At YellowWebMonkey, we’ve had the privilege of working with major corporations and household names, building sophisticated high-volume eCommerce platforms. But some of our most rewarding projects come from helping passionate entrepreneurs take their first steps into the digital marketplace—or in the case of our recent client, Craftinest, helping an established brick-and-mortar craft store prove that you can indeed teach an old store new tricks.
When Traditional Retail Meets Digital Innovation
The story of Craftinest.com perfectly illustrates why we love what we do. This established craft business needed to transition from a traditional brick-and-mortar operation to a hybrid model that could serve customers both in-store and online. The challenge was creating a digital platform that could handle not just product sales, but also educational services like class scheduling and enrollment.
The business recognized the growing demand for online craft shopping and virtual learning opportunities—because let’s face it, who doesn’t prefer shopping for yarn in their pajamas?
The Unique Challenge: Dual-Purpose Platform
Working with Craftinest.com presented an interesting challenge that goes beyond typical eCommerce development. Unlike businesses that focus solely on product sales, this project required creating a platform that seamlessly integrates retail and education—because selling someone yarn is one thing, but teaching them what to do with it? That’s where the real magic happens.
- Retail operations for craft supply sales
- Educational services with online class scheduling and enrollment
- Launching soon: Event calendar integration allowing customers to sign up online for classes and purchase the required materials at the same time
- Customer account management for both shopping and learning
- Secure payment processing for multiple transaction types
- Gift card functionality for both products and classes
The platform features:
Our Development Approach
Building the Foundation
We chose Shopify as the platform foundation, leveraging its robust eCommerce capabilities while customizing it to handle the unique requirements of educational service bookings. The integration allows for seamless inventory management alongside class scheduling.
A key component of this seamless experience is Craftinest’s implementation of Shopify Point of Sale for credit card processing, which creates a unified system that tracks inventory seamlessly between online and offline operations.
User-Friendly Design
The new Craftinest.com features an intuitive interface that makes it easy for customers to navigate between shopping for supplies and browsing available classes. The design maintains the welcoming, creative atmosphere that craft enthusiasts expect while ensuring smooth functionality across all devices.
Key Features Include:
- Integrated eCommerce and class booking system
- Shopify Point of Sale integration for unified credit card processing
- Secure customer login and account management
- Flexible payment processing through Shopify’s payment solutions
- Gift card functionality that works for both products and classes
- Mobile-responsive design for on-the-go access
- Seamless inventory tracking between online and in-store operations via Shopify POS
- Enhanced customer functions including:
- Email newsletter signup integration
- Automated receipt sending
- Complete order history saving
- Loyalty points system synchronized across all channels
Supporting the Hybrid Model
The platform is designed to support Craftinest.com’s transition to a hybrid business model, where online and in-store experiences complement each other. Customers can browse and purchase online, then pick up in-store, or attend classes while shopping for related supplies. The Shopify Point of Sale system ensures that whether customers shop online or in-store, their experience is consistent, their loyalty points accumulate, and their purchase history is always accessible.
Why This Project Excites Us
At YellowWebMonkey, we’re equally energized whether we’re optimizing conversion rates for a multinational retailer or launching the first website for a local business. Projects like Craftinest.com remind us why we love working with businesses that are expanding their reach and adapting to meet their customers’ evolving needs.
The hybrid business model represents the future of retail—combining the personal touch of in-store experiences with the convenience and accessibility of digital platforms. For craft businesses especially, this approach allows them to maintain the community aspect that’s so important to their customers while reaching new audiences who may have never set foot in a craft store but are eager to learn the ancient art of making things that probably won’t fall apart.
Results and Future Growth
The new Craftinest.com platform positions the business for sustainable growth in both retail and educational services. The integrated approach means customers can easily discover classes while shopping for supplies, and class participants often become regular customers for ongoing projects.
With the upcoming event calendar integration, customers will soon be able to view all available classes, register online, and automatically add the required materials to their cart—creating an even more streamlined experience that drives both class enrollment and product sales.
The platform’s flexibility allows for future expansion, whether that means adding new class formats, expanding product lines, or introducing additional features based on customer feedback and business growth.
Ready to Build Your Hybrid Business Model?
If you’re a brick-and-mortar business considering expansion into digital sales or educational services, the opportunities are significant. The key is building a platform that supports your unique business model while providing the seamless experience customers expect.
Whether you’re managing a multi-million dollar enterprise or expanding a local business like Craftinest.com, success comes from understanding your customers’ needs and building with growth in mind.
At YellowWebMonkey, we don’t just build websites—we create digital foundations that grow with your business. Our veteran-owned team brings the same attention to detail and commitment to excellence that we learned in military service to every project, whether it’s a major enterprise redesign or a first-time digital expansion.
Ready to explore the possibilities for your business? Contact our team today to discuss how we can help you build a platform that supports your growth goals.
YellowWebMonkey has been helping businesses succeed online since 2009. As a veteran-owned Shopify Plus Partner and SEMRush Agency, we specialize in creating conversion-focused websites that grow with your business. Learn more about our eCommerce development services or read more client success stories.
