ABOUT THE BRAND

CISE is a Black-owned fashion house whose products start conversations about social issues

The Los Angeles-based brand’s apparel and accessories lend a voice to all-too-ignored social issues. Its first campaign, the “Protect Black People” line, is famous for embossing such messaging on truly stylish, sustainable goods. CISE not only creates socially impactful products but is dedicated to donating to organizations that empower the Black community through fashion. CISE partners with other Black-owned organizations to create purpose-driven events.

Recently, we sat down with Blake Van Putten, CISE’s CEO and founder—Forbes 30 Under 30 Lister in Retail & Ecommerce. Here’s what he had to say about how the brand’s Tapcart app connects the dots between CISE’s high-impact, socially powerful activations, coveted merchandise, and its ongoing mission.

“The reality of the world we live in,” Blake said, “is that sometimes, people want to say a message out loud. Sometimes, people just want other people to see it. Sometimes, people want to interact. Sometimes, people just want to carry on with their lives and acknowledge that this is what's happening within the world.”

He sees fashion—and CISE—as a way to start the long overdue conversations, wherever you fall on the above spectrum. If change begins with awareness and education, then fashion can be a starting point toward a solution.  

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THE CHALLENGE

CISE didn’t want to deal with an app… but Tapcart changed everything

Blake is the first to admit he never wanted an app. But everything changed when the opportunity to showcase his brand at New York Fashion Week came knocking. 

“I have made and developed apps before,I knew I did not want to ever have an app again because I did not want to deal with that. As a startup, when you're building everything out, you have to do everything yourself, right? I'm shipping orders, I'm labeling, I'm making the clothes, I'm finding manufacturers, I'm designing, I'm doing everything."
Blake Van Putten, CEO and Founder

And who could blame Blake for wanting to deal with developing an app when he had a new business to run? 

But Tapcart isn’t “developing an app” from scratch. It is a plug-and-play solution that integrates directly into your Shopify store. One that can be ready in two weeks or less. 

And while Blake still wasn’t 100% sure an app was necessary for NYFW, he was intrigued… after all, maybe it could help the brand. And so, contract signed, Tapcart rapidly developed CISE’s app in less than a week and just in time for a soft launch in New York.

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THE SOLUTION

An app that creates excitement and curiosity about the conversations CISE is starting

At NYFW, CISE showcased its first complete collection, taking the brand to new heights. Blake and his team wanted a way to keep people within reach, to connect the dots between fashion and mission. To stay engaged and really build a community. 

The new Tapcart mobile app did just that. 

And while CISE already used email and SMS to communicate with customers, push notifications presented a new way to retain and educate shoppers. 

“The app is a strong communication tool for product releases, updating customers, and with exclusive drops. Like gamification, where people are incentivized to play something, the app has built its own community. And people really like the app. We're not just sending out push notifications to people with cool updates, we have an app that's actually reliable—it’s not going to crash on you."
Blake Van Putten, CEO and Founder

After NYFW, CISE continued leveraging its app during in-person events. And because the brand is involved in such exciting activations, it’s been able to showcase its merchandise and mission during events and immediately drive audiences to the app with a QR code.

One example of the brand’s in-person activations is a “bazaar” where CISE and fourteen other Black-owned businesses invited shoppers to come and purchase products. CISE wrapped a 27-foot trailer, and inside was a total luxury experience where shoppers could check out products. Throughout the activation, QR codes allowed users to view and purchase their selections in the CISE app and have those items shipped to their homes.

“Apps are going to change the way that consumers approach shopping. We’ve made things easier for people and it's something that people enjoy, that is very reliable. It has now been one of our top marketplaces and sales channels that drives consumers and excites people to interact with our business."
Blake Van Putten, CEO and Founder

And Blake is right. After all, traffic converts on the CISE app 165% better than on the mobile web, and 117% better than on the desktop. 

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THE RESULTS

An app that’s easy to use and works for both in-person activations & VIP shopping

One thing Blake said that we should probably get engraved on our office’s wall?

“It should never be a pain to spend your money on something enjoyable. You shouldn't feel hurt when it's like, Dang, I got to do all of this to support the business.”

In other words, no matter what you’re selling and at what level of fashion, your customers deserve a positive, enjoyable shopping experience. Not one where the app is crashing or the website is impossible to use. Customers want to learn about products in an easy way, in a way they can look forward to, without having to jump through hoops to stay loyal to the brands they love.

CISE’s app does all that and more. One of its favorite features? The push notification.

“As opposed to SMS,” Blake said, “push notifications have been super helpful and also allowed a more direct customer experience, right?”

After all, what better way to reach out to your customers who have already proven they adore your brand than in the palm of their hands?

But retention channels, data, and stats aside, CISE’s app is all about community building on a holistic channel that genuinely does everything (engages, educates, retains). The CISE app has created an immersive experience for the brand’s community. The shopping never stops, the party never stops, and most importantly, neither do the powerful conversations CISE is so committed to jump-starting.

“[The app] is a product for our clothing brand—and these interactions and activations have all fed into it, creating a fully immersive experience where now, I can go to the app and be fully invested in the business on all these levels. I’m at the event, and it's not just a party to me. It's really like I'm part of this nice family.”
Blake Van Putten, CEO and Founder

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Find out how CISE and other top fashion brands — like True Classic and VRG GRL — are breaking boundaries and sales records with Tapcart. Let's chat.