Our client operates a dynamic online learning platform focused on aromatherapy education. Over time, the business encountered growing complexity in managing both educational content delivery and retail operations through separate systems. The technical landscape included custom solutions for student networking, blogging, courses, and payments, but lacked the flexibility to easily create and update marketing and application content without developer intervention.

The organization also runs a subsidiary e-commerce platform selling essential oils and related products via Shopify. While functional, the existing Shopify setup limited customization and aesthetic control, constraining the client’s ability to present a cohesive brand experience.

The client engaged Kirschbaum to build a flexible, integrated platform that would support rapid content creation, enhance the learning experience, and elevate e-commerce presence.

This initiative involved two interrelated yet distinct technical challenges:

Dynamic content and education delivery:
The client’s educational platform required support for student networking, blogging, payment workflows, and course resources. Off-the-shelf solutions either lacked necessary features or were too rigid, forcing the team into time-intensive direct HTML edits for new pages and marketing materials. Non-technical staff needed the ability to build and modify web content quickly without developer support.

E-commerce appearance and flexibility:
The client’s Shopify-based store needed a significant upgrade. They wanted improved visual branding, enhanced customization options, and greater control over user experience, all while transitioning to Shopify 2. However, Shopify’s native tooling limited layout flexibility, making certain customizations difficult to achieve without engineering effort.

The combined solution needed to support content agility, a polished student user experience, and a customized retail storefront in systems accessible to non-developers without sacrificing architectural quality.

To meet these goals, we employed a multi-faceted strategy focused on platform flexibility, modular design, and enhancing non-technical editing capabilities:

Custom dynamic content builder:
We introduced a powerful web builder framework, similar in concept to platforms like Shopify, but built on a custom architecture using Filament. This enabled the client to generate and modify content, including marketing pages, application flows, and student resources, without writing HTML or requiring developer intervention.

Configurable, user-friendly architecture:
Rather than hard-coding layouts and components, we built a highly configurable system that allows the client’s team to assemble pages and features through intuitive interfaces. This approach reduced error risk, increased responsiveness to marketing and educational needs, and shortened iteration cycles.

Elevated e-commerce experience:
For the storefront, we led the upgrade to Shopify 2, revamping site appearance and functionality. Leveraging Laravel where needed, we extended customization capabilities, introduced additional styling options, and aligned the retail experience with the education platform’s brand vision.

Retheming and visual alignment:
We executed a comprehensive retheming of the marketplace, stretching the limits of Shopify’s customization capabilities while maintaining a sustainable, maintainable codebase that the client could evolve over time.

Kirschbaum partnered closely with the client to ensure deliverables matched business goals, supported rapid iteration, and reduced the technical barrier for future content updates.

Outcome

The project delivered a flexible, unified platform that empowered the team and enhanced end-user experiences:

Empowered content creation:
Non-technical staff can now create and modify pages without developer assistance, significantly reducing turnaround time for marketing campaigns, resource updates, and promotional content. 

Improved educational experience:
Students enjoy a faster, more seamless learning environment with a system designed around dynamic content delivery rather than static, hard-coded pages.

Upgraded retail presence:
The e-commerce site now reflects a more customized, visually compelling retail experience. The transition to Shopify 2, combined with aesthetic and functional enhancements, elevated the brand’s digital storefront.

Reduced technical friction:
By removing the need for manual HTML changes and enabling configuration through intuitive interfaces, the client reduced development bottlenecks and technical friction for non-engineer team members.

Overall, the platform’s modularity and configurability support ongoing business evolution without heavy reliance on engineering resources.

This engagement highlights our ability to deliver practical, developer-friendly solutions that amplify business autonomy and user experience:

• We shifted content control back to the team: Non-developers can now build and update pages quickly, increasing agility and reducing dependency on engineering support.

• We balanced customization with maintainability: The solution supports visual richness and flexibility without compromising architectural quality or future extensibility.

• We unified disparate systems: By enhancing both the education and retail sides under consistent patterns, the client now operates a more cohesive digital ecosystem.

• We delivered a future-ready platform: The technical foundation supports rapid iteration and aligns with the client’s growth trajectory in a competitive market.

The result is a robust, user-centric platform that strengthens the client’s ability to educate, engage, and sell while minimizing technical bottlenecks.