The Challenge
Their existing WordPress website was struggling under the weight of what it needed to do. Built with multiple plugins trying to handle everything from e-commerce to production planning and international shipping, the site had become slow, unreliable, and difficult to manage. Plugins conflicted with each other, updates broke functionality, and support for outdated extensions had dried up.
Referred to us by Fentimans (another long-term client), they needed a completely bespoke e-commerce platform that would work the way their bakery actually operates - not force their business into another generic template system.
Our Approach
The client wanted to retain the existing website's look and feel - despite its technical problems, the design worked well for the brand and was familiar to their customers. Our approach was to keep the visual design and user experience intact whilst completely rebuilding the backend with bespoke functionality.
We recognised that Grasmere Gingerbread isn't just another online shop. They're a working bakery with real production constraints, fresh daily baking, and the complexity of shipping perishable goods internationally whilst maintaining the quality standards that have sustained them for over a century and a half.
Rather than trying to retrofit their needs into an off-the-shelf platform, we built a completely custom system designed around their operational reality - from daily baking schedules to international shipping regulations.
The Solution
Production-Integrated E-commerce
The website integrates directly with bakery operations. Staff can see exactly how much gingerbread has been ordered for shipping each day, allowing them to plan production accurately. They can also look ahead to future orders, helping with forward planning and ensuring they're never caught short or baking excess stock.
Daily Order Management
Because the bakery can only produce a certain amount of gingerbread each day whilst maintaining their quality standards, we built in the ability to limit daily orders. Once the capacity for a particular day is reached, no more orders can be placed for that dispatch date. This protects both production quality and prevents the team from being overwhelmed at busy times whilst preventing potentially lost orders by moving them automatically into the next shipping date.
Complex International Shipping
We implemented a sophisticated shipping matrix that handles international deliveries across multiple countries, each with different rates, customs regulations, and delivery considerations. The system accounts for temperature and freshness requirements, ensuring customers worldwide receive their gingerbread in perfect condition.
Financial Reporting
Built-in reporting gives the business clear visibility of sales, orders, and revenue - essential for managing both daily operations and long-term planning.
Complete Management Control
Unlike the old plugin-heavy WordPress site, the bespoke CMS gives staff straightforward control over products, orders, and content without conflicts, compatibility issues, or unexpected breakages.
The Results
Grasmere Gingerbread now have an e-commerce platform that works with their business, not against it. The site is easy to manage, staff can handle daily operations efficiently, and the bakery runs smoothly with clear visibility of production requirements.
The system has removed the frustration of the old WordPress setup whilst giving them capabilities that no off-the-shelf platform could provide. Most importantly, it supports their traditional craft baking whilst enabling them to serve customers across the world.
Services Provided:
- Bespoke e-commerce platform development
- Production planning and order management system
- Daily order capacity controls
- International shipping matrix
- Financial reporting and analytics
- Custom CMS
- Ongoing technical support
