The 5-Stack
D2C Method.
Our proprietary framework for shipping India D2C Shopify stores that actually convert. Five stacks — built in order, each compounding the next. Used across 80+ stores. Opinionated. Battle-tested. India-native.
Five Stacks. Built In Order.
Each stack solves a different problem and unlocks the next. Skip the order and the layers don't bond.
Foundation Stack
Theme · SEO · Catalog
Conversion Stack
Payments · COD · Trust · CRO
Compliance Stack
GST · Shipping · Returns
Retention Stack
Email · WhatsApp · Loyalty
Growth Stack
Markets · B2B · Hydrogen
The Foundation Stack.
The base layer. If this is weak, everything above wobbles. We start with Dawn or a tuned premium theme (see our 13 best Shopify themes ranked), build the catalog right, get schema markup live, and hit sub-2.5s LCP on mobile before any conversion work begins. Typical timeline: 3-4 weeks for a standard build.
Theme + Section Architecture
Dawn-based or premium theme tuned to brand. Sections everywhere. JSON templates. Mobile-first audit.
Catalog + Metafields
Product types, variants, metafields for ingredients / size guides / size charts. Collection logic with smart filters.
SEO + Schema
Title / meta / OG per page. Product + Article + FAQ + BreadcrumbList schema. Sitemap + robots.txt verified.
Core Web Vitals
LCP < 2.5s on mobile, INP < 200ms, CLS < 0.1. Image optimization, lazy loading, render-blocking audit.
PDP Hero Build
The bestselling PDP gets sticky add-to-cart, reviews placeholder, social proof, FAQ, size guide, ingredients section.
The Conversion Stack.
Now we make the foundation convert. India payments dialed in, COD with OTP gating, trust signals on every PDP, and GA4 + Meta CAPI server-side so we actually see the conversions we're driving. Benchmarks: India D2C CR averages 0.9-1.8%, top quartile hits 2.5-4%.
Razorpay + UPI Autopay
UPI, Cards, EMI, Netbanking, Wallets live. UPI Autopay configured for subscription flows.
COD with OTP + PIN Gating
OTP verification, PIN code gating, partial advance (10-20%), WhatsApp pre-dispatch confirm. RTO drops 30-50%.
Trust Layer
Review widgets on PDP, security badges, money-back guarantee, contact-us prominent, returns policy linked.
CRO Sprint
Sticky cart, free-shipping bar, exit-intent for first-order discount, abandoned-cart popup, urgency on bestsellers.
GA4 + Meta CAPI Server-Side
Server-side tagging recovers 20-30% of conversions lost to iOS 14+. Klaviyo + Razorpay event hooks live.
The Compliance Stack.
The India-native infrastructure layer. GST auto-calc + GSTIN invoices + e-Invoice for ₹5Cr+ brands, Shiprocket / Delhivery / Ecom Express live. Returns workflow that doesn't bleed margin. Without this stack done right, RTO eats 8-15% of gross margin.
GST Auto-Calc + HSN
HSN code per product, GST auto-calculated, GSTIN invoices auto-generated. CGST / SGST / IGST routing logic.
e-Invoice + Tally Sync
Mandatory e-Invoice for >₹5Cr turnover via ClearTax. Tally / Zoho Books / QuickBooks bi-directional sync.
Shiprocket + Multi-Courier
Shiprocket / Delhivery / Ecom Express live. Rate-shopping per PIN. RTO predictor enabled.
Branded Tracking
Wonderment / AfterShip / Shiprocket native tracking page. WhatsApp + email + SMS notifications.
Returns Workflow
Self-service returns portal, pre-paid Shiprocket labels, refund automation via Razorpay, RTO reduction loop closed.
The Retention Stack.
First purchase is the start. See our 12 best Klaviyo flows for the full library (welcome, abandoned, browse, post-purchase, win-back, replenishment, VIP). WhatsApp for India-first comms. Reviews engine for social proof. Loyalty for the second purchase. Choosing tools? See Klaviyo vs WebEngage and Yotpo vs Stamped vs Judge.me.
Klaviyo Flows (12)
Welcome, Abandoned Cart, Browse, Post-Purchase, Win-back, Replenishment, VIP, Review, Cross-sell, Birthday, Back-in-Stock, Price-Drop.
WhatsApp Business Native
Wati / AiSensy / Gallabox + abandoned-cart recovery + order updates + COD confirm + replenishment nudges.
Reviews Engine
Judge.me or Yotpo on PDP. Photo / video reviews. Review request flow in Klaviyo. Google rich snippets.
Loyalty Program
Smile.io or LoyaltyLion. Points per purchase, referrals, VIP tiers. Wired to Klaviyo for tier-specific flows.
DLT-Routed SMS
OTP routes, transactional flows, promotional templates. DLT registration completed for India compliance.
The Growth Stack.
The post-launch expansion layer. International via Shopify Markets, wholesale via Plus B2B, custom UX via Hydrogen, recurring via Recharge (see Recharge vs Bold). India brands going global: USA, UK, UAE. We don't sell this on day one — it earns its place when growth demands it.
Shopify Markets (3-5 regions)
US / UK / UAE / Australia / Singapore configured. Local currency, local PSPs, local shipping, hreflang SEO.
Shopify Plus B2B
Company accounts, NET 30/60/90, custom catalogs, quote workflow, GST B2B invoicing.
Hydrogen Headless
React-based custom storefront for sub-1.5s LCP, custom UX, deep CMS integration. Oxygen hosting on Plus.
Subscription + Build-a-Box
Recharge / Bold with UPI Autopay. Member portal, churn-saver, replenishment, build-a-box logic.
ERP + Wholesale Channel
NetSuite / SAP B1 / Microsoft Dynamics integration. Wholesale-only storefront for B2B.
Stacks Compound. Each Layer Multiplies The Last.
The whole point of running stacks in order is the compounding effect. A great Foundation Stack gives Conversion Stack more to work with. A great Conversion Stack feeds Retention Stack richer signals. Stack revenue contribution isn't additive - it's multiplicative.
+ Catalog
+ COD + CRO
+ Shiprocket
+ B2B + Hydrogen
Why We Won't Stack Out Of Order.
Most agencies ship parallel workstreams. We ship sequenced stacks. Here's why it matters.
What We Don't Do.
These are the shortcuts that kill India D2C brands. We turn down work that demands them.
Get a 5-Stack Audit.
30-minute call. We diagnose which stacks are working, which are weak, which need rebuild. You walk away with a stack-by-stack action plan — even if you don't hire us. Try the cost calculator for scope context first.
