Igniting ZIP’s Direct to Consumer website

Target Audience

ZIP’s direct to consumer site is aimed at households and outdoor enthusiasts who rely on safe, reliable firelighters for everyday use. This includes customers lighting fires at home, as well as those using barbecues, fire pits and outdoor heaters who value products that work first time and are easy to use.

Many of these customers were already familiar with ZIP through retail and marketplace channels. The website needed to speak to a broad audience that values convenience, quality and trust in a well established brand, while providing clear product information to help customers choose the right option for their needs.

Client Challenge

ZIP didn't sell products directly through their own website. While the brand was well established through retail and marketplace channels, there was no direct to consumer platform in place. The challenge was to bring a long standing, trusted product range online, while ensuring the buying experience felt clear, safe and reliable.

Alongside launching ecommerce, the existing website needed a full design refresh to meet modern expectations. The platform also had to meet regulatory requirements around selling fuel online, and provide the internal team with better tools to manage content. Product pages needed to be more informative, and the team wanted greater freedom to use editorial content to educate and support customers.

Solution

We built a new direct to consumer ecommerce website using Shopify Hydrogen, delivering a fast and responsive experience designed for both browsing and conversion. Shopify provides a secure and familiar checkout, while Hydrogen enables a modern frontend that performs well across devices.

To support richer content and give the internal team full control, we integrated DatoCMS as a dedicated content layer. This allows ZIP to manage pages, blog content and product enrichment without relying on developers.

Working closely with the internal team and existing brand assets, we designed a refreshed interface that brings the brand up to date while staying true to its heritage. Shopify tax rules were also configured to ensure the site is compliant when selling fuel online.

Results

The new website marks a major step forward for ZIP, giving the brand a direct to consumer sales channel and full ownership of the customer journey. The platform combines performance, clarity and compliance, creating a strong foundation for online growth.

1. A Better Experience for Customers

Customers can now explore the full ZIP product range online, with clear product information and a straightforward buying journey. The fast, responsive site makes it easy to browse, understand and purchase with confidence.

2. Greater Control for the Team

With Shopify handling commerce and DatoCMS powering content, the internal team now has full control over how products and information are presented. This enables richer storytelling, better product education and the flexibility to update content as the range evolves.

3. Ready for the Future

The Hydrogen build provides a scalable platform that can grow alongside the business. ZIP now has a modern ecommerce foundation that complements existing retail channels and opens up new opportunities for direct engagement with customers.