Artisan Gifts
B2C/B2B
How a Regional Artisan Marketplace Modernized Their BigCommerce Store with Cornerstone
WisconsinMade partners with Wisconsin-based artisans to showcase the talent and craftsmanship found throughout the state. They make it easy for shoppers to discover and share unique, handcrafted products while supporting local makers, small businesses, and communities.
Scope Summary
The Effort
Project Management
Free
UX/UI Design
20 hrs
Development
50 hrs
CRO
10 hrs
SEO
20 hrs
Total
100 hrs
Service Model
Project
i
We offer three flexible service models: On Call, Project, Monthly. See our pricing page for details.
Engagement Range
$7,000 – $10,000
i
This range is provided only as a reference to help estimate similar engagements. Actual costs vary based on project scope, complexity, custom functionality, and client direction.
Theme: Cornerstone Theme
Team Members
Project Manager
UX/UI Designer
Developer
Developer
Developer
CRO Expoert
Tech Stack
AdobeXD
Klaviyo
The Challenge
Over time, WisconsinMade’s BigCommerce store started to feel dated. The theme was several versions behind, navigation was cluttered, and key landing pages did not reflect the warmth and quality of the artisans they represent. The checkout flow was also not aligned with how customers actually shop for gifts, and small details like gift messaging were buried in generic “Order Comments” that were easy to miss.
Behind the scenes, integrations with tools like Ordoro and ChannelAdvisor needed attention, from getting bill-to names and gift messages onto packing slips to keeping order tracking in sync. They wanted to modernize the storefront, improve the checkout experience, and firm up integrations, all without losing the charm and flexibility of a long running artisan marketplace
Project Goals
Migrate to the latest Cornerstone theme while preserving key customizations
Refresh the homepage and shared layout (header and footer) for a more modern, cohesive experience
Improve checkout usability, including a clear “Gift Message” field and better shipping information
Add trust badges and restructure the site map to highlight key policies and support content
Provide a clear path for blog and content integration to support SEO and storytelling
Improve and support integrations with Ordoro and ChannelAdvisor, including packing slip and tracking details
Set up an ongoing Monthly model for continuous site maintenance and enhancements
Our Approach
We began with a full review of the existing BigCommerce store, documenting customizations and mapping out what needed to be preserved during the upgrade to the latest Cornerstone theme. From there, we rolled out a refreshed homepage concept and standardized header and footer so the site felt more modern and consistent without forcing a ground up redesign of every page.
On the checkout side, we converted the generic “Order Comments” field into a clear “Gift Message” field across the storefront and order confirmations, reorganized steps based on WisconsinMade’s preferences, and clarified shipping details to reduce confusion. We added trust badges and restructured the site map so important sections like shipping, returns, and customer service were easier to find. In parallel, we reviewed requirements for Ordoro and ChannelAdvisor, including adding bill-to names and gift messages to packing slips and improving order tracking communication. Once the foundation was in place, WisconsinMade continued under a Monthly service model for ongoing updates, UX tweaks, SEO support, and integration maintenance.
Outcome
WisconsinMade now runs a modern BigCommerce store that better reflects the quality and care behind its artisan collective. The updated Cornerstone implementation, improved checkout experience, stronger trust signals, and tuned integrations create a smoother shopping journey for customers and a more manageable platform for the internal team. With AOC engaged on an ongoing Monthly basis, the site continues to evolve through iterative improvements rather than stop and start rebuilds, allowing WisconsinMade to stay focused on championing local makers while we handle the technical and UX details.
Growth Highlights
Modern Cornerstone based theme that preserves key customizations
Clearer checkout with dedicated gift messaging and better shipping clarity
Stronger trust signals and site structure for higher confidence and easier support discovery
More stable integrations with fulfillment and channel tools, reducing manual cleanup
A long term enhancement path through Monthly support instead of one off rebuilds
Always Open Commerce has been my web developer since 2021 and they have been great to work with on updates to the WisconsinMade web site. They keep me informed of the status of my projects and when monthly costs are close to or have exceeded my budget. The cost of their services are extremely reasonable and they deliver high-quality work.
- WisconsinMade Artisan Collective