Transforming the Nativity Stones Collection’s vision into a secure and evocative online experience, WebCitz crafted a custom Magento storefront that honored the sacred story behind each relic. With ongoing technical stewardship, the brand’s website maintained reliability and trust, allowing their team to focus on their mission and customers worldwide.
The Challenge
As a brand centered around a sacred relic, the digital experience had to be both technically robust and emotionally resonant. Their requirements included:
- Thematic Design: A website that conveyed the solemnity and history of the “Nativity Stones Story,” which dates back to a 1964 excavation in Bethlehem.
- High-Trust Transactional Environment: Customers purchasing these unique relics required a secure, professional, and transparent checkout process.
- Complex Ordering Logic: Managing orders that often included personalized options and international shipping, all while ensuring each customer’s specific questions were answered promptly.
- Platform Longevity: Maintaining a high-performing site throughout the lifecycle of Magento 1.x, ensuring security and stability as the web evolved.
The WebCitz Solution
We implemented an “Authenticity-First” digital roadmap, providing the specialized engineering required for a high-value e-commerce brand:
- Custom Magento Design & Launch (2014): We designed and built a bespoke Magento storefront that prioritized the brand’s unique origin story. We ensured the site was rich in media – including the “Story of the Stones” video – and provided a seamless path from education to purchase.
- Magento Stewardship & Support: For years, we were the dedicated team responsible for the site’s technical health. This included:
- Version Management: Keeping the site updated to the latest and most secure versions of Magento 1.x.
- Performance Tuning: Ensuring the site remained fast and responsive, especially during peak holiday shopping seasons like Christmas and Easter.
- Order Management Improvements: Streamlining the backend processes to help their team fulfill orders and track inventory efficiently.
- Client Support & Problem Solving: We acted as their “on-call” technical department. For years, we were the ones the owners would call to resolve ordering questions, display issues, or backend hurdles, ensuring zero disruption to their mission.
- Infrastructure Security: We provided the robust server environment and security protocols necessary to protect customer data and maintain the integrity of their official authenticity certifications.
The Result
Between 2014 and 2022, the Nativity Stones Collection maintained a prestigious and highly reliable digital presence. Our long-term partnership successfully offloaded the technical complexities of the Magento platform, allowing the Nativity Stones team to focus on their philanthropic missions and the preservation of the Cave of the Nativity. By trusting WebCitz with their design and maintenance, they ensured that their unique pieces of history were as accessible as they were sacred.
