Kindling

The brief

What was actually broken

Localization was a plugin. Merchandising was another. The shop spoke two languages in the chrome and one in the catalog, which is how you end up rebuilding.

How it shipped

The work, in order

1. 01

   i18n as architecture

   Copy, routes, and catalog fields are first-class. A plugin cannot be the source of truth.

2. 02

   Calmer retail

   Family shopping is not a flash sale. Type, space, and the bag stay quiet on purpose.

3. 03

   Merchandising in the model

   Collections, seasons, and gifts are data. The homepage reads them; it does not hardcode a campaign.

Localization is architecture. Treat it like a plugin and you will rebuild.

What changed

After it left the repo

• — A second language does not require a second catalog.
• — Seasonal merchandising is a record, not a deploy.
• — The shop stays calm enough for the actual customers.