Licensed Apparel & Home Goods • B2B Wholesale
BioWorld International needed to retire an unstable Magento 1 store that was hurting conversions and customer trust. StageBit led a full Magento 2 migration, resolved critical checkout and code issues, and rebuilt performance for a scalable B2B wholesale eCommerce platform serving the UK and Europe.
We help B2B and DTC brands modernise legacy Magento stores with secure migrations, performance optimisation, and long-term scalability.
Sales uplift
+89%
Post-migration conversion growth.
User retention
83%
Improved customer stickiness.
Bounce rate reduction
55%
Cleaner UX & faster checkout.
Traffic growth
+259%
Performance & stability gains.
Client Overview
BioWorld International is a global manufacturer and distributor of licensed apparel, accessories, and home goods. Founded in 1998, the company partners with some of the world’s most iconic entertainment and lifestyle brands, supplying retailers across multiple regions.
Operating primarily as a B2B wholesaler, BioWorld manages a complex catalog spanning 20+ product categories and serves distributors, specialty retailers, and online partners across the UK and Europe.
What BioWorld asked for
“Our Magento 1 store is unstable, slow, and hurting conversions. We need a reliable migration to Magento 2, a working checkout, and a platform that can support long-term B2B growth — without disrupting ongoing operations.”
The Challenge
When we audited BioWorld’s legacy Magento 1 store, the risks were immediately clear. Years of patchwork development had resulted in unstable code, broken checkout flows, and poor site performance across devices.
After multiple unsuccessful attempts with other agencies, BioWorld needed a partner who could stabilise the platform first, then execute a clean Magento 1 to Magento 2 migration with measurable improvements in performance, UX, and conversion.
Goals & success criteria
Before starting the Magento 1 to Magento 2 migration, we aligned with BioWorld International on a clear set of success criteria. As a B2B wholesale brand operating across the UK and Europe, the new platform needed to be stable, faster, and ready to support large catalog operations without disrupting day-to-day sales.
The move from Magento 1 to Magento 2 had to deliver a clean, stable foundation without inherited bugs, broken checkout flows, or critical regressions.
Checkout failures were directly impacting revenue. A core success factor was a smooth, error-free checkout tailored for wholesale buyers.
Site speed was a major concern. The new Magento 2 store needed to feel noticeably faster on desktop, tablet, and mobile.
Long-term success depended on a clean and well-structured Magento codebase that could be extended safely.
The platform needed to clearly support BioWorld’s wholesale model, including login-based pricing and distributor-focused UX.
Beyond migration, Magento 2 had to support future features, higher traffic, and increased conversions without rework.
Magento 2 migration features
The Magento 2 upgrade wasn’t just a platform change. We streamlined the catalogue, optimized checkout, and implemented custom features that improved both user experience and operational efficiency for this B2B wholesaler.
Feature categories
This combination was essential for a high-volume B2B store like BioWorld International, balancing online sales with operational complexity.
Navigation
We implemented a mega menu that allows buyers to quickly browse products by category, collection, or brand, making it easier to find wholesale products.
Checkout
We optimized the checkout flow to ensure smooth purchasing, integrating PayPal and Stripe to support UK and EU B2B transactions effectively.
Back-office & Operations
Orders, including dropship lines, are synced seamlessly with the back-office system, reducing manual reconciliation and keeping fulfillment and finance teams aligned.
Data & Logistics
We implemented real-time address validation and shipping label automation to reduce failed deliveries, improve data quality, and enhance customer satisfaction.
Approach
BioWorld International needed a seamless migration to Magento 2 without disrupting B2B operations or customer experience. Our strategy focused on stabilizing the site, fixing legacy code issues, optimizing checkout, and validating data in stages — so launch day was smooth and predictable.
Phase 1
Comprehensive review of Magento 1 store, including extensions, custom code, and checkout flow. We identified glitches, performance bottlenecks, and areas requiring custom development for Magento 2.
Phase 2
Legacy code was refactored for performance and maintainability. Magento 2 storefront was built with custom features such as wholesale-focused UX, secure login-to-view pricing, and improved checkout processes.
Phase 3
Multiple dry-run migrations ensured all products, orders, and customer data transferred accurately. Checkout, payment, and shipping workflows were tested end-to-end to prevent surprises on go-live.
Phase 4
Magento 2 went live after parallel validation. Full monitoring, bug fixes, and support were provided to maintain uptime, smooth operations, and a positive B2B shopping experience.
Every product, customer, and order was migrated with precision. Automated checks ensured consistency and correctness of data across Magento 1 → Magento 2.
B2B checkout flow optimized with PayPal and Stripe integration. Errors minimized, steps simplified, and conversion improved.
Legacy issues removed, plugins optimized, and code refactored. Site now loads faster, ensuring a smooth experience on mobile, tablet, and desktop.
Tailored UX for wholesale buyers including login-to-view pricing, enhanced navigation, and responsive design, increasing engagement and conversions.
Platform & Integrations
Our approach focused on combining Magento 2 with carefully selected integrations for payments, shipping, and user management. Each component was chosen to support a seamless wholesale shopping experience while keeping operational complexity minimal for the client.
Storefront
Tailored specifically for wholesale buyers with intuitive navigation and a responsive design that adapts to all devices.
Payments
Integrated PayPal and Stripe solutions provide safe, flexible, and fast transactions across the UK and Europe.
Shipping
Sendcloud ensures timely deliveries with integrated tracking, labels, and automated returns for an efficient logistics flow.
UX & Engagement
Designed to enhance the B2B shopping experience and maximize engagement through intelligent UI patterns and account-specific pricing.
This tailored stack balances flexibility and performance, creating a robust platform for wholesale operations while keeping customer experience seamless and scalable.
Results
Migrating BioWorld International’s store to Magento 2 improved performance, reliability, and overall user experience, while optimizing backend operations for the internal team.
Performance & Load Times
Home, category, product, checkout
Mixed 50–70
Heavy scripts, slow mobile and desktop experience
90+ Lighthouse scores
Optimized code, faster checkout, and responsive design
Checkout & UX
Navigation, search, login functionality
Glitches and multi-step checkout
Confusing flow and limited UX guidance
Streamlined one-page checkout
Login-to-see-price feature, guided wholesale experience
Code Quality & Stability
Bugs, vulnerabilities, and legacy code
Multiple glitches, poor code structure
Frequent issues affecting performance and reliability
Clean, optimized Magento 2 code
Resolved all bugs, refactored legacy code, enhanced security
Business Metrics
User retention, sales, bounce rate, traffic
Unoptimized flows, lost customers
High bounce rates and lower conversion
83% user retention
89% uplift in sales, 55% drop in bounce rate, 259% traffic increase
With Magento 2, BioWorld International gained a fully optimized, glitch-free platform. Customers now enjoy faster navigation, reliable checkout, and a seamless wholesale experience, while internal teams can manage operations without constant firefighting.
The clean Magento 2 foundation enables the team to expand product offerings, launch targeted campaigns, and implement automation—all on a stable, scalable infrastructure.
Next steps
BioWorld International’s migration demonstrates how a well-planned Magento 1 → Magento 2 project can improve performance, streamline operations, and deliver a superior customer experience. If your store faces similar challenges, a short, focused roadmap session is the ideal first step.
Ideal for B2B and DTC merchants with complex operations, multiple integrations, or plans to scale on a performance-focused Magento 2 platform.
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