How Gresham Blake Cut Implementation Time by 98% with Shopify Plus

Background

Gresham Blake was founded in London in 2000 by siblings Gresham and Fal Blake. From the start, their goal was to deliver fully bespoke clothing, shoes, and accessories that combined traditional craftsmanship with modern design. Early growth came through word of mouth and a handful of high-profile clients in the fashion world. When they launched their first online store on Adobe Commerce (Magento), they hit limits fast.

Challenges

Daily operations on Magento became a headache. Every change required a developer. During the 2020 lockdowns, traffic spikes crashed the site. Promotions were painful to set up, and load times crept upward. As dress fittings and in-store visits slowed, converting customers online became crucial—yet the platform held them back. Orders stalled, revenue dipped, and frustrations rose.

Solution

In early 2024, the Gresham Blake team moved to Shopify Plus. The switch took under two weeks—compared with over a year on Magento. They tapped Shopify’s Point-of-Sale to sync in-store and online inventory. The intuitive admin let non-technical staff launch promotions and update products without waiting for code. Real-time reports gave clear visibility into daily sales trends. And with 24/7 chat support, any hiccup got instant attention.

Critical sales events no longer caused downtime. When they rolled out a collaboration with the hit show “Peaky Blinders,” the site handled surges smoothly. The team used colour-coded order statuses to keep fulfillment on track and relied on Shopify Email to send promotions directly to returning customers.

Results

Within four months, online sales jumped 68% compared to the same period on Magento. Implementation time dropped by 98%, freeing up internal resources for product design and custom launches. Customer loyalty climbed as repeat shoppers returned to a faster, more reliable site. Gresham Blake now runs a nimble, responsive online store that matches its in-shop experience and powers future growth.