Huntington Beach based Foose Design is the headquarters where legendary automotive designer and builder Chip Foose creates magic. Chip is known around the world for producing the very best hot rods and custom cars known to man. His talents have made him the youngest man ever inducted into the Hot Rod Hall of Fame, and brought major car manufactures seeking his expertise, such as Ford, Chevy, Toyota, and VW. Most recently, Chip’s artistry has brought him to worldwide television as a regular on Discovery/TLC’s Overhaulin, and Rides.

Insight

Although you’d never hear it from Chip, he has an enormous international fan base, and they are hungry to own a piece of Chip’s greatness whether it be a million dollar custom Hot Rod, a set of his personally designed alloy wheels, Foose designed apparel, or even prints of his visionary sketches. What better way to make these products available to fans then through a web site that equals the quality of Chip’s designs.

Actions

Chip Foose and Zinc Solutions partnered to develop and operate a new and expanded e-commerce store located at Chipfoose.com.

Zinc developed and operates the Chip Foose online presence and is responsible for all facets of the ecommerce business, including Web site design, ecommerce development, product design, merchandising, order processing, fulfillment, inventory, and customer service.

The new Foose site features a comprehensive selection of automotive-related merchandise, including apparel, artwork, hats and accessories. The online store represents an expansion to Foose Design’s current retail business into a new distribution channel.

“Chip has developed an avid fan base by creating incredible cars that cannot be matched. Our goal is to develop a website and merchandise with the same appeal," said Sean Leonard, Creative Director, Zinc Solutions. "Zinc Solutions understands the strength of the Foose brand and the range of products that make sense for Chip’s audience."

Results

The website and online store launched in the first quarter of 2004 to immediate success. Chipfoose.com has become the ultimate in one-stop shopping for Foose fans,” Foose fans wanted more, so we’re giving them more. Sales have far exceeded their expectations, and as a result Chip Foose, Foose Design President, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, noting that, "Our relationship with Zinc has benefited us in several important ways. First, it opens a new avenue for extending the reach of our brand. Additionally, this partnership greatly improves the merchandising and e-commerce success of our company, And finally," Foose concluded, "in addition to making our official line of apparel and other automotive related products available to a much wider public, our internet presence will provide a fantastic communication channel for our current customers and fans".