Magento 1 →
Magento 2 migration for BioWorld International with faster checkout, cleaner code and
measurable B2B growth
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.
The New Magento 2 Storefront
BioWorld International rebuilt on Magento 2
Key screens from the migrated Magento 2 platform — improved navigation,
faster checkout, cleaner code architecture and a modern B2B wholesale
experience built for long-term growth.
After: Magento 2
Homepage — modern B2B wholesale experience
Rebuilt from Magento 1 on a stable Magento 2 foundation with
improved performance, cleaner navigation and scalable architecture
for wholesale buyers across the UK and Europe.
After: Magento 2
Product catalogue — faster discovery for wholesale buyers
Products are organised through a cleaner Magento 2 catalogue
structure, helping distributors and retailers locate inventory
faster while reducing navigation friction.
After: Magento 2
Product detail page — optimized for conversion
Cleaner layouts, improved product information hierarchy and
performance optimizations help buyers move from product discovery
to purchase with less friction.
After: Magento 2
Mobile experience — faster and more reliable
The Magento 2 storefront was optimized across mobile devices,
delivering faster page loads, improved usability and a more
consistent B2B purchasing experience.
Client Overview
Who is BioWorld International?
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.
Founded1998
Business modelB2B Wholesale
Product scopeApparel · Accessories · Home Goods
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
A fragile Magento 1 setup with
critical checkout and performance issues
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.
Checkout failures causing abandoned
orders and lost revenue
Poor code quality with hidden bugs
and security risks
Slow load times on mobile, tablet
and desktop
Legacy plugins adding bloat and
instability
No margin for downtime in a high-volume B2B
wholesale environment
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
Defining success for a complex
Magento 1 to Magento 2 migration
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.
Stable Magento 2 migration
Non-negotiable
The move from Magento 1 to Magento 2 had to deliver a clean, stable foundation without inherited bugs, broken
checkout flows, or critical regressions.
• Eliminate legacy code issues and platform vulnerabilities.
• Ensure a reliable, production-ready Magento 2 setup.
Fully functional checkout experience
Non-negotiable
Checkout failures were directly impacting revenue. A core success factor
was a smooth, error-free checkout tailored for wholesale
buyers.
• Resolve payment and order placement issues.
• Support B2B purchase flows without friction.
Faster load times across all devices
Target metric
Site speed was a major concern. The new Magento 2 store needed to feel
noticeably faster on desktop, tablet and mobile.
• Remove unnecessary plugins and heavy dependencies.
• Optimise frontend code and backend performance.
High-quality, maintainable codebase
Target metric
Long-term success depended on a clean and well-structured Magento codebase that could be
extended safely.
• Refactor legacy logic using Magento best practices.
• Improve readability and long-term maintainability.
Purpose-built B2B user experience
Experience goal
The platform needed to clearly support BioWorld’s wholesale model,
including login-based pricing and distributor-focused UX.
• Hide prices for non-logged-in users.
• Encourage account creation and repeat B2B orders.
A scalable platform for ongoing growth
Experience goal
Beyond migration, Magento 2 had to support future features, higher traffic and increased conversions
without rework.
• Support international B2B operations across the UK and Europe.
• Enable continuous optimisation, support and maintenance.
Magento 2 migration features
Beyond migration: the features that enhanced BioWorld International’s platform
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.
Customer-facing UX
Back-office & Operations
Data quality & delivery
Navigation
Enhanced category navigation for B2B buyers
We implemented a mega menu that allows buyers to quickly browse products by category, collection, or brand, making it easier to find wholesale products.
Grouped by category & brandAdmin editableMobile-optimized
Checkout
Streamlined checkout with PayPal & Stripe
We optimized the checkout flow to ensure smooth purchasing, integrating PayPal and Stripe to support UK and EU B2B transactions effectively.
Orders, including dropship lines, are synced seamlessly with the back-office system, reducing manual reconciliation and keeping fulfillment and finance teams aligned.
AFAS-compatible order flowDropship supportLess manual work
Data & Logistics
Address validation & shipping automation
We implemented real-time address validation and shipping label automation to reduce failed deliveries, improve data quality and enhance customer satisfaction.
This combination was essential for a high-volume B2B store like BioWorld International, balancing online sales with operational complexity.
Approach
Structured Magento 1 → Magento 2 Migration for BioWorld
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.
1
Phase 1
Audit & Planning
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.
2
Phase 2
Code Optimization & Build
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.
3
Phase 3
Testing & Migration Rehearsals
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.
4
Phase 4
Launch & Post-Migration Support
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.
1
Phase 1
Audit & Planning
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.
2
Phase 2
Code Optimization & Build
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.
3
Phase 3
Testing & Migration Rehearsals
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.
4
Phase 4
Launch & Post-Migration Support
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.
Migration execution breakdown
Data Migration & Validation
01
Every product, customer and order was migrated with precision. Automated checks ensured consistency and correctness of data across Magento 1 → Magento 2.
Field-by-field mapping and automated verification
Repeatable migration scripts for rehearsals
Detailed mismatch reports for correction
Checkout & Payment Enhancements
02
B2B checkout flow optimized with PayPal and Stripe integration. Errors minimized, steps simplified and conversion improved.
One-page checkout for speed and clarity
Error handling improved
EU-friendly payment options
Performance & Code Quality
03
Legacy issues removed, plugins optimized and code refactored. Site now loads faster, ensuring a smooth experience on mobile, tablet and desktop.
Clean, standardized code
Unnecessary plugin removal
Improved Core Web Vitals and speed
Custom B2B UX Features
04
Tailored UX for wholesale buyers including login-to-view pricing, enhanced navigation and responsive design, increasing engagement and conversions.
Login-based price visibility
Mega menu for category navigation
Wholesale-focused responsive UI
Platform & Integrations
The technology backbone driving
BioWorld International’s B2B online store
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
B2B-focused Magento 2 site
Tailored specifically for wholesale buyers with intuitive navigation and
a responsive design that adapts to all devices.
• Streamlined bulk order workflows.
• Clear product categories and filters for faster discovery.
• Dynamic login-based pricing to encourage account creation.
Payments
Secure multi-currency checkout
Integrated PayPal and Stripe solutions provide safe, flexible and fast
transactions across the UK and Europe.
• Support for international B2B clients.
• Smooth integration with Magento 2 orders.
• Optimized for both desktop and mobile checkout.
Shipping
Automated fulfillment & tracking
Sendcloud ensures timely deliveries with integrated tracking, labels
and automated returns for an efficient logistics flow.
• Streamlined label printing and dispatch.
• Real-time shipment tracking for clients.
• Returns managed automatically to save time.
UX & Engagement
Custom UX/UI & account features
Designed to enhance the B2B shopping experience and maximize engagement
through intelligent UI patterns and account-specific pricing.
• Wholesale shopping optimized for speed and clarity.
• Login-based pricing encourages account creation and loyalty.
• Fully responsive layout ensures accessibility on all devices.
This tailored stack balances flexibility and
performance, creating a robust platform for wholesale operations while keeping customer experience seamless and
scalable.
Results
What changed after the Magento 1 →
Magento 2 migration
Migrating BioWorld International’s store to
Magento 2 improved performance, reliability and overall user experience, while optimizing backend operations
for the internal team.
Metric
Before (Magento 1)
After (Magento 2)
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
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
Lighthouse performance report after the Magento
2 migration.
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
Looking to migrate your Magento 1
store to Magento 2 without disruptions?
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.
We audit your existing Magento 1 setup: catalog, traffic, customisations and
integrations.
We identify potential migration risks downtime, data integrity, operational impact and
provide a clear checklist.
We outline a realistic Magento 2 migration plan with phased execution, estimated
timeline and budget guidance.
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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