Starpics
Overview
Client: StarPics Cards
- Project: Custom Marketplace Product Launch (Phase 1)
- Timeline: 6–8 weeks (from zero → live)
- Role: Strategy, UX, architecture, custom build, integrations
- Outcome: International-ready marketplace with custom logic, built for scale.
- Pulsehub designed and launched a fully custom marketplace in under 8 weeks - laying the foundation for a global, multi-vendor platform with ambitions far beyond off-the-shelf solutions.
The Challenge
StarPics Cards needed more than a standard e-commerce site.
Key challenges:
Launching from zero on an aggressive timeline
Building a marketplace, not just a store
Preparing for international expansion (multi-region, multi-language)
Integrating third-party systems (manufacturers, payments, marketplaces)
Supporting custom business logic that platforms like Shopify can’t handle
Ensuring the platform was mobile-first from day one
Off-the-shelf platforms would have limited flexibility, scalability, and long-term ambition.
Why Not Shopify (Strategic Constraint)
This project intentionally moved beyond Shopify’s limits.
Key limitations we needed to overcome:
Restricted marketplace logic and seller workflows
Limited control over complex, multi-region logic
Difficulty supporting phased seller onboarding at scale
Tight coupling between frontend, backend, and checkout logic
Less flexibility when integrating deeply with manufacturers and external systems
Pulsehub’s approach:
Build a custom marketplace architecture that supports growth, not workarounds.
The Brief
Objective: Design and deliver a custom marketplace with bespoke logic in 6–8 weeks.
Phase 1 focus:
Marketplace foundation
International-ready architecture
Custom artist submission flow
Secure payments via Stripe
Backend-first build to support future phases
The Approach (Pulsehub Method)
To hit the deadline without compromising scalability, Pulsehub ran parallel workstreams.
How we delivered:
Designed the platform from the ground up
Began backend implementation immediately (no waiting for final UI)
Ran UX, architecture, and integrations in parallel
Heavy upfront planning to keep teams in sync
Continuous testing throughout development
Mobile-first requirements baked in from day one
Speed came from structure—not shortcuts.
The Solution (Phase 1)
A custom-built marketplace engineered for scale.
Core features delivered:
Custom marketplace logic (Phase 1 foundation)
Multi-region, multi-language-ready architecture
Artist submission form with third-party system integration
Stripe-hosted checkout with:
- Secure payments
- Automated tax handling
- Manufacturer connectivity
- External marketplace readiness (eBay and beyond)
Note: Seller onboarding is intentionally phased (Phase 2).
Complexity & Constraints
Even in Phase 1, complexity was unavoidable.
Key complexities:
Building future-proof logic without overengineering
Supporting global expansion before it happens
Designing seller workflows not yet activated
Balancing speed with long-term architectural integrity
Marketplace UX still evolving (not yet fully mobile-optimised)
This wasn’t a “version one website”—it was a version one platform.
Results (So Far)
Live marketplace launched in 6–8 weeks
Fully custom logic supporting future scale
International expansion technically enabled
Stripe payments live and compliant
Foundation laid for multi-vendor growth
Phase 2 already mapped and ready