CASE STUDY · ECOMMERCE · MAY 2026
KAISHA LANTERNS & FLORALS, CUSTOM SHOPIFY BUILD.
An Australian handcrafted-lantern and floral brand. A stock Shopify template that didn't fit her brand. A custom build that did. A short write-up of what we built.
Headline outcome
Google review
5★
from the client, on our Google profile
Build type
Custom
Shopify, brand-matched
Status
Live
kaishalanterns.com.au
CLIENT SNAPSHOT
KAISHA LANTERNS & FLORALS
Australian-handcrafted lanterns and bespoke floral arrangements.
- Industry
- Handcrafted lanterns & florals
- Platform
- Shopify (custom theme)
- Onboarded
- April 2026
- Project
- Custom website build
- Replaced
- Stock Shopify template
- Status
- Live & taking orders
THE BEFORE
A REAL BRAND. A STOCK STORE.
Kaisha had everything most small-business owners spend a year trying to build, a real product (handcrafted lanterns, bespoke floral arrangements, seasonal pieces), a clear visual identity, and an audience genuinely interested in what she was making. What she didn't have was a website that did any of that justice.
The starting point was a stock Shopify template, the kind of generic build-it-yourself default thousands of new stores launch on. Functional, technically “a website,” but completely flat. None of the brand voice came through. Customers landing on it had no way of knowing whether they were looking at Kaisha Lanterns & Florals or any other Shopify store running the same theme.
For most ecommerce brands that gap is invisible. For a handcrafted-product brand, where the look, feel and atmosphere of each piece is half of why customers buy, the gap was the whole problem.
THE APPROACH
WHAT WE ACTUALLY DID.
01
CUSTOM OVER STOCK TEMPLATE
Many ecommerce stores launch on a default Shopify theme like Dawn or Sense. They look fine, but they can all look the same. Kaisha needed her brand to be the brand, not a template carrying it. We built the front-end to match her exact vision rather than nudging a stock theme in that direction.
02
BRAND-LED DESIGN SYSTEM
Before any code went down, we locked in the colour palette, typography, product photography style and mood the site needed to communicate. Every section on the page rolls out of that system, so the site feels like one cohesive brand experience instead of a patchwork of widgets.
03
CONVERSION BUILT IN FROM DAY ONE
Trust signals, clear product layouts, frictionless checkout, mobile-first responsive behaviour, set up before the doors opened, not retrofitted after the launch. That's the difference between “a site that's live” and “a site that's actually selling.”
04
DIRECT, PATIENT COMMUNICATION
Every brief, every revision, every late-night question handled by Michael directly, no account managers, no agency handoffs. Kait's review specifically calls out the patience and willingness to listen, which is the part of the process most agencies short-cut.
THE OUTCOME
A STORE THAT LOOKS LIKE THE BRAND.
THE BUILD
The custom Shopify store is live at kaishalanterns.com.au.
No sales or traffic figures are published for this project, so none are claimed here.
THE REVIEW
Kait Hawksford left a 5-star Google review for Michael Evans Media, calling out communication, patience, and the willingness to actually listen to the brief.
It's public, so you can check it on our Google profile.
WHAT TO TAKE FROM THIS
For a handcrafted brand, the look and feel of the store is part of the product. Replacing a generic stock template with a build that fits the brand gives customers a better first impression. It won't replace traffic or good products, and I don't promise a sales lift from a new website.
SEE IT LIVE
KAISHALANTERNS.COM.AU
Don't take our word for it, open the site, scroll around, view a product, walk through to checkout. See what a brand-matched custom Shopify build feels like compared to a stock template.
“Michael was absolutely fantastic to work with while helping us build the Kaisha website. He was incredibly understanding, patient, and genuinely willing to cater to our needs every step of the way. Nothing ever felt like too much trouble, and he took the time to listen to our ideas and bring them to life. His communication, professionalism, and willingness to help made the whole process so much easier. We truly appreciate all of his support and would highly recommend him to anyone looking for website assistance.”
KAIT HAWKSFORD · KAISHA LANTERNS & FLORALS · GOOGLE REVIEW
YOU SELLING ONLINE IN ROCKY?
Custom Shopify builds, brand-led design systems, and conversion-ready storefronts for Rocky and Central Queensland ecommerce brands. Public pricing, no lock-in, direct work with Michael.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS CASE STUDY
FAQs.
How long does a custom Shopify build like this take?
It depends on how much custom design work, copywriting and product photography is included. The biggest variable is usually how quickly the client can supply product photos and approve key design decisions. I'll give you a timeline in the quote.
Why not just stick with a Shopify template?
Stock templates are a great starting point if you want to be live by Friday and don't mind looking like every other Shopify store. They become a problem when (a) the brand has a specific visual identity that doesn't fit the template's grid, (b) you need conversion-optimised layouts that aren't in the default theme, or (c) you want the store to be defensibly yours rather than recognisably Shopify-default. For Kaisha the brand was the whole point, a stock template would have flattened it.
What does a build like this cost?
Websites start from $1,500 one-off, and a custom Shopify build is quoted on scope. The monthly plans ($599, $1,299 and $1,999) are on the pricing page.
Will the site keep working after launch?
Yes. Shopify handles hosting, security and uptime. We hand over admin access, write internal docs on how to update products and content, and stay available for tweaks under any of the public retainers. There's no lock-in, clients own the store, the theme code, the customer data and the domain. Always.
Did Kaisha run ads for the launch?
Not as part of this engagement. Paid traffic is a separate decision, and no sales or traffic figures are published for this project.
Can you do a custom Shopify build for my business?
Yes, we work with Rockhampton and Central Queensland businesses across most categories. Best path is the free call (book at /#contact), we'll talk through what you sell, what you need, and whether a custom build, a tweaked template, or something else entirely is the right fit. Honest answer either way.
YOUR TURN.
Got a brand that deserves a real website instead of a stock template? Free call. We'll talk through what you sell, what you need, and tell you honestly whether a custom build is the right move, and roughly what it would cost.