A Scottish Heritage Glassware Brand
Burns Crystal has been handcrafting Scottish glassware for over 35 years. With a large product catalogue and deep-rooted heritage, they needed an e-commerce site that was easy to navigate and did justice to the quality of what they make.
Client
Burns Crystal
Live Site
The Challenge
Burns Crystal had the products, the heritage, and the loyal customers, but their online presence wasn’t keeping pace with the quality of what they were selling. With an extensive catalogue spanning clan crest glassware, whisky gifts, gin gifts, ornaments, skyline tumblers, and multiple collections, the challenge was building a shopping experience that felt as considered and crafted as the products themselves.
The Problem: Heritage without friction
- Large, complex product catalogue with multiple ranges and categories
- Needed to balance strong Scottish brand identity with modern e-commerce usability
- Customers shop by occasion, recipient, and drink type — the navigation had to reflect that
My Strategic Role
E-commerce Configuration
I structured and configured the full product catalogue, organising SKUs across collections, categories, and gift types to make the shop logical and easy to browse. The path from product discovery to checkout was kept smooth throughout.
Web Design
I designed and built the complete website, creating a visual experience that honours the craft and heritage of the Burns Crystal brand while feeling contemporary and easy to use.
Design Strategy
The challenge with a heritage brand is balancing tradition with usability. I kept the layout clean and uncluttered, letting the product photography lead, while weaving in the warmth and Scottish character that makes Burns Crystal distinctive. The homepage was structured to serve different types of shoppers, those browsing by drink type, and those exploring by collection, with intuitive, visual navigation that feels natural rather than transactional.
Clean layout that lets product photography do the heavy lifting
Navigation structured around how customers actually shop
Heritage brand character preserved without sacrificing usability
The Results
Catalogue Structure
A complex range, made simple
A large product catalogue across multiple collections and gift categories, structured so any customer can find the right gift in seconds, regardless of what they’re looking for.
Brand Presentation
Online presence worthy of the craft
Burns Crystal now has a digital home that reflects the quality and care that goes into every piece, presenting a 35-year-old brand with the polish it deserves.
Customer Experience
Easy to browse, easy to buy
A smooth path from discovery to checkout, with free shipping thresholds and gift-focused messaging woven throughout the experience.
