Distributor of leading kitchen, homeware & lifestyle brands
EA Symmons
Bringing a heritage business online with a modern B2B commerce experience
BIGCOMMERCE
INTERNATIONAL
STORE DEVELOPMENT
DESIGN & UX
EA Symmons is one of Ireland’s most established distributors of kitchen and homeware brands. For over 75 years, the company operated entirely offline — customers would place orders via catalogues or phone. But with the business entering a new phase of growth, they partnered with us to take their operations online for the first time.
The goal: to create a customer-focused B2B store that simplified ordering, respected long-standing relationships, and positioned Symmons for the digital future.
Designing a modern store for traditional buyers
We began with discovery — mapping out buyer habits, exploring account structures, and working closely with the team to understand how relationships shaped transactions. From there, we created a tailored ecommerce design that mirrored the simplicity of a physical catalogue but with all the advantages of online. The custom design reflects the brand’s modernised identity, while placing clarity and ease of use at its core — making it quick for trade customers to browse, log in, and order at their agreed rates.
Building around complexity — without showing it
BigCommerce was selected for its B2B capabilities and flexibility. We extended the platform with custom account logic, role-based pricing, and approval workflows — making sure new users could browse but only order once verified. Our development team worked carefully within the Cornerstone framework, balancing future-proofing with bespoke functionality. The result is a robust yet manageable system that gives the Symmons team the tools they need to run and scale their store with confidence.
Using AI to streamline product data
Preparing product data for import was a major task, with thousands of SKUs needing to match BigCommerce’s strict formatting. Rather than process everything manually, we used AI tools to structure and validate the data. This approach saved time, improved accuracy, and freed up the team to focus on other critical parts of the build.
Setting the stage for digital transformation
This project represents a major shift for the business. By moving online, EA Symmons can now offer customers a faster, more convenient way to order — while opening up opportunities for cross-selling and tailored promotions that simply weren’t possible with static catalogues. The result is a modern B2B commerce store built on strong foundations, ready to grow and evolve with the business.
The outcome
The new store is already being well received by customers — bringing new efficiency to long-standing trade relationships. Internally, the team now has greater control and flexibility, with a digital platform built for the future. As the client put it, “It offers us a new way of engaging with people — and we know it will be an important investment for years to come.”
“We also love our new site, and are excitedly hearing from our customers about its usability and function. It offers us a new way of engaging with people and we know it will be an important investment for years to come. We would highly recommend Strawberry for their expertise, their service and their incredible team of people who are a joy to work alongside.”
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