Why female founders need to be extra savvy about their ecommerce tech - especially when it matters most.
Let’s be real: peak trading season (Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas chaos...) can feel like both your biggest opportunity and your biggest stress headache rolled into one.
Site crashes? No thanks.
Slow checkout? Bye, customers.
Search that shows zero results for your bestsellers? Scream into the void.
But here’s the good news: you don’t have to just survive peak season - you can own it. And it all starts with getting your tech stack sorted.
Whether you're a seasoned ecommerce founder or scaling your store globally for the first time, this is a useful guide, especially if you're a female founder navigating this wild and wonderful world of tech.
Why Your Tech Stack Is Your Secret Weapon
Think of your tech stack as your ecommerce backstage crew. If one tool fumbles, your whole production suffers. But when everything runs smoothly, the spotlight is on your brand, the audience (i.e., your customers) is cheering, and sales take centre stage.
Take Furniturebox UK. These guys aren’t just another furniture brand - they’re one of the fastest-growing in the UK. But as peak season loomed, they knew their old setup wasn’t cutting it. They needed speed, scalability, and better search.
So, they teamed up with us at 5874 Commerce, rebuilt their checkout from scratch, integrated Searchspring for smarter site search, and launched just in time for the peak season.
Result?
Furniturebox’s commitment to redefining the online shopping journey was officially recognised at the 2025 BigCommerce Customer Awards, where they took home the win for Shopper Experience. This award celebrates brands that raise the bar for intuitive, customer-centric ecommerce, and Furniturebox did just that.
Female Founders, We See You
Let’s be real: tech can be overwhelming for everyone. The sheer amount of tools, platforms, acronyms, and sales pitches is enough to make anyone question their choices.
However, from my work with The Women’s Domain, what we often hear from female founders is a feeling of being the only one who doesn’t understand, even when that’s far from the truth.
In reality, most founders (yes, including men) find this stuff confusing. The difference? Women are often more open about it, and sometimes face added pressure to “prove” their technical confidence in rooms where they may already feel underestimated.
That’s why we believe tech conversations should be more human, more transparent, and way less gatekeep-y. Founders deserve clarity, not complexity. Confidence, not second-guessing.
Peak Season Tech Stack Checklist
Here’s what peak-ready looks like:
1. Scalable Platform
Ensure your e-commerce platform (e.g., BigCommerce, Shopify Plus) can handle surges in traffic without crashing or becoming unresponsive.
2. Checkout That Converts
Furniturebox UK went big with:
- A custom delivery date selector
- Google Maps API for faster address entry
- A smooth, mobile-friendly experience
3. Smarter Search
With Searchspring, Furniturebox UK gave their site search a glow-up:
- Faster, cleaner product discovery
- Better filters
- Optimised UX on mobile (where most of your peak traffic happens)
4. Integration Harmony
Your CMS, OMS, ERP, and CRM should be in sync. If they’re not synced, you’ll run into fulfilment issues fast.
5. Real-Time Insights
When the rush hits, you need data now. Ensure you’ve solid analytics tracking and dashboards that provide clear insights into what’s happening and where to focus. Data needs to be treated as your co-founder.
Avoid These (Common!) Tech Pitfalls
Especially for female founders, we see a few patterns you’ll want to dodge:
- Over-investing too early (Don’t buy a Ferrari if you’re still learning to drive.)
- Going it alone- DIYing everything because you think you “should” know
- Choosing the wrong agency and tech vendor- You deserve partners who listen and get your goals
Two Quick Wins for Tech Success
1. Choose flexibility over flash.
Yes, it’s tempting to go full custom early on. But pick tools that scale with you. BigCommerce and Searchspring, for example, give you flexibility without tying you to clunky legacy setups.
2. Find your tech crew.
Your time is precious, especially during peak. You don’t need to be your developer, QA tester, and growth hacker. Find an agency that listens and works with you.
Want to See It in Action?
Watch our webinar replay:
Optimising Peak Performance with Furniturebox & Searchspring
You’ll hear from ecommerce experts (and Furniturebox’s team) on how they smashed their peak goals.
Catch the recording here
Final Thoughts: Tech = Confidence + Control
The right tech stack won’t just help you survive peak season - it’ll help you own it, scale beyond it, and build a business that reflects your vision.
For female founders, especially, tech can feel intimidating. But it’s also one of the most powerful tools for empowerment. It gives you control, clarity, and the ability to grow on your terms.
So, before the peak hits, review, refine, and get ready to win.
