Overview
The brief, in full
RahmatCraft needed a digital home worthy of its handcraft — warm, editorial, and built to convert. We designed and built a Next.js storefront from scratch: brand identity, product catalogue, custom order flows, and SEO all in one.
Platform
Next.js, deployed on Vercel
Core Tech Stack
Rendering
Client
RahmatCraft · Bangalore, India
Key Features
Year
2023
Development Process
How it was built
A deliberate, phased approach — from discovery through to production delivery.
01
Brand & Visual Language
RahmatCraft had no existing design system. We started from scratch: earthy warm palette (forest green, natural wood, cream), an editorial serif/sans pairing, and a photography direction that emphasised texture and craftsmanship over sterile product-on-white. Every design decision was rooted in the brand's core value: handmade with intention.
02
Architecture & Setup
Chose Next.js for its hybrid rendering: SSG for product and category pages (fast, crawlable), ISR for the catalogue (refreshes without full rebuilds), and a lightweight custom order form backed by a serverless function routing enquiries directly to WhatsApp and email. No unnecessary dependencies — lean and fast.
03
Product Catalogue & UX
Designed a card-based catalogue with category filtering (Trophies, Gift Boxes, Home Décor, Accessories). Each PDP features full-resolution product photography, material callouts, customisation options, and a WhatsApp CTA for bespoke requests. The experience was intentionally editorial — images large, copy minimal, white space generous.
04
Bulk Order & Custom Flow
Built a dedicated B2B landing page for bulk and corporate orders with a multi-step enquiry form: product type, quantity, personalisation requirements, occasion, and timeline. Submissions route to a serverless handler that sends a formatted email and WhatsApp message to the RahmatCraft team simultaneously.
05
SEO & Performance
Targeted niche search terms: 'wooden trophies Bangalore', 'personalised wooden gifts India', 'handmade corporate gifts'. Structured product data (Schema.org Product), Open Graph for social, clean URL slugs, automated XML sitemap. Core Web Vitals green across all pages at launch.
06
Launch & Handover
Deployed to Vercel with zero-downtime DNS cutover. Handed the RahmatCraft team a lightweight CMS-like workflow using Markdown files for product updates — no developer needed for day-to-day catalogue changes. Post-launch monitoring via Vercel Analytics and Google Search Console.
Craft this intentional deserves a digital home built with the same care.
Reflection
What I learned
What went well
The editorial approach paid off. By treating the site like a studio journal rather than a product catalogue, the brand immediately felt premium and distinct from competitors. The bulk enquiry flow drove B2B leads faster than expected, and organic search traction came within the first quarter.
- Editorial aesthetic created an immediate premium perception
- Serverless enquiry handler with WhatsApp + email routing worked perfectly
- SSG gave sub-second load times on product pages from launch
- Niche SEO keyword strategy delivered organic traction within 3 months
What I'd Do Differently
With more runway, I'd integrate a proper headless CMS so the team can manage products entirely without touching code. I'd also build a 3D product visualiser for the customisation flow — letting customers preview their engraving or logo on a wooden trophy before submitting an enquiry would dramatically reduce back-and-forth.
- Headless CMS (Sanity or Contentful) for full team autonomy over the catalogue
- 3D engraving preview in the custom order flow
- WhatsApp chatbot for handling common bulk order queries automatically
- Loyalty / referral programme for repeat B2B clients
