How TradeTools Slashed Costs and Boosted Sales with BigCommerce

Introduction

TradeTools, a family-owned Australian retailer, has been supplying industrial-grade hardware and tools for over 37 years. With 22 brick-and-mortar locations and a loyal customer base of both professional tradespeople and DIY enthusiasts, the company built its reputation on exceptional service and competitive pricing. Online operations were once powered by a custom platform, then by Magento, but growing fees and complexity pushed TradeTools to seek a leaner, more cost-effective solution.

Challenge

When TradeTools negotiated a Magento renewal, they discovered renewal costs had more than doubled. As a privately-held, family-operated business, absorbing skyrocketing fees wasn’t an option. Their headless frontend—developed years earlier to future-proof the site—added further constraints. Options like Shopify threatened to force a full rebuild. The team needed a platform that supported headless APIs, delivered robust checkout, and kept TCO in check without sacrificing the custom storefront their customers knew.

Solution

Partnering with Aligent for Headless Transition

With guidance from Aligent, TradeTools chose BigCommerce. The existing headless PWA frontend remained untouched while the backend flipped over in under three months. This approach avoided customer confusion and protected years of front-end investment.

Streamlined One-Page Checkout

BigCommerce’s native checkout replaced Magento’s multi-step process. The result was fewer abandoned carts, less support volume, and a smoother path to purchase for TradeTools’ diverse customer base.

Key Integrations

• ShipperHQ: Automated complex freight quotes, dangerous goods handling, and oversize surcharges with precision.
• Printout Designer: Delivered branded PDF invoices and packing slips, improving dispatch consistency.
• Signifyd: Reduced fraud management overhead by auto-approving or declining high-risk orders.
• Tag Rocket: Simplified pixel and analytics tag deployment for instant data visibility.

Results

In the 12 months post-launch, TradeTools achieved a 31% rise in revenue, a 19% boost in conversion rate, and a 25% increase in total order quantities. Average order value climbed by 7.5%. Moreover, the streamlined backend and out-of-the-box integrations let the internal team focus on marketing and service rather than maintenance. The overall cost of ownership dropped significantly, freeing budget for transformative initiatives.

Future Outlook

TradeTools plans to roll out Buy Online, Pick Up In Store next quarter, along with AI-driven product recommendations. With BigCommerce’s scalable APIs and Aligent’s continued support, the brand is well-positioned for both domestic expansion and new channel launches.