Case Studies / Gardner, Inc.
Distribution
E-commerce
Process Management
Switchbox partnered with Throttle to execute a comprehensive modernization of Gardner Inc.'s e-commerce platform—restructuring legacy page-specific code into reusable modules, overhauling the cart and checkout experience, and establishing a stable, scalable architecture for future growth.
The Challenge
Legacy code stunted operational output
The Gardner website suffered from several key problems. Its internal maintenance by a single web developer attempting to meet diverse internal needs—across sales, marketing, warehousing, and management—under tight deadlines led to structural degradation. Functionality became prioritized over strategic architecture and planned development.
When Gardner initiated a functional update and visual rebranding, the underlying framework proved unstable—old code causing widespread disruptions to different business areas even with minor modifications. Gardner required a team capable of modernizing a significant legacy IT infrastructure without interrupting ongoing business operations.
Our Approach
Diagnosing and reconstructing a fragile infrastructure
Switchbox partnered with Throttle (design) and Gardner’s new Director of IT to conduct a thorough code review of the existing site. What began as a visual and layout update quickly expanded when the review revealed deep structural issues—page-specific code and inefficient architecture that made any change a risk to other business areas.
We developed a reconstruction plan that centralized functionality into reusable modules, scoped a more structured e-commerce cart, and ensured all updates could be deployed safely without disrupting ongoing operations.
What We Built
Modular rebuild stabilized infrastructure
The project expanded to encompass a complete overhaul of the site’s architecture. Previously, page-specific code led to inefficient updates due to its length. This code was centralized into modules, enabling a single functionality to serve multiple pages.
A more structured approach to the e-commerce cart and the creation of promotional programs involving diverse inventory sources was implemented. The result was a modernized, stable platform that Gardner’s team could manage and extend without risk.
The Results
Modern platform ensures future growth
Over a six-month engagement, Switchbox successfully transformed a visually dated and functionally disjointed website into a modern, streamlined tool. The new platform features an improved client experience and significantly simplified central management of the site and its content.
By updating the site to current code standards, Switchbox also ensured easier integration of future functionalities without risking instability. Despite a timeline extension following the initial site analysis, the client recognized that the additional time and investment resulted in a superior platform.
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