Breadstack's Promotion Module

How it Started

Finding an Opportunity from Client Feedback

Breadstack was initially released to a small group of pilot clients. After the rollout, we began receiving feedback from users who wanted more flexibility around product discounting. Specifically, they wanted the ability to set discounts tied to scheduled campaigns and specific timelines.

This feedback sparked our exploration of what a dedicated Promotions module could look like.

Getting to Know the Users

Client Interviews

To better understand the problem space, we conducted user interviews with members of our clients’ sales and marketing teams. These conversations provided insight into how promotions were managed in real-world workflows and where things were falling short.

Mapping Insights

Findings were then synthesised into a mental model, highlighting common behaviours, pain points, and workarounds. This helped surface opportunities to improve efficiency and create a more cohesive promotion management experience.

The Problem

Obstacles in Running Promotions

From our analysis, we identified several recurring pain points that highlighted the key challenges users faced:

Scattered Workflows:
Promotion tasks were spread across different tools and teams.

No Built-in Tracking:
Users relied on resources like spreadsheets to monitor performance.

Too Manual:
Setting up campaigns was time-consuming and error-prone.

Looking Beyond Breadstack

Competitive Landscape

To inform our design direction, we then analyzed how other e-commerce platforms handled discounts and promotions. This research helped us identify familiar patterns and align our solution with industry standards.

Form-based setup for specifying details like dates and products
Calendar views to visualize campaigns over time
Data analytics for tracking sales and performance
AI-powered suggestions for recommended discounts and timing

Outlining the Strategy

Core Objectives

Drawing from our research and insights, we grounded our solution around three key pillars:

Visualize:
Give users a clear, intuitive view of promotions and performance.

Consolidate:
Centralize promotion setup and management in one place.

Automate:
Minimize manual effort with scheduling and auto-deactivation.

Scope & Constraints

To stay aligned with Breadstack’s broader platform, we also set the following guardrails:

The module should function as a standalone feature.
It must follow Breadstack’s existing UI system.
It should integrate into the platform’s broader logic and workflows.

Exploring the Interface

Sketching Concepts

We started with individual sketches, then came together to review ideas, identify overlaps, and align on a design direction. Early patterns that emerged included:

Multiple views: Calendar, list, and timeline options to support different planning styles.
Guided setup flow: Step-by-step process for creating promotions.
Built-in metrics: Tools for monitoring promotion performance in real time.

Building the Protoype

After sketching, we transitioned to mid-fidelity prototyping to clarify concepts and provide stakeholders with a tangible, interactive representation for early feedback.

Navigating a Roadblock

Handling Product Variations

As we fleshed out detailed user flows, we realized our early designs only supported single-SKU products. They didn’t account for variations, such as sizes, colours, or flavours, a critical use case for merchants who might want more granular control.

To solve this, we explored several approaches and ultimately implemented a table-style interface that allowed users to:

Apply bulk discounts across all variants.
Set custom pricing for individual variations.
Maintain clear visibility of original pricing and inventory per variant.

Aligning with Stakeholders

Balancing Feedback, Feasibility, and Focus

With the prototype in hand, we shared it with stakeholders to align on priorities. A key part of these conversations was defining what to build now versus what to hold off on.

Features we Prioritized

Simple promotions: Offer basic discount types like % and fixed-value.
Calendar & List Views: Flexible ways to visualize promotion.
Real-time Analytics: Track performance to optimize promotions.

Features we Deferred

Advanced promotions: Complex discount types like “Buy One, Get One” were valuable but too comprehensive for this phase.
Promotion suggestions: Auto-recommendations showed promise but required more technical investment.
Interactive timeline: The detailed Gantt-style timeline was interesting but hard to quickly interpret.

Refining the Design

Applying the Feedback

With the insights gathered, we refined our designs to reflect updated priorities and technical constraints. Advanced features such as the “interactive timeline” and “promotion suggestions" were deferred, allowing us to focus on the core experience while leaving space for future iterations and enhancements.

The Solution

Launching the Promotion Module

After final stakeholder reviews and sign-off, we handed off the designs for development. The result was a dedicated Promotions module within the Breadstack platform, giving users a central tool to create and manage promotional discounts for their online stores.

Create & Automate: Reetailers can build campaigns by selecting products, applying discounts, and setting timelines. Promotions can then activate and deactivate automatically, reducing manual effort.

Stay Organized: Promotions are displayed in color-coded calendar and list views, making it easy to plan, edit, and review campaigns at a glance.

Real-Time Insights: The module tracks key metrics like revenue and order volume, enabling users to monitor performance and replicate successful campaigns with ease.

The Results

Increased Revenue, Engagement & Cart Growth

Within 6 months of launch, over 50% of clients were actively using the Promotions module for campaigns ranging from flash sales to evergreen offers.

One top-performing client saw the following results from a single promotion:

$90,000+ in revenue
The campaign generated over $90,000 in online sales, capturing revenue that might have been lost.

1,600+ orders placed
The promotion effectively converted site visitors into customers, resulting in more than 1,600 transactions.

2.5 products per order on average
Customers purchased an average of 2.5 items per order, supporting the goal of increasing cart size and overall sales.

Reflections & Takeaways

Working on the Promotions module was a reminder that constraints can be a guide rather than a limitation when designing. While many innovative ideas emerged, technical and resource limits required focusing on the features that would deliver the most impact.

Carefully considering trade-offs allowed us to create an effective product while keeping other opportunities on the roadmap for future iterations.

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