Can you give us a brief overview of Sandcastle and share a few details about the journey the company had to go through to get to the point where it is now?
We got our start as Sandcastle in 2001 as a spin-off from a direct response television company. It was the early days of ecommerce – creating websites to market and sell products promoted by short-form and long-form infomercials. Back then, ecommerce and fulfillment technology were in their infancy, requiring us to be resourceful and adaptive. That challenge fueled our early expansion into custom development. If you wanted to automate the order flow – from the website to the fulfillment warehouse, to the shipping provider, and back to the customer – you had to build the entire system from scratch. Today, there’s a plugin or API for nearly every task, but our commitment to staying ahead of the curve remains the same. We’ve evolved from building proprietary ecommerce platforms to customizing licensed solutions, and now working with platforms like Shopify, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce. Throughout the years, we’ve thrived by prioritizing client needs – understanding their goals, overcoming challenges, and delivering solutions that fit their schedules and budgets. This approach has led to many long-term partnerships. We aim to be more than just another web design firm, which has naturally driven us to expand our expertise into custom development, mobile apps, WordPress, and now AI.What makes custom development unique, and how do you approach it?
The diversity of our clients – their industries, products, and services – makes custom development critical for crafting solutions tailored to their unique needs. While many platforms and SaaS solutions cover around 80% of requirements, it’s often the missing 20% that determines success. Over the years, we’ve tackled a wide range of custom projects: · A large electrical contracting company needed a solution for union employee time and expense tracking. · An executive recruiting firm required a specialized application and evaluation process. · A parking lot management company wanted to track and report daily lot usage and income. · A property management company needed a system for inspectors nationwide to submit detailed reports with numerous image references. · A make-to-order furniture manufacturer sought to modernize their legacy work order and model review system. Take the last example – the furniture manufacturer – as a case study. Our approach began with discovery and planning. We thoroughly analyzed their legacy system, identifying how it worked, what external systems it integrated with, who used it, and where improvements were needed. This involved virtual and in-person meetings with their engineering and IT teams, alongside a deep dive into source code and documentation. Next, we created detailed sitemaps, wireframes, and a comprehensive requirements document. This step is crucial – without it, development efforts can become disjointed and inefficient. When development began, we worked in two-week sprints, focusing on specific screens and functionalities. This iterative approach allowed us to demonstrate progress, gather feedback, and adjust accordingly. The project involved a complete technology stack overhaul, front-end UX/UI improvements, database updates, and the optimization of over 1,000 queries. Once development was complete, we conducted an intensive testing cycle, uncovering previously unknown functions – even to the client. After final approval, we facilitated a smooth launch and provided real-time support during (and after) deployment. While each project differs, our core process remains the same: discovery, documentation, development, testing, and launch. Our flexibility, adaptability, and commitment to clear, honest communication have been key to our long-standing success.How can you help someone trying to start their ecommerce business, and what are some differences between working with established businesses and new ones?
There are countless options for launching an ecommerce business today. We’ve worked with companies of all sizes – from established sites with thousands of products and millions in annual sales to startups with a handful of products and the need for a marketing plan. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. For established businesses, most approach us when their current system falls short. They might need a custom integration with a third-party provider, a cXML punchout solution for procurement – something we specialize in – or a full platform migration. For instance, one of our long-term aviation industry clients had relied on a heavily customized, licensed ecommerce platform. When they decided a SaaS solution better aligned with their long-term goals, we cataloged their customizations, identified an adaptable platform, and facilitated the transition. Two years later, they remain a valued client, now expanding into mobile apps alongside their ecommerce platform. For new ecommerce ventures, it’s more about understanding current capabilities and long-term goals. Not every startup needs the most robust system from day one. Our approach is consultative – we assess their needs and recommend the best fit, whether it’s Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, nopCommerce, or AbleCommerce. Choosing the right platform requires not just technical know-how but also business acumen – understanding workflows, scaling potential, and how ecommerce integrates with broader operations. That’s where our experience makes a difference.In today’s world, AI is taking over more and more tasks out of our hands. How do you use it in your work to the benefit of your clients?
AI is indeed transforming how we approach web development and business operations. While content generation and chatbot support are common applications, AI’s potential extends far beyond that. We use AI to generate and debug code snippets, automate design and prototyping, and enhance predictive analytics for ecommerce platforms. But what excites us most is developing custom AI-powered applications tailored to client needs. For example, we’re currently building a training tool for an international public relations firm. This tool uses AI to simulate real-world interview scenarios, providing detailed feedback based on client-specific parameters. This level of customization empowers clients to tackle complex tasks more efficiently. Ultimately, if a task requires critical thinking and can be documented and structured into prompts, AI can streamline the process – and we’re here to help make that happen.What are some benefits of WordPress websites, and how can you help people looking to build a WordPress website?
WordPress remains a versatile platform for businesses of all sizes, offering robust core features, an extensive plugin ecosystem, and thousands of themes to jumpstart design – all at a reasonable cost. However, there are key considerations for ensuring a successful WordPress project: · Performance: Many themes come bloated with unnecessary code and plugins, slowing down sites and hurting SEO. · Mobile Responsiveness: While most themes claim to be mobile-friendly, not all deliver a truly seamless user experience. · Security: Regular updates – for WordPress itself, plugins, themes, and even PHP – are crucial to protect against vulnerabilities. The takeaway? Businesses should partner with a proven WordPress development team to ensure both the build process and ongoing maintenance meet industry standards. That’s where our experience comes in – delivering high-performing, secure WordPress sites tailored to each client’s unique needs.Is there anything else about your work that you’d like to share that we haven’t covered?
What’s exciting today is how these different aspects – custom development, ecommerce, WordPress, and AI – are increasingly converging within projects. It’s not uncommon for a client to need an ecommerce-enabled WordPress site with custom functionality and an AI-driven component. That’s why it’s crucial for businesses to choose a development partner with broad, proven expertise across these areas. It ensures not only that the project meets current needs but also that it’s scalable for future growth. We’re proud to be that partner for so many clients – helping them navigate an ever-evolving digital landscape with confidence.To learn more about Sandcastle, you can visit sandcastle-web.com
