Website Development by Sprocket Websites

Sprocket Websites provides Internet solutions for companies of all sizes by offering custom design and development as well as do-it-yourself web building tools. Sprocket has become a go-to source for DotNetNuke®, a popular and proven framework for website development.

A Business Ledger^TM Entrepreneurial Excellence Award Winner!

Sprocket Websites is proud to announce that their partnership has received an Entrepreneurial Excellence Award from The Business Ledger.

Don and Kate Gingold along with Jim and Susan Nagy share the honor as naturally as they share the responsibilities of the business. While both couples have run separate web development companies for years, several joint projects were so successful they decided to join forces as Sprocket Websites. With each partner bringing a unique set of skills to the group, the Sprocket team is able to provide clients with a more comprehensive and responsive web solution than they could as individuals.

“Launching a new venture in a down economy could be risky,” Don Gingold admits, “but we are stronger together."  Jim Nagy agrees. "We are so pleased with how business is growing and then to have our efforts recognized by The Business Ledger is really an honor.”

Think Globally, Act Locally, and Promote World-Wide!

Sprocket is actively involved in its local community. A long-time member of the Chamber of Commerce in Naperville, Illinois, as well as a member of the Bakersfield California Chamber of Commerce, we attend ribbon cuttings, local commercial events and civic meetings, and volunteer in local committees to better our communities.

At the Core: DotNetNuke^®

We provide tools and service for building virtually any kind of website, but our forte and passion is DotNetNuke®, the most popular Content Management System and Development Framework based on the Microsoft .Net platform. Our community involvement extends technically, not just geographically. We are DotNetNuke® Fusion Partners and can supply services directly from DotNetNuke® corporation, but we are also the founders of the Chicago Area DotNetNuke® User Group and lead the area in supporting the interest of this web development tool in the greater Chicagoland area.

As founding members of the Chicago Area DotNetNuke® User Group. Sprocket’s partners were also the local organizers of the first Chicago Day of DotNetNuke® held at Northern Illinois University - Naperville Campus. 

Proper Metrics Make a Website Successful

While our websites intrinsically tell the customers' story, the proof is in the numbers. We are Google Analytics qualified and certified. Our clients see web success the old-fashioned way: we measure it! By instituting a regimen of modifying, measuring and modifying again, our clients' websites prosper naturally and not by chance.

The Sprocket Websites Story

The dictionary defines “serendipity” as “good luck in making unexpected and fortunate discoveries.” Sprocket Websites is most definitely a creation of serendipity.

All small business owners know that networking is essential to growing business and they attend networking functions with the intent of meeting potential clients and sowing referral seeds.

As long-time members of the Naperville Chamber of Commerce, Don and Kate Gingold of Gnu Ventures Company attended as many functions as possible to make contacts, welcome guests and socialize with other entrepreneurs. At a Small Office / Home Office lunch, they were introduced to a brand-new member, Jim Nagy of J&S Tech Designs.

Jim and his partner Susan Steele created custom websites for small companies with the same basic business model as Gnu Ventures. But instead of viewing each other as competitors, Don and Jim became friends and collaborators, sharing tips and solutions and pooling resources to tackle bigger projects.

Gnu Ventures Company and J&S Tech Designs worked together as an informal consortium for some time, each with their own client base but acting as a team when building websites.

While they are both skilled in all areas of website design Jim and Don developed a working relationship that featured the strengths of each. Jim’s persistence in wrangling with code and his laid-back training style complemented Don’s high-energy approach and big-picture planning.

Over several months of discussion and a few good bottles of wine, Sprocket Websites was born to formalize an already-proven business model. The new organization clarifies the mission statement, presents the brand with a little pizzazz and delivers a win-win for everyone from owners to clients.

In addition to the high-quality products and expert service they already experience, clients now reap the benefits of a streamlined process, additional support and a wider range of solutions. For Don and Jim, expanding the brain trust and working with a kindred spirit has been a refreshing boost to business. They, along with their partners, are excited by the possibilities of Sprocket Websites and look forward to using their partnership in helping many more clients find the right website solution.

A Solid Foundation of Two Businesses

Page 14 - October 18, 2010 - The Business Ledger 

Web developers Don and Kate Gingold, together with friends and former IT pros Jim and Susan Nagy, launched Sprocket Websites as a means to grow their individual Web development businesses.

Until joining forces, both companies were forced to turn away clients. They were busy but lacking the resources to tackle more extensive Web site work.

"We were already running two separate Web development businesses so we took the best parts from each to create a new company," said Kate Gingold. "With years of experience behind us, we were able to pare away the non-essentials and focus on what we do best."

As business grew, the company held onto its small clients as well, setting up the Sprocket Website Store to help the many clients who simply couldn't afford custom Web site development.

"Before we joined forces as Sprocket Websites, many of our clients were micro-business owners, who are exciting to work with but have no budget to spend," she said. "Sprocket Websites developed a tiered product system that makes it economically feasible to continue helping even the smallest business clients while freeing us to work on bigger projects.

"This system is unique to Sprocket Websites and we're currently re-creating it for printing companies, graphic designers and other companies who wish to offer Web development.

Collaboration doubled the manpower, and allowed for better time management, at time no longer had to be split between production and sales efforts. Through creative collaboration, they leveraged their collective knowledge into a strong venture.

"We're determined to succeed," Gingold said. "Our partners have all run entrepreneurial businesses before and have no wish to go back to working for someone else, so failure is not an option.

"As an entrepreneur, you can't be fired because of the economy. If business is slow, you just work a little harder. There's plenty of work out there if you're willing to go after it, and we're willing."