ShopGarden: Intuitive eCommerce mobile application

Nikoloz Khotcholava

Last updated on February 28, 2026 | 14 min read

Introduction

A Pennsylvania retail business, ShopGarden, faced a critical obstacle when its mobile application began to undermine daily operations. While the eCommerce platform powered by Magento performed its essential functions, the mobile component displayed error messages during checkout and failed to sync properly with the Magento backend, creating a frustrating navigation experience for customers.

The failing mobile experience threatened customer retention at a time when Pennsylvania shoppers increasingly relied on mobile browsing before visiting physical stores. ShopGarden needed a partner who could rebuild the application without disrupting ongoing sales or abandoning the existing technological foundation that connected their online and retail operations.

The retailer outlined specific requirements for the replacement, insisting that developers build the new mobile product on the foundation of the existing code, which created immediate technical obligations regarding refactoring practices. Feature enhancement required careful attention throughout. DevsData LLC responded to these challenges by assuming control of the rebuild and implementing the solution using React Nativeintegrated with the established Magento infrastructure.

Project scope and objectives

The failing mobile experience threatened customer retention as shoppers abandoned sessions at higher rates, while competitors with smoother mobile apps captured sales that ShopGarden lost. Pennsylvania customers increasingly relied on mobile browsing before visiting physical stores, making the broken application a direct revenue problem. ShopGarden needed a partner who could rebuild the application without disrupting ongoing sales or abandoning the existing technological foundation that connected their online and retail operations.

The mandate covered engineering support for a new application built on the existing codebase, along with design renewal shaped for retail and eCommerce use. The client needed a partner with experience in React Native and form-handling libraries, such as React Hook Form, because the older structure required careful reuse rather than a clean restart. This engagement presented a challenging assignment that was grounded in continuity, stability, and close coordination with the ShopGarden team.

The scope expanded beyond basic refactoring work. DevsData LLC handled the redevelopment of the mobile application through React Native and ensured alignment with the Magento store, which powered online sales. Geolocation features formed another part of the build, supporting location-based notifications for nearby store activity. Each step required direct understanding of ShopGarden’s retail flow and customer shopping patterns, so frequent discussion shaped the engineering approach from the outset.

The project aimed to restore a seamless user journey that would guide customers from browsing to store discovery to checkout, while preserving the existing technical foundation. The client asked for reliable performance, modern UX patterns, and a foundation ready for ongoing growth.

A modern structure promised more precise movement and compatibility with WCAG 2.2 AA requirements, which held importance for accessibility and long-term compliance. A narrow framework shaped the assignment because ShopGarden couldn’t shut down its mobile channel during redevelopment. The Magento store continued processing daily orders while customers used the older application, so any rebuild had to occur during active operations rather than through a clean replacement. This requirement eliminated straightforward approaches and forced careful preservation of working components throughout the engineering process.

DevsData LLC structured the work around these goals by improving navigational clarity throughout the application while stabilizing behavior under daily traffic loads, then creating a redesigned interface that matched current retail expectations. This direction helped customers discover nearby ShopGarden stores while browsing the Magento storefront, all without disrupting existing operations.

Team composition and expertise

DevsData LLC assigned a dedicated team of specialists to handle the technical requirements of this rebuild. A senior React Native developer led the mobile redevelopment effort, bringing direct experience from previous retail and eCommerce projects, including work on Fruitful Yield, where the team delivered a React Native rebuild with WCAG 2.2 compliance, Magento integration, and geolocation-based store notifications for a Chicago health food chain.

A backend integration specialist handled the connection between the mobile application and ShopGarden’s Magento infrastructure. This role required deep familiarity with eCommerce platform architecture, drawing on experience from projects like SZIC.pl, where the team built a complete automotive eCommerce platform covering UX/UI design, backend development, and payment integrations over a two-year engagement. The specialist coordinated data flow across systems and supported geolocation features that linked online browsing to physical store discovery.

The UX/UI designer shaped the visual refresh and navigation improvements that addressed customer frustration with the older interface. Previous work on retail mobile applications informed the design decisions, particularly around form handling and checkout flow optimization. This designer collaborated closely with the React Native developer to balance modern retail expectations against the constraints of the existing structure.

A technical project manager coordinated communication between DevsData LLC and the ShopGarden team, maintaining alignment on priorities while managing the nine-week delivery timeline. This role proved critical given the requirement to preserve legacy components while introducing new functionality, a balance that demanded constant verification and adjustment throughout the engagement.

Weekly review sessions brought the development team together with ShopGarden stakeholders to validate progress against retail priorities, while daily standups kept engineers synchronized on integration challenges between React Native and Magento. The project manager managed client expectations by translating technical constraints into business terms and explaining why certain refactoring decisions protected ShopGarden’s operational continuity.

This client-facing responsibility included managing scope changes when testing revealed unexpected dependencies in the legacy code, necessitating renegotiation of feature priorities without compromising the delivery schedule.

Challenges and constraints

A redevelopment effort of this scale placed pressure on both planning and execution. ShopGarden requested continuity in the underlying system while expecting a modernized mobile experience, which narrowed the available engineering paths. These limits shaped a demanding assignment that needed careful coordination across retail workflows and the Magento environment. The table below outlines the main challenges and the responses that advanced the project.

“Retail workflows don’t pause for redevelopment. The existing Magento store had to keep running while we rebuilt the mobile side, which narrowed down the accessible pool of talent.” – Nenad Hrisafovic, DevsData LLC

These constraints demanded a partner with proven React Native expertise, Magento integration experience, and the ability to refactor legacy systems under active use. DevsData LLC delivered a modernized mobile application that met WCAG 2.2 accessibility standards, integrated geolocation features for store discovery, and maintained operational continuity throughout the nine-week rebuild. The team’s experience with similar retail platforms, including previous work on Fruitful Yield and SZIC.pl, enabled them to navigate ShopGarden’s technical challenges while keeping the business running without interruption.

Results and impact

Delivery progressed through a structured nine week schedule that brought a fully renewed mobile channel into daily use for ShopGarden. The redevelopment effort replaced an outdated experience with a stable React Native application connected to the Magento store and supported by accessible UX patterns. A steady rise in shopper engagement followed once the new version reached production stages.

The updated application supported:

• Faster movement across screens, allowing shoppers in Pennsylvania to browse and complete orders without interruptions.
• Stronger cooperation between the mobile layer and the Magento environment, reducing manual coordination for ShopGarden staff.
• A fresh UX UI direction shaped for retail journeys, improving clarity across product discovery and store information.
• Location-based prompts powered by device-level geolocation, helping nearby customers reach physical stores more often.
• A smoother onboarding flow with fewer abandoned sessions, driven by clearer forms supported through React Hook Form.

Overall performance stabilized across daily traffic, and the refreshed layout aligned the mobile presence with current retail expectations. This outcome strengthened the connection between online operations and local stores, supporting broader ShopGarden goals.

“Work on this assignment required close attention to every detail in the inherited structure. The client requested continuity across older components, so every stage demanded careful coordination. Our approach focused on disciplined reviews and steady communication to reach a desired result.” – Nenad Hrisafovic, DevsData LLC

Conclusion

ShopGarden faced a mobile channel that no longer supported daily retail demands, and the outdated structure affected both customer activity and operational flow. The request to rebuild on top of an inherited foundation carried business weight because a large portion of shopper interactions in Pennsylvania relied on a stable React Native application linked to the Magento store.

DevsData LLC delivered a redesigned mobile experience that stabilized performance under daily traffic, introduced location-based features, and improved navigation. The updated application reduced checkout friction and linked online browsing to in-store visits via geolocation prompts. ShopGarden now operates with a modernized mobile presence that supports ongoing growth without abandoning the foundational systems on which its business depends.

The ShopGarden engagement reflects DevsData LLC’s focus on retail and eCommerce mobile development. The team previously modernized Fruitful Yield’s mobile application for a Chicago health food chain, delivering WCAG 2.2 accessibility compliance, Magento integration, and geolocation-based store notifications. Earlier work with SZIC.pl involved building a complete automotive eCommerce platform from the ground up, covering full-cycle development from UX/UI design through backend architecture and payment processing over a two-year collaboration. This consistent experience with React Native rebuilds, legacy system modernization, and Magento platform integration positions DevsData LLC to handle complex retail technology challenges while maintaining operational stability.

Businesses managing legacy mobile applications or planning an upgrade to their retail experience can benefit from a partner familiar with system continuity and modern UX UI demands. To discuss similar work with your team, reach DevsData LLC at contact@devsdata.com or visit www.devsdata.com.

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Nikoloz Khotcholava Copywriter and Marketer

Nika Khotcholava is a dedicated Copywriter crafting engaging content across various platforms. His background in social media management has sharpened his ability to communicate ideas effectively and collaborate closely with designers to bring creative visions to life. Nika thrives in fast-paced environments and enjoys learning new technical aspects every day.

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