The team behind Store Standards

Ran stock control for a chain of six bike shops before writing a line of code. Started Store Standards after rebuilding the same receiving spreadsheet for the fourth time.

Still does one shift a month in a real stockroom.

Writes most of the code that talks to Shopify. Spent six years on warehouse software before that, which is why the sync queue is boring and never loses a scan.

Owns four barcode scanners and tests on the worst one.

Designs every screen twice: once for a laptop and once for a cracked phone held in one hand. The second version usually wins and becomes the only version.

Keeps a folder of photos of bad supermarket signage.

Answers the support inbox and turns what comes in into the next month of work. Every recurring question ends up either fixed in the app or written up on this blog.

Has read more Shopify error logs than anyone should.

Looks after the parts that have to work when the Wi-Fi does not. Built the offline queue that holds a scanning session together in a dead spot behind the racking.

Tests offline mode in a lift, on purpose.

Makes the camera scanner read a scuffed barcode on a cold morning. Cares a lot about the gap between pressing a button and seeing something happen.

Collects damaged labels from suppliers as test data.

Decides what we build next by watching people receive stock, not by reading feature requests. Says no to about nine ideas in ten, which is the job.

Visits two merchants a month, in person.

Keeps the servers boring. Runs the load tests that decide whether a change ships on a Friday, and is usually the reason it does not.

Publishes our uptime numbers whether they are good or not.

Writes the help pages and edits everything on this blog down to plain English. Deletes about a third of every draft, including this one.

Reads every article aloud before it goes out.