Last fall, Pixafy led the technical buildout of BRIKA, a site bringing a curated selection of creative and entrepreneurial artisans to showcase the best they have to offer. Pixafy customized Magento Enterprise to construct key features that allow BRIKA to build a unique space in the eCommerce space, and a home for talented Makers!
Recently, BRIKA took their next steps, making it even easier to shop by removing their registration wall. Account Manager Alan Gagnon took a moment to chat with BRIKA founders Jennifer Lee Koss and Kena Paranjape about their latest changes with the site, how it all started and they enjoy most.
What brought on the idea of creating BRIKA?
BRIKA began with two women sitting in a coffee shop brainstorming about how they wanted to be creative and to be entrepreneurial! The idea also stemmed from our personal experiences looking for a place online that showcased and curated all of the best Makers in one place, and from our professional experiences in the consumer/retail industry working with talented and passionate Makers of beautiful things. We wanted to bridge the gap between those who live and want to live creatively.
What makes Brika different than other sites?
I think it’s pretty clear that the design and user experience on our site is stellar! In addition, we are highly curated, have a very clear point of view and speak to our core audience in a specific voice. We also have a ton of original content via our Maker profiles. Ultimately, we hope to distinguish ourselves even greater by igniting the community of Makers on our site and the individuals who come to discover and shop on our site.
Why are you taking down the “wall”?
Ultimately, we want people to come to our site and get “lost” in the stories of all our Makers. We felt that having the “wall” was prohibitive, and we want to be about accessibility. We especially want to champion, support and feature our Makers, and we want to make it easier for people who have never heard of them before to discover them more easily.
What is your favorite feature on the website?
Brika’s Maker page.
We love the Maker page in general. We love that “houses” all of our Makers on one page and that each and every click can take you to a new story.
Who is your favorite maker/favorite product on the site?
Are you kidding? That’s like asking a parent who their favorite child is?! 
