Toby’s Sports, the Philippines’ first and largest specialty sports store, with 67 retail outlets and an impressive online presence, offers over 100,000 sports products. But how did this brand increase its sales by 13.5x? The answer lies in their strategic move to Shopify, which has driven their growth in the Philippine sports retail scene.

The Shift to Shopify

Toby’s Sports realized early on that ecommerce was the future, yet their previous platform required technical expertise for even the simplest updates. Their third-party developer solution slowed down operations, limiting their ability to efficiently manage inventory and products. In 2017, they migrated to Shopify, and by 2018, upgraded to Shopify Plus.

Shopify’s user-friendly interface helped Toby’s team to:

• Upload products quickly
• Manage inventory efficiently
• Make website changes without technical support

Tackling the Omnichannel Challenge

For Toby’s Sports, integrating their online and in-store operations was key. Their initial e-commerce platform didn’t sync with their in-store systems, resulting in difficulty in managing the stock and poor customer experiences. Shopify’s flexible API integrations allowed them to link their systems.

With Shopify, they could now:

• Synchronize online and physical store operations
• Enable real-time stock level updates
• Offer a click-and-collect option for customers

Local Payment Gateways: A Filipino-Friendly Feature

Another game-changer? Shopify’s ease of use in integrating local payment gateways. Toby’s Sports quickly onboarded:

• Mobile wallets
• Bank transfers
• “Buy now, pay later” options

Beyond omnichannel capabilities, Toby’s Sports is looking to the future. They plan to:

• Expand their product range
• Improve shipping solutions across the Philippines’ 7,000 islands

With Shopify’s integrations, they have courier services to offer faster deliveries, even to remote areas.

Thanks to Shopify, Toby’s Sports has grown beyond expectations, with this omnichannel approach, they are well positioned to maintain their leading role in the Philippine sports retail market, offering a smooth and consistent shopping journey for every customer.

At ColorWhistle, we specialize in providing ecommerce development services that can help businesses like Toby’s Sports create engaging online experiences. Whether you’re looking to scale your business or improve your omnichannel strategy, our expert team is ready to assist you.

-Swathitha
Content Marketing Team