WORLD WIDE SUCCESS

A WEB design company based in Whangarei has proven that when it comes to world wide web success, it doesn't matter where you live. Online Designs was founded in 2002 by website developer Elaine Salmon. The company now has a staff of six and a range of national and international clients including ones in the United Kingdom, Australia and America.

Elaine says local businesses have begun to realise a web presence is now vital and Online Designs now looks over 400 websites in Northland alone.

"Clients expect companies to have websites and because businesses in Whangarei do a lot of work outside the region it is one of the only ways people can get information on them. It's no longer if you're getting one, it's when." Online Designs provides a full web design service, which means they design, host and maintain sites.

Elaine says their ability to create databases for clients as well as provide a top design service gives them an edge over competitors.

She says their programmers John Winter and Mark Litchfield are "absolutely amazing" and their expertise complements the design and marketing strengths of herself, web designer Joanne Jespersen, junior web developer Alicia Morley and financial controller Susan Alves.

"I never envisioned the business going so well," Elaine said. "We literally have people ringing us on a daily basis to get a website. We don't advertise at all, we get all our business through word of mouth and our website. I'm always surprised at how busy we are."