Replatforming Aqualisa: Adobe Commerce and 200% SEO Growth
Real Agency partnered with Aqualisa, the UK’s leading shower manufacturer, to deliver a full eCommerce replatform, moving their online store from Magento to Adobe Commerce.
Among the tasks we were given by the client were to overhaul the buying journey, protect existing SEO, and deliver a site that Aqualisa could manage and expand with ease. What we launched is a clean, high-performing eCommerce website that improves access to key content, simplifies navigation, and is packed with fantastic new eCommerce features.
Client Objectives and Brief
The main goal was to make the new store effortless to use. Customers needed to find relevant information quickly and understand the next steps in their journey without confusion. The old site functioned more like a maze, full of U-turns and dead ends, which made these objectives a clear priority.
What We Delivered
This project covered a wide scope, from UX discovery and SEO migration to development, GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) implementation, and third-party integrations.
We introduced configurable products (showers and bathroom taps) to the store for the first time. These required manual admin setup and bespoke front-end handling to meet Aqualisa’s expectations. Warranty registration was retained and adapted to cover discontinued products, a requirement that emerged late in the project.
To address payment limitations, we implemented Mollie. This was first piloted on the old site and then carried over, allowing Aqualisa's customers to access a broader range of payment options.
Order data was exported in a format compatible with Aqualisa’s internal systems, ensuring continuity with their existing processes.
Our SEO and GEO strategy involved a complete redirect plan and careful content migration, which prevented the common visibility drop that follows replatforming.
Several other features were also developed:
-
Product sale toggle: A “for sale” attribute allows products to be shown without purchase functionality. This feature is ready for future use.
-
Upsell and related products: Manual associations can be configured in the admin to surface related spares or accessories.
-
FAQs using aHeadworks: A customisable system supporting text, images, and video.
-
Content management through Storyblok: Enabling the Aqualisa team to easily edit product pages and CMS content.
Store Locator with Storepoint
The site features a store locator powered by Storepoint. This integration allows users to easily find nearby Aqualisa retailers or installers. The map is interactive, searchable by postcode or town, and helps bridge the gap between digital browsing and in-person retail support.
3D Product Viewer via Fixtuur
To enhance the customer experience further, we integrated Fixtuur's 3D product viewer. This tool allows users to explore selected products in high-resolution 3D, offering more detail than static images and improving buyer confidence through greater visual context.
Other Key Third-party Integrations
-
DotDigital for email marketing
-
Trustpilot for brand reviews (product reviews planned)
-
Google Shopping feeds
SEO Wins and Positive Signs
SEO is often one of the biggest risks in a replatform. But here, careful planning delivered the opposite result. Aqualisa’s impressions jumped from around 50,000 per day to 150,000 immediately after launch. That's a 200% increase. There was no drop in visibility, confirming the success of our redirect strategy and content migration.
Client Feedback
“Real Agency has been an absolute joy to work with. Our new, market-leading website has just gone live, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive! As a designer myself, I can be quite particular about layout and visual details but the Real Agency team took it all in stride. The end result speaks for itself: aqualisa.co.uk. We absolutely love the outcome!”
Alan Margerison
Head of Digital Marketing, Aqualisa
Summary
The new Aqualisa site delivers on both user experience and technical requirements. Navigation is simple, the design is consistent with the brand, and merchandising is strong. Product information, spares, and support content are easy to access. The responsive design ensures performance across all devices.
Built for growth, the Adobe Commerce platform gives Aqualisa the tools they need to continue developing their digital offer and to do it with confidence.