Artisanal Bakery Doubles Online Sales with Custom E-commerce Solution

Sweet Traditions Bakery had built a loyal local following for their artisanal bread and pastries, but their online presence was limited to a basic website with contact information and store hours. As the COVID-19 pandemic hit, they needed to quickly pivot to online sales to survive.

The bakery faced several challenges:

• No existing e-commerce infrastructure
• Limited technical knowledge among staff
• Need for specialized features like time-slot delivery scheduling
• Requirement to showcase their products beautifully online
• Limited budget as a small business under pressure

They needed a solution that would allow them to start selling online quickly while maintaining their brand's artisanal quality and personal touch.

We developed a comprehensive e-commerce solution tailored specifically to Sweet Traditions' unique needs:

• Custom-designed Shopify store that reflected their warm, artisanal brand identity
• Professional product photography to showcase their baked goods
• Implementation of a time-slot delivery system that integrated with their production schedule
• Custom order forms for special requests and catering
• Integration with their existing point-of-sale system
• Mobile-optimized checkout process
• Staff training on order management and website updates

We prioritized creating an intuitive shopping experience that would appeal to their existing customers while attracting new ones. The design emphasized the handcrafted nature of their products and told the story of their baking process and ingredients.

The e-commerce solution transformed Sweet Traditions' business:

Within the first month of launch, online sales exceeded their expectations by 150%. By the third month, they had doubled their pre-pandemic revenue through a combination of local delivery and curbside pickup options.

The bakery was able to retain all staff members during the pandemic and even hired two additional employees to handle online order fulfillment. Their customer base expanded beyond their local neighborhood to cover the entire city.

The time-slot delivery system optimized their production schedule and reduced waste. Customer feedback on the online ordering experience was overwhelmingly positive, with a satisfaction rating of 4.8/5.

Perhaps most importantly, Sweet Traditions successfully pivoted their business model during a challenging time and built a new revenue stream that continues to grow even as in-person shopping has resumed.