VENICE - May 2001- Venice based Web Technology and Design firm Imagistic has just completed work on two significant Web based projects for the hugely successful casual dining chain, California Pizza Kitchen. California Pizza Kitchen, also know as CPK, was keen on improving their online brand and presence as well as making it easier for customers to find information about the restaurant. Some of the features of the new Web site include an online menu; an advanced restaurant locator, an expanded interactive kids section, random CPK trivia facts, and a comprehensive investor relations section.
One of the most notable features of the public Web site is a restaurant locator developed using Macromedia Flash™. Customers looking for a restaurant in a particular area can click on a map showing all fifty states as well as foreign countries where a CPK exists. Upon choosing a particular state, the selected area increases in size and offers more specific locations within that area. When a customer clicks on a specific location, details about that restaurant, such as address, phone number, hours, etc, appear to the right of the map. In addition, a customer may also enter a zip code, city name or airport code to bring up a list of nearby locations and driving directions.
Other Web site features include CPK Trivia "Slices" that appear randomly on various pages, and for CPK's loyal younger audiences, Imagistic created an immersive CPKids section. The CPKids section contains various interactive games and activities and includes a link to the Kids Menu and the Kids Registration page. Registered CPKids receive special benefits such as a free birthday meal. The site also offers the full restaurant menu complete with descriptions of each item - a particularly useful feature for customers that place orders over the phone. There is also a section for employment information and an online store where visitors can purchase CPK Gift Certificates, apparel and recipe books.
In addition to building a public Web site, CPK also had Imagistic build a secure Intranet so that employees and managers at any one of their 118 locations can communicate and share information through one central, private source. The Intranet contains human resources and administrative forms; training and benefits information; promotional materials; important company news and announcements; and other materials that require control from one central source.
"It was critical for us to have a Web site that captured and extended our very recognized brand," states Sarah Goldsmith, CPK's Senior Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations. "The Web site needed to act as a natural extension of our restaurants and offer our customers as much information and convenience as possible."
"The first time you have a BBQ Chicken pizza at a CPK, you're hooked," states Marcelo Ziperovich, Imagistic's Chief Creative Officer, "Our intention with the Web site was to invite customers to reconnect with that feeling."
California Pizza Kitchen, Inc., founded in 1985, is a leading casual dining chain in the premium pizza segment. The restaurant features hearth-baked pizzas, salads, soups and sandwiches. The chain operates, licenses or franchises 118 restaurants of which 86 are company owned, and 32 operate under franchise or license agreements. The restaurants feature an imaginative line of innovative premium pizzas including the Original BBQ Chicken pizza.
Founded in 1997, Imagistic (www.imagistic.com) is a boutique professional Web and technology services company with an emphasis on design, e-business development and online branding. The company has developed numerous Web based initiatives for such clients as Bank of America, UCLA, CarsDirect.com, California Pizza Kitchen, and Estee-Lauder. Imagistic is based in Venice, California and works with local and remote clients in all businesses and industries.
