The external technical department of a clothing brand selling on Shopify, since 2021
eikō ai sells limited-edition clothing on Shopify. Since 2021 we have been its external technical department: we decide with the founders what to build, we build it and we integrate the store with the rest of their tools.
- 5 years as technical lead of the platform
The problem
A limited-drop brand lives on every drop working: the store holds up under peaks, the purchase is flawless and orders, stock, shipping and customers flow without anyone copying data by hand. It had no size for an in-house technical team, but a need for ongoing judgement: which app to install, what to build, how to connect store, management and email, and where to use AI.
The solution
We took on technical leadership as an ongoing service, working directly with the founders. A custom store theme and private Shopify apps where marketplace apps fell short; the store integrated with management and email so nobody copies data between systems; AI-assisted processes for the team's repetitive tasks. Shared backlog and deliveries as the brand needs them.
How we worked
- 1
Assessment
Regular meetings with the founders on drops, operations and priorities.
- 2
Design
Deciding what to buy, what to build and what not to do.
- 3
First delivery in production
Custom theme, private apps and integrations.
- 4
Extension
Ongoing service since 2021, with no in-house technical team.
What we take away
A small company does not need a technical department, but it does need someone with judgement who answers for the platform. That role can be bought as a service.