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Chamber Website Goes Right to the Top
Cris Ward and Andy Rose had only been members of Greater Altrincham Chamber of Commerce for a few days before they started to change it.
With a shared background in web and product design - ranging from fountain pens to a 3-D baggage X-ray imaging machine - they volunteered to modernise the Chamber's Internet image.
And the re-launched website - www.altrinchamchamber.co.uk - has now shot right to the top of the UK's premier search engines.
"Within days of joining the Chamber, Duo Design approached us with a proposal to completely overhaul the site," says the Chief Executive, John Smith. "It was a major change but the difference is astonishing."
The site uses new web design technology to outline the Chamber's social activities, business lunches, networking events and information services from the regular breakfast seminars, to its redesigned bi-monthly magazine "Altruism".
Sale-based Duo Design, is a partnership of Cris Ward and Andy Rose who met at Manchester University where they both took a total of four degrees including Masters in Industrial Design.
Cris, who worked in design for several years at St Helens Chamber of Commerce and Business Link, still lectures for the 3-D design department at Manchester Metropolitan University.
Andy moved away to work in Leicester before returning to combine their freelance experience and form Duo Design three years ago. They specialise in product development, editable website design, 3-D computer visualisation and animation.
"When we joined Greater Altrincham Chamber of Commerce the first thing we noticed was that the website didn't reflect the level of professionalism that they deliver in their various activities," says Andy.
"So we suggested a visual style that was both forward looking and modern but still maintained a traditional solidity and dependability."
The site incorporates a front page slide show and local images because, says Andy, "it's the way the Altrincham Chamber links with the area and its business community that makes it stand out from others."