Sheran Malik

Fractional CTO

Technical Advisor

Blog Post

Scaling Under Pressure Launching a High Traffic E-Commerce Site Without Losing Customer Trust

December 07, 2025 Startups, mistakes

Initial Assessment: I met a founder running a clothing brand who had been let down by his previous web developer, losing control of his domain and hosting. He had significant stock and a strong vision, but his online sales platform was non-functional and inaccessible. The immediate challenge was restoring control and creating a reliable, scalable online store under time pressure.

Discovery & Technical Analysis: I assessed the situation: the domain was in the hands of the previous developer, hosting was insufficient, and the website had no resilience to traffic spikes. I planned a structured technical approach: transferring the domain, setting up scalable hosting, and building a robust website with a WordPress store theme — all within a two-week timeframe.

Execution & Iteration: I built the store, prepared the backend for launch, and tested expected traffic loads. On release day, traffic exceeded hosting capacity, causing a crash. I quickly analyzed the issue: the crash wasn’t the website, but the hosting tier. I implemented immediate mitigations (cache optimizations, temporary fixes) and communicated transparently with customers through social media, turning a potential negative into a marketing moment. I then upgraded the hosting to a tier capable of supporting ten times the traffic, ensuring stability.

Outcome & Learnings: The website successfully handled the surge of visitors without losing trust or engagement. The founder retained control of his digital assets, gained a functional and scalable e-commerce platform, and learned the importance of planning for high traffic and resilience. This approach demonstrated how strategic technical decisions, quick problem-solving, and clear communication can protect brand reputation and enable growth under pressure.

If you want guidance on launching resilient online platforms that can handle high-traffic events, feel free to book a consultation.

Tags: codehtmlpluginwordpress
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