~/utak-west/projects/artisan-collective
[CASE_STUDY]~/artisan-collective
>cat ./README.md
[E-commerce]
[COMPOSITE]

From Gallery to Global Marketplace

How an artist cooperative achieved 200% online sales growth

>./context

[CLIENT]

A cooperative of 25+ local artists selling handmade goods, previously limited to in-person markets and gallery events.

[CHALLENGE]

Create an online marketplace that maintains the artisan feel while enabling scale and artist autonomy.

[TIMELINE]

3 months

>./problem[ERROR]

Artists were limited to in-person sales at markets and galleries, with no online presence and complex manual processes for inventory and payouts.

  • !Sales limited to in-person events only
  • !No way to showcase artist stories and processes
  • !Manual inventory tracking across multiple artists
  • !Complex payout calculations for each artist
  • !No email marketing or customer retention
>./solution[OK]

We built a multi-vendor marketplace that empowers artists to manage their own shops while the cooperative handles backend operations.

  • WooCommerce multi-vendor marketplace with artist storefronts
  • Automated artist payout system with commission tracking
  • Inventory sync between online and in-person sales
  • Artist profile pages with studio stories and process photos
  • Email marketing automation for customer retention
>./implementation

Phase 1: Marketplace Foundation

Build multi-vendor WooCommerce platform

Multi-vendor setupArtist onboardingProduct upload trainingPayment gateway

Phase 2: Artist Empowerment

Create artist storefronts and profiles

Artist profile pagesStory templatesPhoto guidelinesBio optimization

Phase 3: Operations

Implement inventory and payout automation

Inventory sync systemPayout calculatorCommission trackingSales reporting

Phase 4: Growth

Launch marketing and retention systems

Email campaignsCustomer retention flowsSocial integrationAnalytics dashboard
>./impact[SUCCESS]

The collective transformed from in-person-only to a thriving online marketplace, giving artists new revenue streams and global reach.

+200%
Online Sales
new revenue channel
25+
Artists
on platform
500+
Products
SKUs listed
Global
Customer Base
from local only
>./tech-stack
WordPressWooCommerceDokan Multi-vendorMailchimpSquare POSShipStation
>./next-steps[ROADMAP]
  • Mobile app for in-person sales sync
  • Virtual studio tours and live sales events
  • Wholesale portal for retailers
[NEXT_STEPS]~/engagement
> ./ready-for-similar-results

Ready for Similar Results?

Let's discuss how systems architecture can transform your operations.