Client Overview
A leading distributor of professional-grade creative tools across the Americas, this company represents a globally recognized brand known for its high-performance markers used in illustration, fine arts, and design. As the regional branch of a well-established Japanese parent company, they manage brand presence and distribution throughout North and South America.
Since the brand’s launch in the late 1980s, it has cultivated a passionate community of artists and creators. While their direct-to-consumer (B2C) operations had seen continuous digital improvement, their retail and wholesale (B2B) processes remained manual and disconnected from their larger digital ecosystem.
The Challenge
Manual processes were limiting scale and slowing growth.
A leading U.S.-based distributor of premium creative tools—serving retailers across North and South America—faced a critical challenge: while its direct-to-consumer (B2C) infrastructure had evolved digitally, its B2B operations remained stuck in the past.
Retailer onboarding, account management, and wholesale ordering were all handled manually. This slowed internal operations and weakened engagement with its vibrant network of creative retail partners. With no unified framework to manage both B2C and B2B audiences, the company needed a scalable solution to digitize its wholesale experience.
Key Challenges
- Fragmented digital experience across channels
- No structure to support B2B customers alongside B2C
- No loyalty or rewards strategy for retailers
- Outdated tech stack that restricted frontend performance
- Retailer workflows were 100% manual
- Limited in-house technical bandwidth for a full-scale build
The Strategy
The Solution
A tailored B2B commerce platform, built with Kanvas.
To address these challenges, we deployed a custom B2B commerce portal powered by Kanvas, our composable, headless ecommerce platform. This modular solution allowed for rapid customization, scalable automation, and deep integration with backend systems—all without needing a costly upgrade to enterprise ecommerce software.
What We Delivered
Profile & Privacy Management
User accounts, content controls, and privacy settings tailored for creators and knowledge sharers.
Memory Flow
Gamified recall tools and bookmarking features that help users revisit and retain ideas over time.
Creator Tools
Built-in editor and publishing flow, enabling creators to format short, structured memos that spark engagement.
Content Engine with AI
An in-app AI assistant to help users summarize content, generate ideas, and suggest optimal posting times.
Mobile App & Web Portal
Fully responsive platform with support for iOS, Android, and web—including real-time sync, chat, and media sharing.
Variant Limit Bypass
Support for hundreds of product variants, solving the Shopify 100-variant cap.
Order Draft & Approval Flow
Buyers can save drafts, review, and submit final orders via Shopify.
Product Login Engine
Rules-based logic for pricing tiers, MOQs, and product availability by account.
Buyer Account & Permission
Company-level accounts with admin rights to invite and manage internal buyers.
Sales Admin Dashboard
A centralized backend for managing retailer profiles, legal docs, and application approvals.
Retailer Application Workflow
A self-service portal for prospective retail partners to apply directly online.
The Results
🚀 Full B2B Platform Launched in 3 Months
By leveraging the Kanvas framework, we were able to deliver a complete B2B transformation—from discovery to deployment—in just 90 days.
Why They Choose Kanvas?
- Prebuilt B2B storefront templates
- Mobile-ready field sales app
- Fast integration with ERP and third-party tools
- Reusable components for faster development
- Built-in onboarding flows and automation logic
Developer Perspective
"Working on the frontend of the B2B site, the Kanvas Ecosystem significantly simplified our development process. Integration was straightforward, and its GraphQL API was key—we could request exactly the data we needed for each component, with no overhead. Kanvas’s prebuilt modules accelerated many tasks, allowing us to focus on the user interface. It was a very efficient experience."
TL;DR
A leading distributor of premium art markers needed to digitize its manual B2B operations across the Americas. Their existing setup lacked automation, a dedicated B2B framework, and the flexibility to scale. Using Kanvas, we launched a tailored B2B commerce portal in just 3 months, featuring self-service onboarding, account hierarchies, dynamic product rules, and Shopify variant limit workarounds.
Results included:
- Full automation of retailer workflows
- A branded portal for partner engagement
- Streamlined sales team operations
- Scalable architecture for future growth
- Optimized product catalog performance
Business Impact: The company now delivers a modern, efficient retail partner experience—enabling strategic growth without increasing operational overhead.
Want to See Kanvas in Action?
Contact Us to learn how we can accelerate your B2B digital transformation.