The Problem

Hydrotops is a heritage indoor horticulture nutrient brand with a loyal customer base across the UK and Europe. The challenge was delicate: an ageing business with staff who were understandably apprehensive about digital change. We needed to modernise their entire operation without overwhelming or alienating the people who'd built the company.

What We Built

We listened first. We mapped every business problem, then created a strategy to solve them one by one. The custom e-commerce platform we built runs on Next.js with TypeScript --- chosen for its server-side rendering performance, SEO benefits, and the type safety that TypeScript provides across a complex codebase. The front end is backed by Sanity CMS, giving the Hydrotops team full editorial control over product listings, page content, and site copy without any developer involvement. Authentication and user management sit on a PostgreSQL database, handling secure B2B portal logins where customers can browse, place orders, and track deliveries. Crucially, the system also allows administrators to create and manage orders on behalf of customers --- streamlining the process for clients who prefer to order by phone or email. Approved orders are automatically sent through to the warehouse for picking and packing, and customers receive automated shipping notifications with delivery tracking. For their European customer base, we implemented internationalisation (i18n) with manually managed translations through the CMS, ensuring every language variant is accurate and brand-consistent rather than relying on machine translation. We also built a custom search function with fuzzy matching that handles misspelt product names --- a small detail that makes a significant difference in user experience.

Their previous product photography was poor, so we created photorealistic 3D renders and digital assets they could use across their website, brochures, and social media.

The Outcome

The outcome speaks volumes: the system has saved the team countless hours of administrative work. With fewer sales calls to handle and virtually no order errors from miscommunication, the staff are now free to engage in proactive sales and other high-value business actions rather than firefighting admin.