How MS. READ Achieved a 300% Efficiency Boost with Shopify Plus

Introduction

MS. READ first opened its doors in 1997. From day one, it focused on plus-size garments for women in Malaysia, building trust through quality fabrics and attentive service. Customers loved trying on pieces in physical stores, guided by staff who knew their preferences. But when 2020 arrived, those retail visits dipped fast. Foot traffic slowed to a trickle. The team saw an opening to rethink how to reach shoppers beyond city limits. With a push for digital sales, they moved online. The goal was clear: deliver the same friendly shopping feel on any channel.

Challenge

In older setups, sales data lived in separate silos. Store transactions sat in one database. Online payments were recorded in another. Loyalty points ran on a decades-old program that only knew in-store accounts. Reporting took days of manual work. Teams scrambled to combine spreadsheets before each campaign. Marketing plans ran on gut calls instead of solid numbers. That gap slowed promotions and led to missed customer opportunities. As plans to expand overseas took shape, those gaps loomed even larger. The cost of establishing new local systems felt too high. MS. READ had to rethink its approach before growing past Malaysia.

Solution

On a partner’s recommendation, MS. READ upgraded to Shopify Plus in early 2022. The new setup brought all channels under one roof. Team members could view orders and stock levels from a single dashboard. Integrations with Klaviyo let the marketing group pull purchase histories into email flows. Report Pundit automated custom reports, cutting reporting from days to hours. Campaign budgets were set based on actual buying patterns. Teams stopped flipping between platforms. One source of truth became the norm. This shift freed up hours each week, turning a chore into a quick review.

Cross-Border Expansion

Moving beyond Malaysia came next. Instead of ordering hardware for local points of sale, the brand used Shopify POS online. They configured payment settings, shipping rules, and tax options inside the Shopify admin. In less than a day—just 24 hours—they went live in Indonesia. No developer tickets. No long vendor contracts. They simply duplicated settings and tweaked currency. To manage new launches, they tapped Launchpad, a scheduling tool built into Shopify Plus. Products, promotions, and special bundles were set to go live at precise times. The whole rollout happened without manual clicks, cutting days of setup to minutes.

Results

Results appeared fast. Online revenue jumped by 20 percent within months. Launching each new market used three times fewer staff hours, thanks to the 300 percent boost in efficiency. Retail teams could now focus on floor service, rather than data entry. Marketing campaigns hit inboxes on schedule, driving fresh traffic and repeat buys. The loyalty program got a makeover, tracking points automatically. Customers earned rewards no matter where they shopped. Sales from outside Malaysia began to show up in real time. MS. READ quickly proved that speed and simplicity could unlock market growth.

Looking Ahead

Looking ahead, the team plans to roll out every new collection through Launchpad. They aim to shave even more setup time and test cross-border offers. New app ideas, like bundling and subscription services, are under review. The centralized platform means developers can add features without rebuilding from scratch. Stakeholders know which promotions move the needle and which need tweaking. Best of all, customers enjoy a polished, consistent experience whether they click “Buy online” or step into a shop. That consistency keeps shoppers coming back.

Key Takeaways

This story highlights a clear path for other retailers. First, unify tools to avoid wasted work. Next, use built-in features to move fast. Automate routine tasks so teams can focus on customer service. Test new markets in hours instead of months. Keep watch on performance data and adjust offers on the fly. By following these steps, any brand can turn a historic in-store focus into a scalable online and cross-border engine.