Cape Town based web software company Obox has released Layers, a new product that promises to enable simple website creation with WordPress. The launch, which took place 2 weeks ago has already seen 15,000 product downloads and has been featured on some of the world‘s top product blogs.
WordPress currently powers around 23% of the entire internet and as a result has sprung a hundred million dollar theme and plugin industry, aiming to provide users with more options for how they want their sites to look. Yet despite its popularity, themes are still is not easy for novices to use.
Layers aims to change that with a visual editor approach to web layout creation which puts the user in direct control but still encourages good design practices. Once installed as a theme on a WordPress site, users can create sites in minutes, with an easy point-and-click interface.
Interestingly, Layers is a free product that anyone can download however Obox intend to create a suite of paid-for extensions to enable more advanced site customisation that users can bolt on when necessary.
“œOur aim is to change the way people approach the creation of websites with WordPress.“ says co-founder David Perel. “œCurrently WordPress and site builders take too long to learn and use, and we want to change that. We‘re building a new ecosystem of designers, developers, agencies and everyday people who are using Layers to create the their presence on the web without compromising the tried and tested power and popularity of WordPress“
Obox also recently acquired local Cape Town web development agency Calyx, to add to their staff complement and secured funding from Adii Pienaar, the former WooThemes co-founder and brainchild behind the world‘s most installed e-commerce system, WooCommerce
We‘ll be keeping an eye on these local tech dudes doing big things.
Follow Theunis on Twitter: @Theunis_BWB
