piece is individually handmade and signed by Martin. His work draws inspiration from natural forms, architecture, and geometric patterns, with molten glass temperatures reaching up to 1,150°C.

Martin needed a modern online presence that would reflect the premium quality of his craft, showcase his collections, facilitate lesson bookings, and attract trade and commission enquiries. His existing website was severely outdated and no longer represented the calibre of his work.

The Problem

Martin's previous website was a static HTML site built in the early 2000s. It used table-based layouts, small images, and had no responsive design. The site failed to convey the premium nature of his work and was actively limiting enquiries, sales, and credibility.

Outdated Design

Table-based layout with early-2000s styling. Small images and no visual hierarchy made the site feel unprofessional.

Not Mobile Responsive

The site was built for desktop only, providing a poor experience for the majority of modern visitors.

Weak Branding

The visual presentation did not match the quality and craftsmanship of Martin's glass artistry.

Hard to Update

Any content change required editing raw HTML files. No CMS or admin interface existed.

No Modern Trust Elements

No testimonials, social proof, or calls to action. No contact form or embedded maps.

No Structure for Growth

No product pages, collection listings, lesson bookings, or trade enquiry sections.

Before: Old Website

Martin Andrews old website - before ZSM Digital redesign

The Solution

ZSM Digital rebuilt the entire website from the ground up with a luxury modern design, structured product catalogue, lesson bookings, trade enquiry system, and a secure custom CMS for easy content management.

Modern Design System

A premium visual identity built to match the quality of Martin's craft.

Minimal luxury layout with generous whitespace
Clean typography and visual hierarchy
Bold hero section: "Art Forged in Fire & Light"
High-quality product photography throughout
Consistent spacing and brand cohesion

Custom CMS System

A secure, easy-to-use content management system so staff can manage everything without touching code.

Secure staff login with authentication
Update content, products, and pages
Manage collections and product listings
No technical knowledge required

Collections & Product Listings

Structured product catalogue with curated collections, pricing, and detailed descriptions.

Product cards with images, descriptions, and prices
Best Sellers and Selected Works sections
Curated collections (Aqua, Erosion, and more)
Individual item detail views

Lessons & Booking System

A comprehensive lessons page to convert visitors into booked glassblowing sessions.

Beginner, private, advanced, and group sessions
Prices and durations clearly displayed
Weekly timetable schedule
FAQ accordion for common questions
Strong call-to-action for bookings

Trade Enquiries Page

A professional B2B-focused page to attract wholesale, stockist, and commission partnerships.

Wholesale order information
Bespoke commission service details
Official stockist programme
Clear enquiry call-to-action

Contact & Conversion

Redesigned contact experience with modern form, embedded map, and social proof.

Clean contact form (name, email, subject, message)
Embedded Google Maps integration
Contact details and studio location
Testimonials integrated throughout the site
Repeated CTAs driving conversions

Technology Stack

Built with a modern, maintainable technology stack focused on performance, security, and ease of management.

Flask (Python)

Backend framework

Jinja2 Templates

Server-side rendering

Custom CSS

Tailored design system

Secure CMS Auth

Staff authentication

Cloudflare DNS + SSL

Security & performance

VPS Hosting

Nginx reverse proxy

SEO Optimised

Meta tags & structure

Fully Responsive

Mobile-first approach

Results & Impact

The new website has transformed Martin's digital presence, delivering measurable improvements across brand perception, enquiries, and operational efficiency.

Mobile Experience

Massively improved mobile experience across all devices, giving visitors a premium browsing experience regardless of screen size.

Trust Factor

Improved trust factor for high-value commissions through professional design, testimonials, and structured content presentation.

Simple Content Updates

Simplified content updates through the custom CMS. Staff can manage products, collections, and page content without developer support.

Scalable Foundation

Built a scalable foundation for future online shop expansion, payment integration, and additional functionality as the business grows.

Project Gallery

Screenshots from the completed website showing key pages and features.

Homepage

Bold hero section with "Art Forged in Fire & Light" headline, featured products, and collection previews.

Collections Page

Curated glass art collections including Aqua and Erosion ranges with descriptions and release dates.

Product Listings

Product cards with high-quality images, descriptions, and pricing. Best Sellers and Selected Works sections.

Lessons Page

Glassblowing lesson packages, weekly schedule, pricing, and FAQ section for prospective students.

Trade Enquiries

Professional B2B page with wholesale, bespoke commission, and stockist programme information.

About Page

Redesigned biography with craft process details, commission history, and career timeline.

Contact Page

Modern contact form with embedded Google Maps, studio address, and clear contact details.

CMS Login

Secure staff authentication gateway providing access to the content management system.

"ZSM Digital delivered a stunning new website that truly reflects the quality of my glasswork. The CMS makes it incredibly easy to keep everything updated, and the response from customers has been overwhelmingly positive. I finally have a website I'm proud to share."

Martin Andrews

Martin Andrews Glassblowing Ltd

Martin AndrewsGlassblowing Ltd