A Fractional Shopify Developent Expert for Grubbly Farms

Why Grubbly Farms Chose Fractional Technical Expertise for Subscription-First Operations

TL;DR Grubbly Farms, a subscription-first e-commerce brand selling insect-based chicken feed, needed ongoing technical expertise to manage their complex ReCharge subscription system and custom feature development. They faced challenges with bulk operations, API integrations, and feature implementations that required deep Shopify and ReCharge knowledge. Storetasker matched them with Paul Jacobs, a Shopify developer with expertise in ReCharge, API integrations, and complex bulk operations. What started as routine development work evolved into an 18+ month partnership handling everything from bulk order editing to homepage redesigns.

About the Client

Grubbly Farms is a subscription-first e-commerce brand selling insect-based chicken feed. Operating on Shopify Plus with ReCharge for subscriptions, they require ongoing technical work to support their complex business model including bundle builders, subscription management, and fulfillment integrations.

The Core Tension

Grubbly Farms needed consistent technical expertise for ongoing development work but couldn't justify a full-time senior developer position.

Why in-house teams struggled: Grubbly Farms' technical needs were substantial but variable. Some months required intensive API work for bulk subscription updates or complex order editing. Other months focused on new feature development like homepage redesigns or bundle builders. A full-time hire would face inconsistent workload despite the overall volume of work.

Why junior developers wouldn't work: The challenges Grubbly Farms faced required deep Shopify and ReCharge knowledge. Bulk editing 200+ orders while maintaining pricing consistency across multiple discount scenarios demands systems thinking and API expertise that junior developers lack. Their subscription business model created edge cases requiring expert problem-solving.

What was at risk: Without reliable technical support, Grubbly Farms would face operational bottlenecks affecting customer service, delays on revenue-driving features, and mounting technical debt. Their subscription model meant technical failures would create recurring customer experience issues and strain their support team.

The Storetasker Solution

Storetasker matched Grubbly Farms with Paul Jacobs, a Shopify developer with deep expertise in ReCharge, API integrations, and complex bulk operations. Paul's methodical approach and clear communication made him Grubbly Farms' go-to developer across 18+ months of varied technical challenges.

The Work

• Developed custom solutions for bulk order editing, handling complex discount scenarios and price matching across 200+ orders
• Built API integrations for ReCharge bulk operations, adding one-time purchases to subscription orders at scale
• Implemented dynamic bundle builder allowing customers to create custom 3 or 5-item bundles
• Managed homepage redesign implementation from Figma to production
• Coordinated World Harvest to Hometown Harvest product transition across existing subscription base
• Handled ongoing subscription portal customizations and ReCharge integration work
• Maintained consistent 32-hour monthly retainer with flexibility for additional hours when needed
• Provided detailed monthly reporting and Trello-based project management

Results & Impact

• Established reliable monthly partnership providing predictable capacity and institutional knowledge
• Solved complex operational challenges that would have been impossible without custom development
• Enabled product transitions and bulk operations affecting hundreds of subscription customers
• Built scalable features like bundle builder supporting business model evolution
• Maintained strong working relationship through consistent delivery and clear communication across multiple stakeholders

"Thank you so much for all the work Paul! Everything looks solid."

‍— Patrick Pittaluga, CRO & Co-Founder, Grubbly Farms

Why Storetasker

Technical expertise for subscription operations is the unlock for growing e-commerce brands with complex business models, especially when challenges require deep platform knowledge and systematic problem-solving. Most brands don't need full-time developers for every challenge, but they need expert support available on-demand when technical operations threaten customer experience or business growth.

Ready to solve technical challenges without expanding headcount? Explore how Storetasker can connect you with the development expertise your business needs.