WebCitz started working with this client in 2014
- Client: Mesa Stamps
- Platform: Magento, WooCommerce
- Industry: Retail / E-Commerce
- Services: Digital Marketing, Ecommerce, Maintenance / Support, Web Development, Web Hosting
The Challenge
The stamp collecting world relies on the Scott Catalogue numbering system. For an e-commerce site with thousands of unique items, standard “alphabetical” or “numerical” sorting fails because Scott numbers often include prefixes, suffixes, and sub-types.
- The “Unsolvable” Sorting Problem: Prior to 2014, multiple developers had failed to create a logic that correctly sorted stamps by Scott Number.
- Legacy Magento Issues: Their original site was plagued with theme bugs and poorly implemented extensions that hindered performance.
- Inventory Fragmentation: The client needed to sell on eBay and HipStamp without manually duplicating effort or risking overselling.
The WebCitz Solution
We provided the specialized logic and long-term stability that a high-volume collectible business demands:
- The Scott Number Sorting Engine (2014): We engineered a custom sorting algorithm specifically for the philatelic industry. This logic handles the complexities of Scott numbering (e.g., ensuring “100a” follows “100” but precedes “101”), a feat that previously stumped other development teams. This remains a cornerstone of the site’s usability.
- Magento to WooCommerce Migration (2018): To provide better flexibility and lower overhead, we migrated the entire operation into a custom-themed WooCommerce environment. We ensured that thousands of individual stamp listings, customer data, and the proprietary sorting logic were preserved perfectly.
- Multi-Channel Integration: We streamlined their sales reach by integrating the website with eBay and HipStamp. This allows Mesa Stamps to manage a massive inventory from one central hub, automatically syncing stock levels across all platforms.
- Conversion Optimization & Marketing:
- Tiered Discount System: We built a custom “Buy More, Save More” logic that encourages collectors to add multiple stamps to their cart to hit discount thresholds.
- Automation: We implemented abandoned cart email flows to recover lost revenue.
- Landing Pages: We created SEO-optimized landing pages for specific countries and eras of stamps.
- Managed Hosting & SEO: For over 10 years, we have provided high-speed hosting and consistent SEO support, keeping Mesa Stamps at the top of search results for specific stamp catalog numbers and countries.
The Result
Mesa Stamps has thrived for over a decade by having a website that truly “understands” how collectors think. By solving the Scott Number sorting dilemma and expanding into multi-channel retail, we helped Mesa Stamps grow from a regional collector’s shop into a premier global destination for philatelists. The client’s decade-plus loyalty is a testament to the reliability and technical ingenuity we bring to the table.
