Business News

Best Websites Unveiled

You nominated 'em and we picked 'em.
By ABiz Staff

You know what it's selling or promoting. It's vibrant and engaging. Its colors are rich. You want to stay.

That's some of the criteria ABiz considered when it went looking for the best websites in Acadiana. But we didn't seek them out; instead, we analyzed only the sites you nominated via a call for entries on our blog.

You nominated 'em and we picked 'em.
By ABiz Staff

You know what it's selling or promoting. It's vibrant and engaging. Its colors are rich. You want to stay.

That's some of the criteria ABiz considered when it went looking for the best websites in Acadiana. But we didn't seek them out; instead, we analyzed only the sites you nominated via a call for entries on our blog. Sites were judged based on overall design, functionality, effectiveness for product or company and whether the content was current (updated regularly). We also looked at how the site responded to mobile devices.

To our surprise, a number of the nominated websites did not have an RSS feed, which is normally a big indicator of regularly updated content. Not every website needs an RSS feed, but points were lost for pages we felt should have one but didn't.

To be eligible, a site had to have been created by a Louisiana company or Louisiana resident for an Acadiana company or local self-employed business person. Area companies with websites designed by an individual or firm based out of state were also eligible. We also accepted sites for nonprofit organizations.

![1st](images/stories/ABiz 03.28.12/1st.jpg)

No. 1

packpaddle.com - Platform: Wordpress, Designer: Cruce Design

If you think Pack & Paddle is some outdoor store location on Pinhook Road, then you haven't visited its website. It doesn't just offer all the equipment you'll need on your outdoor excursion, but also organizes guided trips all over the great outdoors. From prep classes all the way up to saltwater Kayak fishing and hiking trips, this website is the local gateway to the great outdoors.

![2nd-place](images/stories/ABiz 03.28.12/2nd-place.jpg)

No. 2

jvclothiers.com - Platform: Ubercart, Designer: Pixelbrush Studios (launched Feb. 3, 2012)

Very appealing, and the best part is it offers UL products - lots of them. Based right here in Lafayette, this small startup is already putting its collegiate products in stores across the state. JV Clothiers was developed by two families (Marcus and Stephanie Mire and Rye and Lainey Tuten) after they were unable to locate high-end, preppy university apparel for their sons. JV Clothiers offers quality products developed for active boys.

![3rd](images/stories/ABiz 03.28.12/3rd.jpg)

No. 3

youngsville.us - Platform: Bizzuka, Designer: Bizzuka

There are many reasons the city of Youngsville is the fastest-growing community in Louisiana - its website is one of them. A warm and inviting design with modern colors, current and upcoming events, city service contacts, videos. Everything a small town's website should be. "It makes me want to live in Youngsville," says one judge.

Honorable Mention goes to two big players who set the bar for e-commerce in Acadiana:

![honorable-mention](images/stories/ABiz 03.28.12/honorable-mention.jpg)

golfballs.com - Custom website

What can we say about golfballs.com? It's the go-to online resource for golfers. Founded in 1995 as a purely virtual business, the company initially had no inventory and only offered a limited selection of used golf balls. It has since phased out the sale of used balls and now carries a complete selection of golf balls, caps, shoes, bags and clubs, also focusing on the sale of custom imprinted corporate logo balls, embroidered caps and shirts, as well as monogrammed golf towels. To date, golfballs.com has sold more than 14 million golf balls direct to customers in all 50 states and 40 different countries.

**
cajungrocer.com - Custom website, Designer: Comit Technologies**

A "Cajun ambassador to the world," Cajun Grocer carries a large selection of authentic Cajun and Creole food products for many local vendors in the Acadiana area. Customers from around the world can enjoy Cajun and Creole delicacies, such as Mardi Gras king cakes, crawfish, boudin and the world famous Turducken, voted best by The Wall Street Journal. What's more, Cajun Grocer's website boasts cooking advice from Marcelle Bienvenu, along with her recipes and blog posts. Additionally, Bizrate has given this website its Circle of Excellence for retailers that provide exceptional service to their online customers.