Wearing Every Hat to Keep Two Businesses Running
Client: An entrepreneur launching two very different businesses simultaneously — one product-based, one service-based.
Users: 10+
Mandate: Build lightweight automation and optimize operations to support rapid business growth with minimal overhead.
Duration: <1 year
From Scrappy to Scalable — Building & Rebranding a Complete E-commerce Operation
The first online store started as an informal operation: customers ordered via text, picked up items from a drop-off location, and left payments in a box. There was no system for tracking inventory, fulfilling orders, or managing missed payments — and the branding lacked cohesion.
I launched their first website to give the operation a proper storefront. But it quickly became clear that the brand wasn’t aligned with its audience. With input from a marketing freelancer, I proposed a complete rebrand — name, visuals, messaging — and rebuilt the platform around a more credible and coherent identity.
Key features of the final store:
- Blog integration for SEO and educational content
- Loyalty rewards system
- Affiliate program for customer referrals
- A catalog of 100+ products, with all content — images, descriptions, specs — gathered and written manually
Behind the scenes, I also took on logistics:
- Supplier coordination
- Manual inventory tracking
- Order fulfillment
- Resolving operational breakdowns from other partners
Most of the work wasn’t glamorous, but it was necessary. The biggest challenge wasn’t technical — it was untangling the daily bottlenecks and building systems that could keep things moving without constant firefighting.
Quick-Deploy Inventory System to Stop the Bleeding
The first operation was hemorrhaging money due to poor stock control. There wasn’t time or budget for a complex solution, so I built a lightweight cloud-based inventory tracker using:
- Google Sheets + Forms as a shared interface
- Google Apps Script (Javascript) for logic and automation
- Mobile-friendly access for non-technical staff
It was up and running in days — and immediately started catching missed orders and low-stock issues.
Smarter Shipping, Baked Into the System
Shipping wasn’t just optimized — it was fully systematized.
By the time I was done, the Order Management System automatically suggested the right box size, estimated the shipping weight, and streamlined the entire process.
What used to be a chaotic, costly step became fast, predictable, and cost-efficient — all built directly into the workflow.
Lightweight Reporting for Hour-Based Billing
The second business had its own fire: billing clients based on technician hours. Under the same constraints, I built a tool using the same tech stack as the inventory system:
- Work logs submitted via form
- Automatic formatting and cleaning
- Ready-to-send reports for client billing
No subscriptions, no delays — just focused utility.
Mostly, I Had to Clean Up the Mess
What defined this project more than any one deliverable was the constant need to manage disorganization. Every system I built had to account for gaps in communication, forgotten tasks, and team members working without structure.
I often ended up bridging those gaps myself — acting not just as a developer, but as a buffer between chaos and functionality.
Looking Back
I don’t showcase these platforms anymore — they were eventually modified or broken after I stepped away — but this project taught me how to deliver real results in unstable environments. It was a crash course in product thinking, process design, and leadership when no one’s officially leading.