Marlow & Finch The shop,without the shopfront.
How this independent homeware brand launched a mobile catalogue and checkout without a full replatform.
Mobile traffic convertedat half the desktop rate.
Marlow & Finch's desktop site converted well, but over 70% of traffic came from mobile, where the same site felt cramped and slow. Customers were browsing on their phones and abandoning before checkout.
A full replatform to a native app was quoted at £40,000+ over six months. Appin500 built a focused mobile catalogue and checkout that plugged into their existing product feed instead of replacing it.
We didn't need a new shop. We needed our existing shop to stop losing people on mobile.”
Keep the product feed.Rebuild the mobile path.Ship checkout that converts.
Pull the existing catalogue in
Product data synced directly from their existing store, no manual re-entry, no duplicate inventory to maintain.
Redesign for a thumb, not a mouse
Browsing, filtering and product pages rebuilt around one-handed mobile use, not a shrunk-down desktop layout.
Ship native checkout, not a webview
Checkout launched as a true native flow with saved cards and Apple Pay — the exact gap the old mobile site never closed.
Five things mobilenever had before.
Feature 01: Synced product catalogue
Every product, price and stock level pulled automatically from their existing store feed.
Feature 02: One-handed browse & filter
Filtering and sorting built for a thumb reaching across a phone screen, not a mouse.
Feature 03: Native checkout with Apple Pay
A real native checkout, not a slow webview bolted onto the app.
Feature 04: Wishlist & saved items
Customers save pieces they're deciding on instead of losing them in a closed tab.
Feature 05: Order tracking notifications
Shipping updates pushed directly, no separate courier app required.
Nineteen days.Mobile conversion nearly doubled.
Before you Take a Leap
Can you build any app for £500?
No. £500 is the starting point for a tightly scoped MVP with one core function. We’ll tell you what fits, what needs a larger package and what can wait for a later phase.
Is this a working app or just a design?
The agreed deliverable is a functional first version, not only static screens. The exact platform, features, backend and handover are defined before work begins.
Will I own my app?
You receive the project source code after final payment. Any third-party components remain subject to their own licences, which are identified during handover.
Can I add features later?
Yes. We can quote separately for additional features, integrations and ongoing support as your product grows.
How quickly can I launch?
Starter projects target 7–14 days after scope approval and receipt of required content and access. Complex features and app store review can take longer. Your quote confirms the delivery plan.
That app idea? Let’s hear it.
You don’t need a perfect brief. Just tell us what you have in mind — we’ll help you find the right first step.
- No obligation
- No payment to enquire
- Honest scope review