A Modern Shopify Transformation for a Leading Scientific Supplier
Discover how we transformed ESSLAB’s legacy website into a modern, scalable Shopify 2.0 storefront—improving UX, efficiency, and global customer reach, here.
The Client
ESSLAB
Essex Scientific Laboratory Supplies (ESSLAB) is a trusted B2B e-commerce retailer specialising in high-quality reference materials, laboratory supplies, and chemistry equipment. With customers across the UK and an expanding global customer base, ESSLAB required a website that reflected its reputation for precision, reliability, and innovation.
The Challenge
Legacy HTML & Limited Flexibility For Internal Teams
ESSLAB’s previous website had become outdated in both design and functionality. Built using legacy HTML with minimal content management structure, the site relied heavily on manually coded collection and product pages. This approach created several challenges:
- Inconsistent layouts and presentation across product categories.
- Time-consuming maintenance, requiring manual HTML updates for every new product or content change.
- Limited flexibility for the in-house team to manage and expand the site efficiently.
- An outdated user interface that did not align with modern e-commerce expectations.
ESSLAB recognised that to support their continued growth, particularly in international markets, they needed a modern, scalable solution that improved both customer experience and admin usability.
The Solution
Building a Modern, Functional Shopify Website
Our ecommerce web design team partnered with ESSLAB to rebuild their entire storefront using Shopify 2.0, leveraging the Uminex – Fastest Shopify 2.0 Theme by Alotheme (ThemeForest) as the foundation. This theme provided the perfect balance of performance, flexibility, and customisation options for a B2B e-commerce platform.
Our primary goals were:
- Modernise the design: Deliver a fresh, professional aesthetic that reflects ESSLAB’s scientific credibility.
- Streamline site management: Enable the ESSLAB team to create, edit, and maintain pages without coding knowledge.
- Enhance customer experience: Improve navigation, product discovery, and checkout flow for domestic and international users.
We customised the Uminex theme to align with ESSLAB’s brand identity, optimising typography, colour palettes, and imagery to present a clean, laboratory-inspired look. Additionally, we restructured the navigation and product taxonomy to make it easier for customers to find and compare products.
On the backend, we implemented Shopify 2.0’s modular content blocks, empowering ESSLAB’s team to update content dynamically without technical intervention. This significantly reduced manual upkeep and ensured consistent formatting across all pages.
The Results
Great Feedback & Improved Usability
Since launching the new Shopify storefront, ESSLAB has experienced measurable improvements in both customer engagement and operational efficiency.
- Positive customer feedback on the updated design and smoother user journey.
- Increased international exports, as the improved platform made it easier for overseas customers to browse and purchase.
- Streamlined admin workflows, with the internal team now managing content updates quickly and confidently without HTML editing.
- Consistent design and branding across all collections and product pages, enhancing credibility and trust.
The feedback
“We found the project management very straight forward with regular reviews and updated from the development team via the project management platform. We are extremely happy with the results and look forward to our continued partnership with Netmatters.” - Richard Day, Managing Director
The ESSLAB website transformation demonstrates how a strategic front-end rebuild can revitalise an established B2B e-commerce brand. By migrating to Shopify 2.0 and implementing a modern, performance-driven theme, our web design team delivered a solution that not only enhances user experience but also empowers ESSLAB’s internal team for long-term growth.
Today, ESSLAB stands positioned to serve a broader global audience with a professional, efficient, and future-proof online presence.
