FROM CURDS TO COMMERCE:
The Cheese Guy's Recipe for Shopify Success
When The Cheese Guy—a boutique DTC cheesemonger—decided to spin up its own e-commerce presence, they faced a familiar startup hurdle: migrating inventory off an aging platform onto a brand-new Shopify store, while building organic visibility from scratch. Shipping out of their New York warehouse to the entire contiguous U.S., they needed more than just a pretty storefront; they needed a partner who could hit the ground running on site build, SEO, email marketing, and customer support all at once.
FROM BLANK CANVAS TO BRAND-BUILDING PLATFORM
In March 2024, we kicked off with a full-stack Shopify deployment—crafting mobile-responsive product pages, configuring payment and shipping rules, and weaving in technical SEO foundations (sitemaps, structured data, page-speed tuning). With MailChimp-fueled popups and welcome flows, we began to expand their newsletter list. Meanwhile, our SEO team rolled out targeted keyword research and on-page optimization, steadily driving Google Search sessions, which grew by over 1031% from April 2024 to May 2025.
EMAIL MARKETING & SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT THAT RESONATES
Starting with a modest contact list, we implemented MailChimp-powered pop-ups and automated welcome series to nurture first-time visitors. Newsletters delivered pairing tips, limited-edition launches, and product spotlights (so consumers could find The Cheese Guy in stores near them). On social media, we showcased behind-the-scenes cheesemaking stories, events, and product promotion—sparking community chatter and driving repeat visits to the site.
BY THE NUMBERS: EXPONENTIAL GROWTH
Six weeks post-launch, Google Search sessions surged by 488% from April 2024 to May 2024, continuing to climb month over month to a 1066% increase by May 2025. Direct sessions surged in tandem as brand awareness grew. The real headline: total monthly sales rocketed by an astonishing 9,800% increase, while our streamlined email flows and optimized checkout helped peak conversion rates hit 1.71% in May 2025.
Figure 1: Online Store Sessions from January 2024 to April 2025
Figure 2: Total Sales from January 2024 to April 2025
Figure 3: Online Store Conversions from January 2024 to April 2025
“Working with Pentwater Connect is amazing. They transformed our digital presence and helped us with our ecommerce.”
— Brent Delman, CEO, The Cheese Guy
KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR E-COMMERCE ENTREPRENEURS
Build for Both
B2B & B2C
Make sure your platform supports wholesale pricing and retailer logins alongside a consumer-friendly storefront.
Content as
Catalyst
Educational blog posts and pairing guides don’t just inform—they drive SEO and build community trust.
Email Nurturing
Matters
Even a small list can fuel significant revenue with the right segmentation and timing.
Iterate with
Data
Review traffic sources and conversion funnels monthly to fine-tune campaigns and site UX.
By weaving together bespoke web development, robust SEO, targeted MailChimp email campaigns, and reliable email-based customer support, Pentwater Connect turned The Cheese Guy’s blank Shopify canvas into a flourishing, multi-channel success story. If you’re ready to elevate your e-commerce brand—whether you ship direct to consumers, supply specialty retailers, or both—we’d love to write your next chapter.
