The Roots Campsite 1996
The original Roots Canada website
The original Roots website was a complete virtual campsite with lot's of Roots gear, storytelling, a virtual campire, and a shocking Shockwave animation of the two Roots founders, Michael Budman and Don Green, doing a little skinny dipping in Algonquin Park.
Overview from 1996
Location: Roots Campsite: Roots Canada Home page.
Objective: To promote the Roots lifestyle by creating the feeling of summer camp in Algonquin Park.
Features: The Roots Campsite Logo, an original design and illustration by the James Gang created for the site. Roots is using this design on T-shirts that will be sold across Canada.
Users: Users are given the choice of two paths: the Scenic Route with full graphics, or the Quick Tour with minimal graphics.
Demos:
- The Roots Founders:
Michael Budman and Don Green do a little skinny dipping at the Roots Campsite. - Roots
Tuff Boot:
QTVR Animation that lets visitors see the Roots boot in from 360 degrees angle. - The Roots Campfire:
Children's campfire stories posted by visitors the website
Press Release 1996:
Surf's up at Roots campsite
TORONTO, February, 1996 -- Tree filled vistas of Algonquin Park...Roots co-founders Don Green and Michael Budman bobbing in the waters of Smoke Lake...campfires flickering...loons calling and the dulcet sounds of canoe paddles dipping into water.
Full story see: Surf's up at Roots campsite
Feedback from the Roots Guestbook
"Really enjoyed visiting the site. Very original. About time a store took the chance and showed us a great web site as opposed to every item they have in their store. We know what you have, show us why we should keep shopping with you. Are you with it? You certainly are and your web site proves it!" Tanya E.
"I think the Roots site is fantastic! As an avid wearer of Roots clothing I think it was a great idea for Roots to enter the new age of computers with this fabulous site...my favorite Roots gear is your NHLPA stuff! Anyway, I just wanted to drop a line to my favorite clothing company! Keep up the good work." Jamie S.
"I love this site!!! It's the very first one I've added to my personal Bookmarks. My kids think the virtual campsite is totally cool. We camp a couple of times each summer and we needed this jolt to help us get through the rest of winter. Thanks Roots!!! (Also, congratulations on the continued success of Roots - we've been customers for years and continue to be - your product is extremely well made, uniquely Canadian and totally cool!" Gabriele J.
"Just wanted to say that I visited your web site today - and you have some amazing content and great layout! Keep it up!" A.T., microsoft.com
“The James Gang are innovative, creative and a joy to do business with. Working with them on the Roots Campsite has been an extremely successful experience.”
Michael Budman,
Co-founder, Roots Canada Ltd.