Backe i Grensen — Project for multi-store E-commerce & wedding list platform

About the Brand

Backe i Grensen is one of Oslo’s most prestigious interior and design stores, offering high-end kitchenware, table settings, home décor, and gifts from renowned Scandinavian and international brands. Their digital platform extends the in-store experience online — combining refined product presentation with a strong focus on customer support and event gifting.

Beyond retail, Backe i Grensen is known for its personalized assistance for wedding couples. The team helps future brides and grooms build their wedding registries, while making it easy for guests to choose and purchase gifts directly through the online store.

Project Overview

At Dekode Interaktiv, I contributed to the development, optimization, and long-term maintenance of Backe i Grensen’s WooCommerce-based website.
My role focused on product management, feature architecture, and technical implementations that extended WooCommerce’s capabilities while maintaining the site’s aesthetic integrity and smooth user experience.

Key challenges included:

  • Managing multiple stock locations across different physical stores.
  • Designing a frictionless multi-step checkout flow.
  • Building an advanced wedding list (wishlist) system that integrates with WooCommerce orders.

Technical Challenges & Solutions

Multi-Stock Management

WooCommerce natively supports only a single inventory per product, which posed a major limitation since Backe i Grensen operates with separate stocks for multiple stores.

To solve this, I implemented a custom multi-stock solution using WooCommerce’s internal architecture, leveraging:

  • The WooCommerce client session API for dynamic store context switching.
  • Custom product meta for per-store inventory tracking.
  • A modal interface on product pages allowing customers to choose a preferred store stock before adding to cart.

This allowed real-time inventory validation and ensured accurate order routing — a critical enhancement for multi-location retail operations.

Improved Checkout Experience

The default WooCommerce checkout can be cumbersome, especially for high-value purchases like wedding gifts.
I developed a custom multi-step checkout flow, dividing the process into clear sections (customer details, delivery, payment) with progressive validation.

I also implemented one of the first versions of the HeltHjem Shipping integrations allowing the client to use their services properly: either delivery by-the-door, or choosing a pick-up point from their list.
This approach improved conversion rates and user satisfaction, aligning the online buying flow with the premium nature of the brand.

Design Enhancements

While extending the site’s functionality, I maintained strict adherence to the existing design language — ensuring visual consistency with the brand’s minimalist Scandinavian aesthetic.

Specific improvements included:

  • Developing new UI components (buttons, modals, input fields) that matched the site’s tone.
  • Introducing contextual buttons on product pages to handle store selection and wedding list actions.
  • Designing aesthetic modals for selecting store stock and wedding card customization, ensuring they felt native to the interface.
  • Adding a distinct accent color for wedding-related actions, visually separating them from standard e-commerce interactions.

Wedding List System

One of the project’s signature features is the Wedding List, which empowers couples to create and manage their own gift registries.

Key functionalities include:

  • Private-to-public visibility control: Couples can prepare their list privately and publish it when ready.
  • Guest purchase integration: Invitees can view the list and buy selected products directly from the store.
  • Custom wedding card system:
    • Guests can add a personalized card to their gift — either by selecting a pre-made store template or writing a custom message.
    • The card selection process adds a service fee dynamically at checkout when a premium template is used.
    • Simple white cards with personal text remain free.
  • Checkout integration: Card customization, message handling, and service fees are seamlessly integrated as WooCommerce checkout extras.

This feature reinforced Backe i Grensen’s position as a trusted partner for wedding gifting, bridging the emotional and practical aspects of registry management

Wedding Manager

To complement the wedding list system, I developed a Wedding Manager — a secure, front-facing interface accessible exclusively to store employees. Designed to simplify daily operations and reduce backend complexity, the tool offered staff a focused environment for:

  • Managing and viewing wedding lists without navigating the full CMS backend.
  • Assisting couples in modifying their wedding lists directly in-store.
  • Supporting guests in purchasing gifts from registries during in-store visits.
  • Updating inventory and fulfillment statuses tied to each registry.

By limiting backend exposure and providing a purpose-built interface, the Wedding Manager minimized confusion, streamlined employee workflows, and created a seamless bridge between online and in-store registry experiences.

Results & Impact

The work delivered measurable improvements across both user experience and operational performance.

Business Impact

  • Improved [conversion rate / sales volume / customer retention] through a smoother buying journey.
  • Enabled new revenue streams (e.g., paid customization, premium service fees, or membership tiers).
  • Reduced manual workload for staff through better data visibility and automation.
  • Increased reliability of core processes (inventory, order flow, content management).
  • Business Impact

Technical Achievements

  • Implemented scalable, maintainable solutions fully aligned with WordPress and WooCommerce best practices.
  • Introduced performance improvements (faster load times, optimized database queries, or reduced API calls).
  • Strengthened code quality and future extensibility through modular architecture.

User Experience Improvements

  • Enhanced clarity and visual consistency across product and checkout flows.
  • Simplified complex interactions through progressive interfaces (e.g., multi-step checkout, modal flows).
  • Created a frictionless, trustworthy, and emotionally engaging shopping experience.

Outcome

The final solution not only met the initial project goals but also elevated the brand’s digital identity — merging functionality, performance, and aesthetics into a cohesive e-commerce experience.