Case STUDY

Migrating First Gear To Magento

First Gear has been recognized as an innovative, world-class, top quality leader in the diecast replica custom imprinting and custom tooling business since its founding in 1992.

The challenge

The Problem Faced

First Gear has been a leader in diecast replicas and custom promotional products since 1992. Their offerings include trucks, Corvettes, custom toys, building block sets, and a wide range of branded merchandise. Over the years, they built a strong reputation for quality, service, and dependability, becoming a trusted partner for businesses, organizations, and charitable groups worldwide.

As the business grew, their eCommerce website began to fall behind. Adam Knight, Creative Director and co-owner, had been managing and expanding the site since 2016. Over time, it became clear that the platform was outdated and no longer supporting their needs.

They needed a modern solution that would support growth, reduce complexity, and allow their team to manage updates more efficiently.

Key Challenges:

Outdated eCommerce Platform Limiting Scalability

High dependency on developers for small updates

Increasing total cost of ownership

Limited flexibility for internal team management

The Client Journey

“I really appreciated that because we’d be working through stuff or even after launch which was really nice. We’d be looking at the website and different things and then I would still be getting recommendations on hey, have you heard of this app or have you guys installed this? Or, now that you’ve launched, you might want to look into these suggestions. All of it was really intriguing and beneficial to whether we want to use it or not or at least look into it. It’s all been very helpful.”

“The first time around was still a positive experience. I think this second time around with the BigCommerce team has just been phenomenal. I’ve really loved working with everybody. I can’t say enough good things about Andres, our Project Manager. He really kept us online and gave us a lot of good feedback that helped us. He felt like he was part of the team, and wanted to see us be successful. So that was extremely positive. We also had a lot of support and help from other people on our team that were overseeing our project. So, it’s been super positive and I would highly recommend 121 especially if you’re working on a BigCommerce build for your website.”

“We were in a little bit of a pinch. We did a lot of research at the start of 2023 and then in May, we made the final decision to sign up for BigCommerce. And then, we had to have that website launch by the end of November, and that was when Magento would be going away. That is the end of our contract. So yeah, we had six months.”

“We were recommended apps or tested out different things and that was really great because I think we were able to come to the full realization of what we wanted.”

“It was a smooth process and I think we didn’t really run into any hiccups. We did all the training, we worked with you guys, and then after launch, everything is going really well. I know that at any time I can reach out and get a response usually immediately. Anytime there’s something going on or I need something I mean, that’s peace of mind knowing that. I don’t have to wait 24 hours for a response. I know you guys are on top of it. So that’s great!”

our approach

The Solution

First Gear was initially introduced to 121eCommerce by Adobe in 2018 to modernize their platform. Over the following years, 121 acted as an extension of their team, supporting development and continuous improvements.

As their renewal approached, First Gear began evaluating alternative platforms, including Shopify and BigCommerce. After carefully comparing capabilities, costs, and usability, they selected BigCommerce as the best fit for their business. The platform offered a more intuitive interface for internal management, reduced the need for heavy development work, provided strong training resources and support, and delivered better overall cost efficiency.

The migration also came with a strict timeline. After making the final decision in May, the new site had to be fully launched before their Magento contract ended in November, leaving a six month window to complete the transition.

Seamless Platform Migration

With a strict six-month deadline before their Magento contract ended, we successfully guided First Gear through a smooth transition to BigCommerce, handling development, integrations, and launch without disruption.

Extended Internal Team

Over the years, we worked closely with First Gear as a dedicated partner, supporting development, testing solutions, and providing hands-on collaboration despite them not having an internal web team.

Ongoing Support & Recommendations

Even after launch, we continued to provide proactive recommendations, tools, and improvements, helping First Gear refine their store, explore new features, and continuously enhance performance.

the results

Stronger, Faster, Better

First Gear now operates on a modern, scalable eCommerce platform that supports both its current needs and future growth. The transition didn’t just upgrade their technology; it simplified how their team works day-to-day and removed many of the limitations they previously faced.

With the right platform and ongoing support in place, they’re able to focus more on growing the business instead of managing technical complexity.

Simplified Day-to-Day Management

An intuitive backend allows the team to make updates, manage products, and maintain the store without constant developer involvement.

Lower Operational Complexity

Reduced reliance on heavy development and a more efficient system means less friction, fewer bottlenecks, and smoother internal workflows.

Confidence In Scalability

With a reliable platform and a responsive partner behind them, First Gear can grow their store, expand offerings, and adapt quickly as the business evolves.

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