Badlands Records: A Bespoke E-Commerce Overhaul

Project Overview

Badlands Records, a beloved independent music retailer in Cheltenham, approached us to modernise their e-commerce presence. Their previous website, built on BigCommerce over eight years ago, no longer met their needs. They wanted to migrate to Shopify, an industry leader in modern features and scalability, while placing their physical shop at the heart of their operations. A strong focus on community was central to their vision.

Process

The transition to Shopify involved more than a simple migration - it required a complete overhaul of their systems to accommodate their unique business model. We tackled several key challenges:

Complex Stock Management

We integrated and merged data from three distinct systems and designed a user-friendly administrative process manageable by the entire team.

Integration

We implemented third-party software tailored to the music industry for product management and sales reporting to chart retailers. Additionally, we established connections to marketplaces like Amazon and eBay and integrated marketing tools such as Constant Contact for newsletters.

Customised Workflows

We streamlined operations for their physical store, including the EPOS system, picking, packing, shipping, and inventory management, by leveraging apps like Veeqo and Royal Mail’s Click & Drop. User guides, flowcharts, and staff training were provided to ensure a smooth transition. We also developed Excel upload workbook templates to simplify data management.

Customer Experience

We migrated customer data and orders from the existing site and enhanced email flows to improve retention and automation. Each Shopify page was designed with the customer in mind, incorporating upsell opportunities through a one-page checkout and intuitive product collections for easier navigation.

Product Management

We mapped and migrated around 10,000 products from three different inventory systems, filling gaps for approximately 5,000 products with missing images and data.

Shopify Design Work

We refined the typography, colours, and overall design to align with Badlands’ branding. Custom CSS was added to ensure the site met specific requirements while maintaining its established visual identity.

Maintaining Continuity

We ensured minimal disruption by running existing systems in parallel during the migration process.

The Outcome

The new mobile friendly Shopify-powered website not only modernised Badlands’ e-commerce capabilities but also reinforced their community-focused ethos. From improved workflows to a polished, customer-friendly interface, the upgrade ensured their online and physical shop worked harmoniously together.