We developed a budget-friendly CRM and inventory management system for a Toronto-based boutique retailer expanding to eCommerce. The solution integrated their physical stores with a new online shop, improving customer tracking and stock visibility. Within 4 months, online sales grew by 35% while reducing inventory errors by 60%, all with minimal disruption to their small team.
Client Industry
Retail (Fashion Boutique)
Client Location
Toronto, Canada
Project Duration
10 weeks
Team Size
3 (2 developers, 1 UX designer)
Technology Used
- Shopify eCommerce platform
- Airtable-based CRM
- Basic inventory sync tools
- Mailchimp integration
- Zapier automation workflows
Client Background
The client operated two successful brick-and-mortar boutiques but lacked digital infrastructure:
- Customer data stored in spreadsheets
- No connection between physical/online inventory
- Manual processes consuming 10+ staff hours weekly
- Limited budget for enterprise solutions
Project Scope
- Unified Customer Database
Combined in-store and online purchase histories in simple interface - Real-Time Inventory Sync
Basic stock level updates across all sales channels - Automated Customer Communications
Setup for abandoned cart emails and promotions - Sales Reporting Dashboard
Consolidated view of all revenue streams
Our Approach
- Leveraged existing Shopify subscription
- Built on no-code/low-code platforms
- Prioritized mobile-friendly design
- Focused on essential features only
- Provided hands-on training
Features Introduced
- Basic customer segmentation
- Low-stock alerts
- Barcode scanning for physical stores
- Automated sales reports
- Simple loyalty tracking
Addressing Challenges
- Data silos → Created single customer view
- Inventory errors → Established real-time sync
- Limited budget → Used cost-effective tools
- Staff resistance → Simplified interface
Business Impact
- 35% increase in online sales
- 60% reduction in stock discrepancies
- 8 hours weekly staff time saved
- 20% improvement in repeat customers
- ROI achieved in 3 months
