Case
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Farfalla Essentials AG
System
Shopify
Project type
International Replatforming & Commerce Architecture
Launch
January 2025
Website
FARFALLA has stood for high-quality natural cosmetics, essential oils, and holistic health products for decades. The brand combines ecological responsibility with deep product understanding and high consulting competence, both in the B2C and B2B context.
With the international relaunch of the commerce platform, Farfalla aimed to future-proof the digital sales architecture while consistently making the strongly content- and image-driven brand promise digitally experienceable. The focus was on a scalable solution for multiple markets and target groups, while simultaneously meeting high requirements for payment, system integration, and maintainability.
The requirements for the new platform went far beyond a classic Shopify setup:
Complex market & target group model:
Separate requirements for B2C and B2B as well as for the markets of Switzerland and the EU required a differentiated shop and system architecture.High conceptual effort:
Already at the start of the project, it became clear that the planned markets setup, due to different pricing logics, assortments, content, and legal frameworks, was significantly more complex than is customary in the market.Individual payment process:
Farfalla consciously opted against native Shopify payments and for an independent payment process via Wallee. This led to additional technical dependencies and an increased implementation effort.External system integration:
The connection of the ERP system was carried out via an external partner (Cosmo) and required close coordination between all parties involved.Scope expansion during the ongoing project:
During the project timeline, Farfalla additionally decided to implement a PIM system, a strategically sensible decision that, however, had noticeable impacts on the timeline and project complexity.Delays on the client side:
Postponed decisions and alignments led to an extension of the overall runtime.
Scalable Commerce Architecture for International Markets and Target Audiences
Together with Farfalla, Y1 designed and implemented a modular, high-performance Shopify architecture that meets high professional and technical requirements.
Multi-instance setup:
Implementation of a clearly separated 4-store structure:B2C Switzerland
B2C EU
B2B Switzerland
B2B EU
This setup allows for maximum flexibility in assortment, pricing, content, legal requirements, and customer experience.
Design & Content focus:
During a very intensive design and conceptualization phase, numerous CSM pages and a strongly image- and content-driven frontend were created, consistently translating Farfalla's brand claim into the digital realm.Custom payment integration:
Development of a tailored payment flow based on Wallee, fully integrated into the Shopify architecture, taking into account different market and customer scenarios.ERP integration with external partner:
Close collaboration with Cosmo for the connection of the ERP system. The focus was on stable interfaces, clean data flows, and long-term maintainability.Extension with PIM system:
Integration of a PIM as a central source for structured product information, strategically essential for future scaling and content quality despite later scope expansion.Technical basis & maintainability:
Establishment of a robust, versioned codebase with clear deployment processes and GitHub handling, despite increased complexity due to four instances and numerous custom adjustments.
Y1 accompanied Farfalla throughout the entire project duration of about 1.5 years, from the early conceptual phase to the gradual go-live of the markets.
Strategy & Architecture:
Analysis of market, target group, and system requirements and derivation of a scalable multi-store architecture.Design & UX Concept:
Development of a visually high-quality, content-centered interface with clear brand leadership and consistent user guidance across all shops.Technical Implementation:
Implementation of the Shopify instances including custom code adjustments, payment integration, ERP connection, and PIM introduction.Coordination & Project Management:
Close coordination between Farfalla, Y1, and external partners as well as continuous handling of scope changes, dependencies, and time shifts.Go-Live Strategy:
Phased launch:January 8: B2C CH & B2B CH
January 12: B2C EU & B2B EU
30%
Usability
+4
Channels for CH and DE
