This is the second annual pallet industry websites awards sponsored by Pallet Enterprise magazine. There has been noticeable improvement in industry website design over the past few years. One of the goals of this award is to encourage even more innovation and energy put into online marketing and website design.
The judges this year are Chaille Brindley, publisher of Pallet Enterprise, and Glenn Meeks, our online marketing columnist and the owner of Woodview Media. Companies that won a top five ranking last year are not eligible this year unless the website underwent a significant change. However, winners from the previous year are eligible for an honorable mention.
This recognition is for pallet manufacturers, recyclers or brokers located in the United States. The Enterprise staff scoured the Internet looking at more than 65 websites for the best design.
Our team evaluated websites looking for top performers when it comes to content, customer service, brand messaging, and visual design. The winners are recognized in this article and will be authorized to promote this recognition on their print and online communications.
We only judged elements that are visible to the public and did not include aspects of a website that require passwords or credentials to access. The aim of this recognition is to encourage better industry design and marketing. Our analysis focuses on the company website and not their social media presence or email/text marketing.
Our Four Primary Criteria
Content focuses on the information presented on the website. Is the information helpful for pallet users, customers and employees or prospective workers? Does the website offer more than just basic company information? Does the content answer key questions or concerns for the target audience?
Customer Service centers around the functionality of the website. Can customers effectively find solutions or product descriptions? Are there effective methods to interact with the company or seek quotes? Does the website present solutions or helpful resources? Can customers order pallets or services via the website or manage their account online?
Brand Messaging is all about the identity of the company on the web. Does the website cover key selling advantages? How effective is the public image created by the design, logo, images, etc.
Uniqueness is revealed by the character shown through the messaging and design. Does this website look like every other pallet website? Or does it offer something that stands out?
The top websites are presented in alphabetical order. We also found some other websites that we really liked for specific reasons and wanted to give some honorable mentions. Also, we didn’t search every pallet company website. But we strived to view as many as possible. If you want to be included in the future, email chailleb@gmail.com.
L&R Pallet
As a mid-sized pallet company, the people focus at L&R Pallet is clearly visible from its website messaging. Wording is cleaver with a focus on customer service and building a strong sense of community for its workforce. The website does a good job leaving you with the impression that this is a good place to do business and work. Its charity and community involvement are front and center in the messaging.
The website pictures and wording give a people-focused vibe combined with positive messaging. From company culture and values to history, you get a real clear sense of what makes this company different. It ranks among the best when it comes to messaging.
Gruber Pallets
Video is where this website really shines. Videos explaining key services and customer concerns are woven in well with product descriptions. The “Become an Expert” section has very informative videos designed with the customer in mind. The design is simple yet modern with easy to navigate features. An introduction video on the homepage takes you on a tour of the website redesign.
Gruber Pallets website is well done for family-owned pallet business. It shows that you don’t have to be a huge company to do a website right. The company logo is modern. It provides a unique twist on a typical pallet.
Kamps Pallets
Kamps launched new marketing efforts and a redesigned website this year. A video-based homepage, top screen captures the attention of a visitor while highlight the equipment and people of Kamps. The website has a very intuitive design. All the major aspects of the website are easy to find off the homepage navigation menu. From the product descriptions to the company history, each page has engaging graphics and simple messaging designed to provide a quick explanation that is easy to navigate on a desktop or smartphone. The green color scheme ties in well with the environmental messaging throughout the website.
The company’s careers section allows prospects to apply online and identify key benefits offered by the company. One of the best aspects of the website is its blog focusing on key topics that cover major customer concerns as well as identify ways that customers can improve their pallet programs. Topics include: pallet design, mold growth prevention, Kamps people, environmental benefits of wood products and much more. Kamps also offers a PDF download of pallet recycling guide for potential new customers. Titled “The Ultimate Guide to Pallet Recycling” it positions Kamps as a subject matter expert and points customers to various solutions.
PalletOne
The largest new pallet manufacturer in the country, PalleOne’s website presents a professional appearance and message focused on its strong environmental performance and manufacturing footprint. Its website was redesigned this year with a new video introduction featuring the company’s use of robotics technology. The website has a special page covering how the company has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and ensured customer supply.
The entire website is sales-driven from the Request a Quote form on the homepage to prominent display of the phone number and focus on products and services offered. Everything is easy to find and logically organized.
Howe Wallace, PalletOne’s CEO, regularly posts for his employees on a blog providing workplace performance insights and advice. It is a great resource for anyone looking for corporate leadership tips and ways to do better at work. Read Howe’s wisdom at https://www.palletone.com/ceo-blog/.
Nazareth Pallet
A mid-sized pallet recycler, Nazareth Pallet has a website worthy of a much larger company. It does a very good job of using graphics to convey information. The homepage displays a video when the company was featured on the PBS segment “In America.” This video not only portrays the company in a good light. It also showcases the environmental benefits created by pallet recycling.
Nazareth Pallet is very active in the community and this shows through on its website from local sponsorships to business awards. The homepage allows visitors to sign up for a free company newsletter. The “Request a Quote” function captures significant detail of a customer spec. The phone number and e-mail are prominently displayed on the top navigation bar.
From the value proposition to information on pallets, the website answers a lot of questions that potential customer may have. The “Careers” section provides detailed information about company benefits and work culture. Detailed information about job postings as well as the ability to apply online make this website one of the best in the industry for small to mid-sized companies.
Honorable Mentions
Millwood
A main slider window on the top of the homepage scrolls through key messages, latest content and highlights top service offerings. The website includes videos on Millwood people and services. A recent video highlighted how the company helped a homeless man and his son turn their lives around. Its careers sections feature a video covering the culture, a job search engine and review of company benefits. Millwood’s website videos do a good job explaining the various services and what makes Millwood stand out from the pack.
Greenway Products & Services
“Greenway Cares” section explores the philanthropy and community engagement of Dominick Davi and his team. This shows the humanity of the people at Greenway. The website ties in well with social media and online rating systems. A large library of videos features interviews with Dominick Davi on key topics from environmental concerns to pallet treatment to pallet grades and more.
BDL Supply
BDL Supply website has a strong “call to action” in their design. The request quote, email, and phone numbers are highly visible and inviting. Additionally, the “request for quote” is prominent on each page. The website is packed with information on both general pallet and specialty service that they provide. The BDL Supply really deserves honorable mention due to the mobile version of the website which has a well-organized layout, renders nicely with navigation panels at the top that scroll down to industry specific solutions, and has a “request for quote” button at the bottom of the page.
Tree Brand
Tree Brand Packaging™ utilizes video on the homepage to capture a visitor’s attention. The design is uncluttered with compelling and professional messaging, images and video. Short bios on team members help visitors connect and identify further with the company’s messaging.
Product pages feature downloadable pdf’s that can be used as reference materials by potential clients and current customers. This is also a good opportunity to collect emails in future if they so choose. Additionally, there is great use of video throughout the website that explains services offered and is great for search engine optimization.
Prime 360
Formerly Northwest Pallet, the entire website was redesigned as the company re-branded this year as Prime360®. This effort included new marketing materials and messaging. The graphics are sharp and modern with a professional appeal. The Prime 360 website also ties in an article from the Recycle Record to showcase third party media coverage. This is a smart way to take advantage of local press coverage or industry articles, such as Pallet Enterprise. If your company has been covered by one of our publications and wants to do something similar, contact Chaille Brindley at chailleb@gmail.com for more information.
