Custom Shopify theme that leads with the upcycled-vessel story — Replace the stock product grid with a homepage that surfaces the thrift-Kwun-Tong story, recent vessel finds, and the founder's craft — converting the Ellermann/blog editorial traffic into buyers.
| Criterion | Score | Finding |
|---|---|---|
| Design & Visual Quality | 5 | Stock Shopify Dawn-style theme — pleasant product grid but the upcycled-vessel + thrift narrative gets flattened to a generic e-commerce layout. |
| Mobile Responsiveness | 6 | Mobile-responsive via Shopify default; image lazy-loading works but hero doesn't tell the founder story above the fold. |
| Page Speed (estimated) | 6 | Shopify CDN keeps TTFB reasonable but unoptimised product photography looks heavy on first paint. |
| CTA Clarity | 5 | Add-to-cart present but no first-purchase incentive (discount popup, scent-quiz) to convert IG visitors. |
| SEO & Discoverability | 4 | Ranks for brand name but 'handmade candles Hong Kong' returns BeCandle, Anvi, Angel Candle — Old HK Lights doesn't appear above the fold. |
This audit was put together by JD CoreDev — a boutique software consultancy building custom CRM systems, booking platforms, and digital infrastructure for growing businesses across Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia.
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