Contact us
Adrian Magnus

Adrian Magnus

B2B Transformation & Wholesale Scalability on Shopify

 

About the Client

Service Provided: B2B Implementation, Shopify Store Development and Customization

The client’s business ecosystem comprises several specialized brands, including two core ones we were able to help: Cigar Dropshipping - a high-volume Shopify Plus store, and Adrian Magnus - a premium retailer specializing in cigars and accessories.  Our partnership began with optimization for the Plus platform for Cigar Dropshipping, and after confirming successful collaboration, the client decided to scale it to the Adrian Magnus project.

Adrian Magnus is a premium retailer specializing in cigars and accessories. They serve a diverse global market, ranging from individual connoisseurs to large-scale international retailers and wholesalers. The goal was to transform their online presence into a hybrid platform capable of handling both D2C and complex B2B sales within a single storefront.


Business Challenge 

The primary challenge was overcoming the native limitations of Shopify’s standard plans to deliver a "Shopify Plus-like" B2B experience without the enterprise-level overhead. Adrian Magnus required a robust technical partner to architect a framework that could manage complex wholesale logic and multi-tier pricing across different international markets.

The core client’s priorities included:

  • Hybrid Sales Model: Enabling B2B sales with specific pricing tiers for registered clients based on their purchase history and geographical market.

  • Cost Efficiency: Building advanced wholesale functionality on a standard Shopify plan to optimize operational costs.

  • Complex Pricing Logic: Dynamically displaying dual pricing (Retail Price vs. Assigned Tier Price) across the catalog and product pages.

  • UX Optimization: Redesigning the blog and refining the catalog logic to ensure the fastest and most intuitive path to purchase for all customer segments.


Partnership Format 

Adrian Magnus engaged Grodas for specialized Shopify development and strategic consulting. The project is managed by our dedicated Shopify Stores Team, ensuring continuous delivery and high-level project oversight. Our developers utilized deep platform expertise to find and apply advanced technical solutions - such as a custom JavaScript-based catalog - ensuring the store meets enterprise-level performance and functional standards. Work is organized via Trello, with communication streamlined through WhatsApp and Trello to ensure rapid response to the client's business priorities.


Solution 

Strategic B2B Architecture 

The project began with a strategic choice: instead of migrating to Shopify Plus, which carries a significant monthly license fee (starting at $2,300+), we opted to build a custom B2B ecosystem using the SparkLayer application. This allowed the client to achieve enterprise-grade wholesale functionality with a much higher return on investment (ROI).

Phased Market-Specific Logic 

We adopted an iterative approach to the implementation. Initially, we deployed a fundamental tier-based system to validate the B2B model. Once the stability of the solution was proven, we evolved the architecture into a sophisticated, market-specific logic. Pricing tiers and access privileges are now customized not just by customer group, but individually tailored to the specific market and region the client operates in.

Advanced Catalog Customization (JS Rendering) 

To support this complex market logic on the frontend, standard Liquid code was insufficient. Our team developed a custom solution:

  • We rebuilt the catalog and product cards using JavaScript rendering to fetch real-time data from the SparkLayer API.

  • We implemented custom price components that dynamically display the correct market-specific savings to logged-in B2B users.

  • This high-performance approach ensures that wholesale prices are accurate and load instantly, significantly improving B2B conversion rates.

UX/UI & Feature Enhancements 

Beyond the backend logic, we focused on the frontend experience to ensure the site remained engaging and functional:

  • Blog Redesign: A complete overhaul of the blog section to improve brand storytelling and SEO.

  • Inventory Automation: Integration of the Back in Stock app, customized to alert customers of restocked items, ensuring no sales opportunities are lost in the premium cigar niche.


Cooperation Outcomes 

Enterprise Features on a Standard Budget 

The most significant achievement was implementing full B2B functionality on a standard Shopify plan. This saved the client about 24,000 USD in yearly recurring Shopify Plus costs, while delivering the necessary wholesale features.

Scalable Architecture 

By solving platform limitations with custom JavaScript solutions, we provided a scalable foundation. The store now handles complex pricing structures that can grow with the client's business.

Enhanced User Experience 

The completely reworked catalog logic ensures that both retail and wholesale customers have a seamless experience, viewing the correct pricing and stock availability tailored to their account status.

Long-Term Partnership 

The success of the initial implementation has led to an ongoing partnership. We continue to hold strategic calls with the owner to plan future features, proving Grodas’s value as a reliable technical partner.


Technologies and Tools 

Core Tech Stack: HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, Liquid 

Platform: Shopify API, Shopify Apps (SparkLayer, Helium Customer Fields, Back in Stock) 

Project Management: Trello, WhatsApp 

Version Control: Git

 

 

 

Back to Case studies