Complex problems. Measurable results.
Sons
One of the most technically complex D2C platforms in UK healthcare — built from scratch over three years, live across three markets.
The Challenge
Sons started life on Shopify with Bold Subscriptions as a bolted-on subscription layer. As the business scaled, the limitations of that stack became a ceiling: Bold couldn't support the regulatory complexity of selling prescription medication, the pharmacy fulfilment integrations required, or the multi-market subscription logic needed for Ireland and Germany. A fully bespoke platform was the only viable path forward.
What We Built
BigHat Digital designed and built a greenfield headless commerce platform from scratch. Shopify remains in place — powering product listings, product display pages and the blog/CMS — but all transactional logic was moved off-platform. A custom Next.js headless checkout handles every transaction. The entire subscription layer was rebuilt on Stripe Subscriptions, one of the deepest integrations into the Stripe Subscriptions API on the market. A custom Symfony/PHP REST API serves as the platform backbone, kept in real-time sync with both Shopify and Stripe via bidirectional webhooks. The result: a 50% overnight increase in orders on go-live.
Technical Achievements
- Delivered in conjunction with agency partner Tickled Chilli — a multi-year collaborative engineering partnership
- Shopify used as product catalogue, PDP and CMS/blog layer — storefront remains on Shopify
- All transactions processed through a custom headless Next.js checkout — zero reliance on Shopify Payments
- One of the deepest integrations into Stripe Subscriptions API on the market: pause, modify, cancel, cross-market billing
- Custom Symfony/PHP REST API as the authoritative backend — real-time sync via Shopify and Stripe webhooks
- Bidirectional webhook architecture: platform state always consistent with both Shopify and Stripe in real time
- Migrated from Bold Subscriptions (Shopify plugin) to a fully bespoke Stripe Subscriptions layer — zero data loss
- Pharmacy integration with licensed fulfilment partners for prescription medication dispatch
- MHRA-compliant clinical consultation flows and prescribing partner integrations
- Multi-market subscription engine: GBP (UK), EUR (Ireland), EUR (Germany) — separate regulatory and fulfilment logic per market
- Overnight zero-downtime cutover from the legacy Shopify/Bold stack — 50% order uplift recorded day one
"A nearly three-year engineering partnership — BigHat Digital and Tickled Chilli working in conjunction to build the platform Sons needed to scale across three markets."
Beige Plus
London's premier luxury plus-size boutique — preserved on OpenMage LTS when the client chose continuity over disruption.
The Challenge
When Magento announced end-of-life for Magento 1, the conventional path was to migrate to Magento 2 — a costly and disruptive rebuild. The Beige Plus team had no appetite for that level of upheaval to a store that was performing well. They needed an honest recommendation and a practical alternative that kept the business stable and secure.
What We Built
BigHat recommended and migrated Beige Plus to OpenMage LTS — the community-maintained fork of Magento 1 that continues to receive security patches, bug fixes and PHP compatibility updates. This was the right call for the client: the familiar admin, the existing catalogue architecture and the custom theme were all preserved, while the platform remained secure and actively maintained. The result was continuity without compromise.
Technical Achievements
- Migration from end-of-life Magento 1 to OpenMage LTS — the community-supported fork with active security and PHP compatibility maintenance
- Client-first recommendation: advised against a costly Magento 2 migration in favour of a pragmatic, stable solution
- Custom theme preserved and extended — no design disruption for the client or their customers
- Advanced layered navigation: filter by designer brand, garment type, colour and size across 10,000+ SKUs
- Multi-brand catalogue: Marina Rinaldi, Persona (Max Mara), Anna Scholz, Elena Miro, Verpass, Wille and more
- Customer account portal with exclusive member discounts and newsletter integration
- UK and international shipping configuration
- Stock synchronisation between online store and West End boutique
- Ongoing OpenMage security patching and platform maintenance
Further projects & partnerships
Alongside our flagship builds, we maintain long-term partnerships across eCommerce, B2B and specialist retail.
Lily Bain is Northern Ireland's leading bathroom and tile specialist, operating a flagship showroom in Newry, Co. Down alongside their full Magento 2 eCommerce store. Established in 2015, the family-run business carries an extensive range spanning full bathroom suites, freestanding baths, shower enclosures, bidet toilets, premium taps, thermostatic mixers, rainfall systems, tiles, luxury waterproof panels and bathroom furniture — sourced from world-leading manufacturers.
What we delivered
- Full Magento 2 build with large-format catalogue management (thousands of SKUs)
- Complex product variants: size, finish, colour and display item workflows
- Integrated showroom: virtual tour, consultation booking, ex-display item management
- Premium tile and panel catalogue: ceramics, porcelain, PVC panels, luxury waterproof boards
- Faceted filtering for a large catalogue spanning baths, showers, tiles, furniture and accessories
- Ongoing Magento 2 development and support
VacGen is a world-leading manufacturer of ultra-high vacuum (UHV) components and precision scientific instrumentation, with over 60 years of vacuum innovation. Serving the semiconductor, surface science, photoemission spectroscopy, nuclear fusion and materials research sectors, VacGen produces everything from UHV-cleaned chambers and XYZ manipulators to bespoke build-to-print electromechanical assemblies — manufactured in a class 7 cleanroom environment. Clients include government research bodies, universities and leading semiconductor manufacturers globally.
What we delivered
- B2B eCommerce for highly technical, bespoke scientific hardware
- Complex product configuration: build-to-print and custom specification request workflows
- Technical documentation management: engineering drawings, certifications, UHV specifications
- RFQ and custom quotation integration for non-standard products
- Multi-sector catalogue: semiconductor, surface science, nuclear fusion, metrology
- Ongoing development and platform support for a highly specialised global customer base
ArtRepublic is one of the UK's most respected online art galleries, representing hundreds of artists across original works, limited editions and prints. BigHat Digital has been their trusted long-term eCommerce partner, maintaining, enhancing and developing their Magento 2 platform — keeping a complex, content-rich gallery store running reliably.
What we delivered
- Long-term Magento 2 development and managed support partnership
- Complex product catalogue: originals, limited editions, prints, framing options
- Artist management and gallery-style content architecture
- 24/7 managed support and proactive monitoring
"Having worked with the team at BigHat for years, it was only natural for us to continue to lean on them to look after and maintain our websites."
Yes I Want It
A vibrant gifting and lifestyle brand needing a platform capable of handling significant seasonal traffic spikes and a rich product catalogue. BigHat delivered a fast, visually engaging Shopify store built for growth.
What we delivered
- Custom Shopify theme
- Seasonal traffic resilience
- CRO-optimised checkout
We work extensively with other agencies — white-label and direct.
A significant part of our work is done in partnership with other creative and digital agencies who bring us in as their trusted eCommerce development partner. We operate seamlessly under white-label arrangements — delivering the technical depth their clients need, under their brand.
These partnerships work both ways: agencies refer eCommerce-heavy projects they don't want to resource in-house, and we bring in agency partners on projects where their design or marketing expertise complements ours. It's a model built on trust, transparency and a shared commitment to quality.
Tickled Chilli
tickledchilli.co.ukTickled Chilli is one of BigHat Digital's most significant and longest-standing agency partners — and one of our biggest clients overall. A creative and digital agency with a strong portfolio of web and branding work, they bring us in as their eCommerce development engine on a regular basis.
We work with Tickled Chilli both on a white-label basis — delivering under their brand for their clients — and directly on joint engagements where our combined capabilities create better outcomes than either of us could achieve alone. The relationship is built on years of trust and a consistent record of delivery.
Are you an agency looking for an eCommerce development partner?
We work discreetly and professionally under white-label arrangements, or openly as a named technical partner.
Our process
Transparent, collaborative, and focused on delivering measurable results. No cowboys. No surprises.
Discovery
We start by deeply understanding your business model, technical landscape, goals and constraints — no assumptions, just careful listening.
Architecture & Plan
A detailed technical proposal, platform recommendation, project roadmap and honest budget. We never over-promise and under-deliver.
Build & Test
Design, engineering, integration and QA — built in staging, tested thoroughly, reviewed collaboratively before anything touches production.
Launch & Partner
A controlled go-live, followed by monitoring, iteration and ongoing development. We stay with you long after launch day — often for years.
Ready to be our next success story?
Whether you need a platform built from scratch or an existing store taken to the next level — let's talk.