Temple Gift Shop
Community-driven e-commerce UX for cultural and seasonal retail
Temple Gift Shop is the official online store of Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom in Montreal, offering Judaica, gifts, and seasonal items for the local community.
Role & Context
- Role: UX/UI Designer · Web Developer
- Platform: Joomla · Hikashop
- Industry: Community retail · Non-profit · Cultural commerce
- Market: Montreal (QC)
- Year: 2025
Project Overview
The primary objective of this project was to make the gift shop accessible to the community beyond limited in-person hours.
Before this initiative, the shop relied on a PDF catalog shared by email to manage remote sales.
The project involved creating a fully functional e-commerce experience from scratch, allowing community members to browse, discover, and purchase products independently, while maintaining a warm, inclusive, and culturally sensitive experience.
The Challenge
Organizational Challenges
- Limited physical opening hours
- Manual, email-based remote sales using PDF catalogs
- Small, community-run operation with limited resources
- Seasonal demand peaks (Holidays, community events)
- Need to preserve a non-commercial, community-first tone
UX Challenges
- Transforming a static PDF catalog into a usable digital experience
- Designing for a multi-generational audience
- Ensuring clarity and accessibility for non-technical users
- Managing expectations around order processing and closures
- Delivering a bilingual experience with cultural nuance
My Role
I led the project end-to-end, focusing on accessibility, clarity, and community-oriented UX.
My responsibilities included:
- UX research and information architecture
- UX/UI design for desktop and mobile
- Joomla and Hikashop customization
- Product catalog structure and navigation
- Seasonal UX planning (banners, notices, pop-ups)
- Bilingual content strategy (EN / FR)
- Ongoing updates aligned with community needs
I collaborated closely with temple staff to ensure the digital experience reflected the organization’s values and operational realities.
Strategy & Approach
From PDF to e-commerce
The starting point was a static, manually shared PDF catalog.
The core UX challenge was translating that content into a clear, intuitive, and self-service digital experience.
- Structured product categories for easy browsing
- Simplified product pages focused on clarity
- Removed unnecessary friction from the purchase flow
Designing for community and trust
Unlike commercial retail, this project required a warm, reassuring, and inclusive tone.
- Friendly, family-oriented language
- Clear communication around order processing and closures
- Emphasis on community context rather than aggressive sales
Seasonal and cultural UX
Seasonality was central to the experience.
- Homepage and site messaging adapted for holidays
- Temporary banners and notices during peak periods
- UX decisions aimed at reducing anxiety around gifting deadlines
Bilingual & culturally sensitive UX
Rather than direct translation, content was adapted to:
- Natural Quebec French
- Accessible, friendly English
- Cultural expectations of the local community
Design & Development Decisions
- Joomla + Hikashop configuration tailored for small-scale retail
- Flexible homepage layout for seasonal campaigns
- Clear product categorization for non-technical users
- Mobile-first layouts for quick access
- SEO-friendly structure to support local discoverability
Results & Impact
This project resulted in the creation of a brand-new digital storefront.
Key outcomes included:
- First fully functional online sales channel for the gift shop
- Increased accessibility beyond physical opening hours
- Reduced reliance on manual, email-based sales
- Clearer communication during seasonal peaks
- A scalable foundation for future growth and community initiatives
Reflection
This project reinforced the importance of:
- Designing for accessibility and inclusion
- Understanding operational constraints in non-profit contexts
- Treating e-commerce as a community service
- Prioritizing clarity and empathy over aggressive conversion tactics