Custom online store

The Challenge

A specialty retailer with a loyal local customer base wanted to start selling online. They'd tried a few DIY e-commerce platforms but ran into the same problems every time: the templates didn't fit their product catalog, inventory counts drifted out of sync with their in-store POS system, and they couldn't get the checkout flow to accept the payment methods their customers expected.

They had around 400 SKUs with complex product variations - sizes, colors, materials, and custom engraving options. Off-the-shelf solutions either couldn't handle the variation matrix or made it painfully slow to manage. They needed a store that worked the way their business actually operated, not the other way around.

The Solution

We built a custom WooCommerce store tailored to their specific product catalog and operational workflow:

• Custom product architecture - Built a variation system that handled their full attribute matrix without the performance issues of WooCommerce's default approach. Bulk editing tools let the team update hundreds of SKUs in minutes instead of hours
• Inventory sync - Automated two-way sync between WooCommerce and their in-store Square POS. When a sale happens in either channel, stock counts update within 60 seconds across both systems
• Payment gateway integration - Stripe for credit cards, PayPal for customers who prefer it, and Apple Pay / Google Pay for mobile checkout. Tax calculation handled automatically by state
• Custom product pages - Visual variant selectors with real-time price updates, zoom-capable product photography, and a custom engraving preview tool that shows customers exactly what their personalization will look like
• Shipping automation - Real-time rate calculation from USPS, UPS, and FedEx based on package dimensions and destination. Automatic tracking number emails when orders ship

The Results

What Made the Difference

The inventory sync was the feature that made everything else viable. Previous attempts at online sales had failed because the team couldn't keep stock counts accurate between the physical store and the website. Customers would order items that had already sold out in-store, leading to refunds, apology emails, and lost trust. By automating the sync with near-real-time accuracy, we removed the operational pain point that had been the deal-breaker.

The custom product page with the engraving preview turned out to be a bigger conversion driver than anyone expected. Customers who used the preview tool were significantly more likely to complete their purchase - seeing exactly what they'd get removed the hesitation that comes with personalized products.