House of Marbles
The challenge
From bricks-and-mortar beginnings to global ecommerce success a partnership built on strategy and shared creativity.
“Whenever I talk about our meetings I feel it’s an extension of House of Marbles – that’s how close the relationship is.”
Andrea Harkin, Managing Director
Piecing Together a Global Puzzle
Well over a decade ago, House of Marbles approached Vu as a thriving bricks-and-mortar business with a tourist attraction in Devon and a rich heritage in handmade marbles and traditional games.
Known locally and loved by visitors, they were ready to explore whether e-commerce could work for them.
The challenge wasn’t just to launch their first online shop, it was to translate their unique brand, personable experience and quirky personality into a digital space that could serve both trade and retail customers.
With no e-commerce experience and limited digital infrastructure, they needed a partner who could help them start small, think long-term, and grow confidently.
What We Did
- Designed and built 10+ global ecommerce, trade and brochure websites
- Hosted monthly marketing meetings with full internal team
- Delivered data-led reporting, campaign planning and performance reviews
- Supported content creation, keyword research, SEO and paid advertising
- Advised on internal workflows, staff recruitment, training and digital operations
- Provided hosting, maintenance and technical support across the full web estate
From Devon to a dozen global destinations
That first site marked a big shift, from selling at craft fairs and in-store to reaching customers across the world.
Over time, our relationship with House of Marbles evolved from a single-site launch to a fully integrated digital partnership.
“Whenever I talk about our meetings I feel it’s an extension of House of Marbles – that’s how close the relationship is.”
Andrea Harkin, Managing Director
The backbone of this success has been our monthly marketing meetings. Bringing the full team together to review data, generate ideas, and align activity across sites and markets.
This regular rhythm created space for big-picture thinking while keeping day-to-day actions moving.
With clear roles, open communication, and a shared focus on results, the team were able to stay agile and scale sustainably across international audiences.
The Solution
A collaborative model blending ecommerce delivery, strategic insight and marketing support, designed to grow with the brand.
That very first website achieved £20k in sales in it’s first year, a milestone that proved the potential of e-commerce.
Since then, digital sales have grown steadily to six figures. The team hit a highly aspirational milestone sales target for the first time in company history.
Along the way, there have been standout moments, like doubling retail sales in 2020, and running niche Google Ads campaigns that achieved 180% return on ad spend.
The results reflect not just technical gains, but a mature, long-term collaboration between client and agency.
Katy Johnson, Marketing Team
“Vu are incredibly professional, yet always manage to bring a personal, approachable feel to everything they do.”
See Our Services
Tailored to your unique needs, we are a values-driven team, combining expertise and innovation to hold hands with process and experience.
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