Purpose and Goal

The primary goal was to replace WooCommerce with a faster, more maintainable, and integrated platform. By using Shopify, we could deploy client stores faster, reduce technical overhead, and connect directly with our internal systems. The target audience includes Cable Dahmer employees and locations needing branded products such as uniforms and promotional items.

Technologies Used

The frontend was developed with Next.js, starting from Shopify’s official eCommerce template, which I then heavily customized. This included implementing user authentication and profile management.

For the backend, I worked with Shopify’s GraphQL APIs — specifically the Storefront API, Admin API, and Customer API — integrating them directly into the frontend. Choosing the right API for each task was a key learning point.

The site is hosted on Vercel for the frontend, while Shopify handles backend operations, order processing, and product data. This setup allowed seamless integration with NetSuite, ensuring synchronized inventory between our accounting and eCommerce systems.

Technical Hurdles (and How They Were Solved)

One of the biggest challenges was navigating Shopify’s multiple APIs. Understanding the differences between the Storefront, Admin, and Customer APIs — and knowing when to use each — required in-depth reading of Shopify’s documentation and reverse-engineering the official Next.js eCommerce template.

Another technical hurdle was managing authentication and user state, including secure cookie handling for storing cart and session information. This deepened my understanding of concepts like HttpOnly and Secure cookies, and how they help protect sensitive data.

Lessons Learned

This project strengthened my skills in integrating third-party APIs, especially GraphQL-based ones. It taught me the value of carefully studying documentation and existing codebases to solve complex implementation challenges. I also came away with a better understanding of modern authentication patterns, secure cookie management, and how to architect a frontend that communicates cleanly with an external eCommerce backend.