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By - Lewis Harrison, Codeworks  Thorpe’s of Gosforth, which has been a fixture on Gosforth High Street since 1947 , is selling its hugely popular range of fireside equipment and accessories – thought to be the largest available in the North – to customers around the world at www.thefiresideshop.co.uk
The website was designed and developed by Newcastle-based The Studio, a collective of creative new media specialists that provides content across a range of media. Peter and Colin Thorpe are the third generation of the family that have run the shop, which was set up by their grandfather, Edward, under two years after the end of the Second World War. Bruce Allinson, managing director of The Studio, says: “The project was a unique opportunity to use new technology and e-commerce to present a traditional family business to a wider audience. Few e-commerce sites can give the assurance of such a long established business so, while our CMS and e-commerce technology brings The Fireside Shop to a new market, the design has remained focused on Thorpes traditional values and marketing strategies. Something the Thorpe family have been getting right for over half a century.” Peter Thorpe, manager of Thorpes of Gosforth, says: “The fireside business has grown and grown and grown over the past few years – so much so that it’s outgrown the physical space of the shop. “ But on the web there's no walls to the showroom, and no geographical limit to the numbers of people you can reach. We currently shif around 100 items of fireside equipment a week, but we’re confident that figure will rocket thanks to the excellent job The Studio has done.” The Studio is a member of Codeworks Connect, the trade association for the North East’s digital sector. Herb Kim, CEO of Codeworks, says: “The work The Studio has done for Thorpes of Gosforth is a wonderful example of how modern technology can help even the most traditional of businesses win more customers and tap into new markets right around the world.” ENDS Notes to editors About Studio Co-operative www.thestudiocooperative.co.uk The Studio is a collective of creatives providing content across a range of media. Ideas are our forte – ideas that engage the client and provide solutions. Clear, direct thinking is how we help the client to communicate their message. Our considerations are budget, deliverables and timescales. In this way The Studio gets to the route of the clients’ needs. About Codeworks Connect www.codeworksconnect.net Codeworks Connect is the trade association for the digital sector in North East England. Connect develops activities and initiatives that bring direct benefit to its members, which are drawn from the entire spectrum of the North East's vibrant digital media and technology industries. Connect is part of Codeworks. For more information: Lewis Harrison, Codeworks T: 0191 556 1128 E:
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