Sweet Success: US expansion with Shopify Plus

Hotel Chocolat faced a time-sensitive challenge to launch in the US in time for the crucial Valentine’s Day trading period. They required a fast and scalable website solution to ensure a seamless entry into the American market. Additionally, to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency, it was essential to establish a cohesive omnichannel strategy that seamlessly connected their retail and online stores. To achieve their ambitions, they needed an expert eCommerce agency.

To meet Hotel Chocolat's urgent need for a US market presence, we swiftly developed a new Shopify Plus store within a tight six-week timeframe. This involved leveraging Shopify POS, an intuitive iPad application, to seamlessly integrate their in-store and online operations. By consolidating order tracking and data management in a unified platform, we ensured a cohesive omnichannel experience that optimised efficiency and customer service.

Additionally, our team provided strategic guidance on selecting and implementing tailored Shopify apps. These included tools for email marketing, customer loyalty programs, and streamlined delivery solutions. Each app was carefully chosen to enhance Hotel Chocolat's customer experience, fostering engagement and loyalty across their expanding US market presence.

Shopify Plus allowed Hotel Chocolat to launch in the US in just six weeks offering customers an easy way to shop online. Shopify’s POS solution empowers the brand to quickly open new locations while maintaining a single customer view.

"“We appointed IDHL to build our US site to support our global expansion, as they are an experienced Shopify Plus partner with expertise in both POS and international projects. In just 6 weeks, IDHL worked with the Hotel Chocolat team to deliver this, providing us with a strong foundation to build our US operations in a cost and time-effective way.”“

Brendan Drake, US CEO, Hotel Chocolat