A 14-Year WooCommerce Journey From Day One to Pro Partner

We're thrilled to share some exciting news: Needmore Designs has officially become a WooCommerce Pro Agency Partner! This recognition represents more than just a badge—it's a validation of our two-decade journey crafting exceptional digital experiences for specialty brands.

Early Adopters to Pro Partners

Needmore's relationship with Woo began at the very beginning (we've been using the platform since it was first released in 2011). As early adopters, we recognized the potential of Woo to perfectly marry our love for storytelling with the e-commerce needs of our specialty clients (check this 2014 interview I did with the Prospress team about why we are drawn to WooCommerce ). 

Over 14+ years, we've developed an understanding of how WooCommerce can be tailored to serve the complex workflows and tell engaging stories.

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Our early success with WooCommerce Subscriptions proved the platform's potential for specialty brands. When we helped Picky Bars transform their Google spreadsheet subscription system into a seamless WooCommerce-powered experience, they saw a 150% increase in subscription sign-ups in just 3 months. This project exemplified our belief that subscription commerce works best when it reflects the authentic community around a brand—a philosophy that has become central to our approach.

Sharing Knowledge with the WooCommerce Community

Our commitment to the WooCommerce ecosystem extends far beyond client work. Needmore has been a prominent voice in the community since the very beginning, sharing our expertise on the conference stage at three historic WooConf events:

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• WooConf 2014 in San Francisco - speaking at the very first WooCommerce conference (video), helping establish the foundation of what would become the premier gathering for the WooCommerce community
• WooConf 2016 in Austin - presenting How to Elevate Brands with their Unique Voice (video) on the legendary Austin City Limits stage
• WooConf 2017 in Seattle - delivering a keynote address (video) to the developer community 

A Portfolio Rooted in Craft & Commerce

Since 2004, we've been deeply embedded in the specialty food and drink worlds. What sets our WooCommerce work apart is our anthropological approach to web design. We practice participant observation, which means engaging deeply with our clients and their products in various settings. For a coffee roaster, this might mean understanding the cupping process. For a wine maker, it's learning about terroir and vintage characteristics.

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Our portfolio tells the story of brands we've partnered with and seen flourish. Many of these were built on the WooCommerce foundation, such as:

• La Marzocco Home: Bringing the legendary espresso machine maker's premium experience online
• Sweet Bloom Coffee Roasters: Creating a sen­so­ry dig­i­tal expe­ri­ence where excep­tion­al cof­fees inter­twine with mean­ing­ful nar­ra­tives of jour­ney and impact
• Ritual Coffee: Creating a digital home for one of San Francisco's most beloved coffee roasters
• Literary Arts: Supporting Portland's literary community with a thoughtful online presence
• Tao of Tea: Illuminating the journey from leaf to cup through thoughtful design
• Oren's Coffee: A complete brand transformation with a WooCommerce-powered website that captures the electric heartbeat of New York coffee culture

Each project represents our philosophy: websites should tell memorable stories and inspire action, whether that's discovering a new coffee origin or setting up a monthly subscription. This deep engagement allows us to craft digital experiences that don't just sell products—they communicate the passion, craft, and story behind every item in the catalog.

Looking Forward

Becoming a WooCommerce Pro Partner isn't just recognition of our past work—it's a commitment to pushing the boundaries of what's possible in specialty e-commerce. We are excited about the opportunities ahead!  This Pro Partner status means our clients benefit from:

• Direct access to WooCommerce's latest features and updates
• Priority support channels for complex implementations
• Enhanced collaboration with the WooCommerce team on challenging customizations
• First access to beta features that can benefit specialty retail
• Recognition that they are working with WooCommerce experts

Celebrating with Coffee (Naturally)

As we celebrate this milestone, I'm reminded of why I love this work: every website we build helps thoughtful brands tell their stories with clarity and depth. Whether it's a small-batch roaster in Portland or an established tea company with decades of history, we're here to craft digital experiences that honor their craft and connect them with customers who value quality.

From our first WooCommerce site to achieving Pro Partner status, this journey has been about more than code and commerce—it's been about community, craft, and the stories that make specialty brands special.

Here's to the next chapter of brewing excellence in e-commerce!