Connecting retail and eCommerce with Shopify Plus and POS to support Hotel Chocolat’s expansion

Sweet success in the US with Shopify Plus

As part of their global expansion to reach US markets, Hotel Chocolat chose us to deliver their new Shopify Plus website in just six weeks. Renowned for sumptuous chocolate treats, an expert eCommerce agency was needed to develop an intuitive online experience across the pond.

The challenge

Hotel Chocolat faced a time sensitive challenge: launching into the US market in time for the high-stakes Valentine’s Day trading period. Speed and scalability were essential. So was a robust eCommerce solution that could support rapid growth and deliver a seamless customer experience from day one.

Alongside the digital launch, Hotel Chocolat also required a cohesive omnichannel strategy that connected their online and physical retail operations. To achieve a single view of customer data across channels and operational efficiency, they needed an experienced eCommerce partner.

Our approach

Bespoke Shopify Plus launch

To meet the tight deadline, we rapidly designed and launched a new Shopify Plus store in just six weeks. This provided a fast, flexible foundation for Hotel Chocolat’s US expansion while ensuring reliability during a peak trading period.

Single source of truth

We implemented Shopify POS, using its intuitive iPad application to connect in‑store and online operations. This unified approach consolidated order tracking and customer data into a single platform, enabling a true omnichannel experience and improving operational efficiency across retail locations.

Strategic guidance

Alongside the core platform build, our experts advised Hotel Chocolat’s team on selecting and implementing tailored Shopify apps. These included solutions for email marketing, customer loyalty, and streamlined delivery – each chosen to enhance customer engagement and long-term growth in the US market.

The result

Hotel Chocolat successfully launched in the US in just six weeks, delivering a smooth and accessible online shopping experience in time for Valentine’s Day.

With Shopify Plus and POS in place, the brand can now open new US retail locations quickly while maintaining a single, unified view of its customers - laying strong foundations for scalable omnichannel growth.

"“We appointed IDHL to build our US site to support our global expansion, as they are an experienced Shopify Plus partner with expertise in both POS and international projects. In just 6 weeks, IDHL worked with the Hotel Chocolat team to deliver this, providing us with a strong foundation to build our US operations in a cost and time-effective way.”“

Brendan Drake, US CEO, Hotel Chocolat