'Comrads offers the right balance of structure and accessibility'
Platinum offers high-quality parasols, shade cloths, harmonica cloths and garden furniture covers for everyone who wants to enjoy a sunny day to the fullest. As market leader in the Benelux, the company focuses on product development, marketing and support. Their Digital Asset Management system and Brand Portal play a prominent role in this. In this customer case, Inge Arts, Head of Marketing & Innovation, explains how the collaboration with Comrads contributes to this ambition.
Carefree enjoyment of a sunny day
Our mission is to help consumers enjoy carefree sunny days. Product innovation, attention to detail and premium service are our keydrivers. We originally focused primarily on business customers, such as garden furniture specialty stores and large garden centers, but today we are increasingly focusing on consumers as well. Through our partners and on our website, we share plenty of information and inspiration for fine outdoor living. As Head of Marketing & Innovation, I am responsible for both the collection - including product development and keeping our portfolio future-proof - and marketing and communication.
From WeTransfer to a professional Brand Portal
Platinum is a relatively small company with a solid foundation, but also a hefty ambition to grow, professionalize and make strides internationally. When I started here four years ago, we shared all our content and assets with our partners via WeTransfer. That led to a lot of questions from our sales and sales support team. "Can you please send me this?" or "Is there an update on that file? This wasn't exactly an efficient process, especially with our growth plans. I started looking for a party that could help us put our content into an online portal. That way, our customers would have 24/7 access and could pull up-to-date information from that portal themselves, whenever they needed something.
The right solution
I talked to several parties, but many solutions were too elaborate for us. Many immediately came up with a complicated product information management solution. Such a PIM system is useful for a company that needs to manage large amounts of product data or that has multiple distribution channels. For Platinum - especially at this stage - it was really a bridge too far. At Comrads, they understood that. Their DAM system combined with their Brand Portal provides the right balance between structure and accessibility. For us, it was the logical next step after WeTransfer.
The power of the Brand Portal for Platinum
The Brand Portal has now become truly indispensable. I see it as our "single source of truth. Everything on it is complete, up-to-date and reliable. We have even linked our website to it, so that new items in the portal automatically appear on the website as well. The portal consists of two parts: the product section, with images, videos and fabric information, and the service section, where our POS materials, service books and short instructional videos can be found. This helps us greatly in building a consistent and reliable brand for both new and existing customers.
A collaboration that works
From the very first conversation with Comrads, it was clear that they are very committed. They are real specialists, and they understand what you need. As a seasonal company, we always work toward summer. That means we only update the Brand Portal Portal once or twice a year, and at those times everything has to be right the first time. Sometimes that requires some pressure and speed, but the team at Comrads is always flexible and actively thinking along. They understand those deadlines and respond well to them. If I were to describe Comrads in three words, they would be: specialists, involved and accessible. They not only provide us with a system, but also the right support that fits what we need.
Tips for companies considering a Brand Portal
Working with a DAM system in conjunction with a Brand Portal is a worthwhile investment, but it requires a thoughtful approach and good preparation. Success is not in the technology alone, but depends mainly on how you align your system with the needs of your users. By investing enough time in this beforehand and thinking about the entire customer journey, you make it easier and more pleasant for your customers to work with the portal. And especially in a traditional industry like ours, a user-friendly experience is paramount. With a number of optimizations we've done recently, we've taken our Brand Portal to an even higher level. This ensures that users always have access to the right information, exactly when they need it.
Also discover the benefits of a Brand Portal
Platinum, thanks to the Brand Portal laid a solid foundation for future growth, both nationally and internationally. Wondering how a Brand Portal in combination with a DAM system can also support your organization? Then request a no-obligation demo right away. We like to think along with you. Now and in the future.