John’s Fish Bar: Shopify powered app

Not satisfied with having to rely on third-party delivery services like Deliveroo or Uber Eats, John's Fish Bar wanted to launch their own branded app to take local home delivery orders. They needed a solution that would give them direct customer relationships, eliminate commission fees, and provide complete control over their delivery operations.

Tinderhouse designed and developed a comprehensive e-commerce solution that includes a Shopify-powered website and custom native mobile apps for iOS and Android. By leveraging Shopify app development, we created a seamless ecosystem where the mobile apps connect directly to Shopify's robust e-commerce backend, handling everything from product catalogues and pricing to order management and payment processing.

The Challenge

John's Fish Bar faced several key challenges that needed to be addressed:

• Third-Party Dependency: Relying on delivery platforms meant paying 20-30% commission on every order while losing direct customer relationships.
• Brand Control: They wanted their own branded experience rather than being one option among many on aggregator apps.
• Customer Data: They needed to own their customer data to build loyalty and repeat business.
• Order Management: They required an efficient system to manage incoming orders, update menus in real-time, and handle payment processing securely.
• Technical Complexity: Building a full e-commerce system from scratch would be expensive and time-consuming.

Our Solution

Tinderhouse delivered a complete Shopify-powered e-commerce ecosystem that solved all of John's Fish Bar's challenges:

Native Mobile Apps with Shopify Integration

We developed custom native mobile apps for both iOS and Android that connect seamlessly to Shopify's powerful e-commerce backend. This Shopify app development approach provided several key advantages:

• Best of Both Worlds: Native apps deliver superior performance and user experience while Shopify handles the complex backend infrastructure for products, orders, and payments.
• Rapid Development: By leveraging Shopify's APIs, we could focus on creating an excellent mobile experience rather than building e-commerce infrastructure from scratch.
• Real-Time Synchronisation: Menu updates, pricing changes, and availability are instantly reflected across the website and mobile apps.
• Secure Payments: Shopify's PCI-compliant payment processing ensures customer data is protected to the highest standards.

Key Features Delivered

• Custom Menu Management: Easy-to-update product catalogue managed through Shopify admin
• Order Tracking: Real-time order status updates for customers
• Push Notifications: Alert customers when orders are being prepared and out for delivery
• Native Performance: Fast, responsive apps that work smoothly even during busy periods
• Delivery Zone Management: Geographic targeting to ensure orders are only accepted within delivery areas
• Customer Accounts: Loyalty through saved addresses and order history

Why Shopify for the Backend?

Choosing Shopify as the backend platform was strategic. Rather than building custom infrastructure, we leveraged Shopify's proven e-commerce capabilities while creating the custom mobile experience John's Fish Bar needed. This hybrid approach of native apps powered by Shopify delivered professional results faster and more cost-effectively than a fully custom solution.

Technology Stack

• Mobile Apps: Native iOS (Swift) and Android (Kotlin) applications
• Backend: Shopify e-commerce platform with custom API integrations
• Payment Processing: Shopify Payments for secure transactions
• Push Notifications: Real-time order updates and promotional messaging
• Delivery Management: Custom delivery zone logic integrated with Shopify orders

For businesses looking to launch their own e-commerce apps without building complex backend infrastructure, our Shopify app development service provides the perfect balance of custom mobile experience and proven e-commerce capabilities.

The Results

The launch of John's Fish Bar's Shopify-powered app ecosystem delivered impressive results:

• Direct Customer Relationships: 100% of mobile orders now come directly to John's Fish Bar, eliminating third-party commissions
• Increased Order Values: Customers ordering through the branded app show 25% higher average order values compared to third-party platforms
• Customer Loyalty: The ability to save favorite orders and delivery addresses has driven strong repeat business
• Operational Control: Complete control over menu updates, pricing, and delivery operations
• Data Ownership: Valuable customer insights and marketing opportunities through owned customer data
• Brand Strengthening: Professional, branded app experience reinforces John's Fish Bar as a local leader

Client Feedback

"Working with Tinderhouse to develop our Shopify-connected apps was a game-changer. We now control our delivery business, keep all the profits, and have direct relationships with our customers. The apps work flawlessly, and managing orders through Shopify is incredibly simple."

— John's Fish Bar