UPLIFT Desk Unlocks Peak Agility and Performance with Catalyst
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2-7
second load time for the full desk configurator
Hours
instead of weeks to deploy site updates
10
weeks to launch Catalyst
Reinventing the traditional workspace
UPLIFT Desk is a leader in ergonomic office furniture, known for its highly customizable standing desks, ergonomic chairs, and accessories. As one of the fastest-growing brands in its category, UPLIFT Desk prioritizes innovation and a seamless shopping experience for customers.
In 2016, UPLIFT Desk replatformed from Yahoo to BigCommerce, seeking a more scalable and flexible ecommerce solution. This transition resulted in remarkable improvements, including a 226% increase in orders, a 61% increase in conversion rates, and a 203% increase in customers.
Now, UPLIFT Desk has taken another major step by migrating to Catalyst, a modern Next.js solution, enhancing agility, speed, and development efficiency. Additionally, the company also optimized their checkout experience with Fastlane by PayPal to reduce friction and boost conversions.
CHALLENGE
Falling behind in a fast-moving market.
For years, UPLIFT Desk has been a pioneer in the ergonomic office furniture space, providing customers with customizable desks and accessories that prioritize comfort and functionality. However, as the ecommerce landscape evolved, the company recognized it had outgrown its existing digital infrastructure.
Although their Stencil-based BigCommerce storefront fueled their initial success, as their business grew and became more complex, they realized that a headless/composable approach would make their teams faster and more efficient.
At the same time, the competition was intensifying. To stay ahead, UPLIFT Desk needed a future-proof solution that allowed for rapid iteration, enhanced site performance, and a more seamless design-to-development workflow. The goal was to modernize their ecommerce platform without dramatically increasing development costs or team size.
SOLUTION
Future-proofing with a modernized tech stack.
To tackle these challenges, UPLIFT Desk transitioned to Catalyst, BigCommerce’s open-source, composable headless framework. Built with Next.js and React, Catalyst integrates seamlessly with BigCommerce’s GraphQL Storefront API, providing the flexibility and speed needed to scale efficiently while reducing development complexity.
Seamlessly migrating to Catalyst.
The transition to Catalyst took just 10 weeks, ensuring a smooth and efficient process. "From the beginning, we knew we wanted to use Next.js, and Catalyst was the clear choice," said Daniel Burrow, VP of Sales and Marketing at UPLIFT Desk.
One of the biggest advantages was that UPLIFT Desk didn’t need to redesign its site to migrate, making the transition seamless. "We had no outage time, and customers were converting the same day — it was one of the smoothest transitions we've ever had," Burrow shared.
Beyond a smooth migration, Catalyst empowered the team to quickly overhaul critical site components. "Since launching, we’ve rebuilt our cart page and navigation — projects that used to take weeks are now completed in days or even hours," Burrow added.
This newfound agility has transformed internal operations. "Before, even some changes could be a challenge. Now, our developers just ask for priorities and execute updates in a fraction of the time," Burrow said.
Enhancing deployment and performance with Vercel.
To complement Catalyst, UPLIFT Desk leveraged Vercel to enhance deployment efficiency and site performance. Vercel’s hosting infrastructure ensured that updates could be deployed seamlessly, improving site reliability and speed.
"With Vercel, our development team can push changes quickly without worrying about downtime, making our entire workflow more agile," Burrow explained.
Optimizing the checkout experience with Fastlane by PayPal.
To further streamline the shopping experience, UPLIFT Desk adopted Fastlane by PayPal. Given the complexity of their product builder, customers spend significant time customizing their desks before proceeding to checkout. The last thing UPLIFT Desk wanted was for an outdated checkout process to introduce hesitation.
"We always talk about the fact that every time someone has to click on a website, you lose 10% of conversions. For us, that was terrifying given how many clicks it takes to build a desk," said Burrow. "Fastlane by PayPal eliminates unnecessary steps, allowing customers to check out seamlessly without second-guessing their decision.”
"From the beginning, we knew we wanted to use Next.js, and Catalyst was the clear choice."
DANIEL BURROW, VP OF SALES AND MARKETING, UPLIFT DESK
Notable Applications:
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
Implementation Project Manager
Customer Service Manager
"Since launching, we’ve rebuilt our cart page and navigation — projects that used to take weeks are now completed in days or even hours."
DANIEL BURROW, VP OF SALES AND MARKETING, UPLIFT DESK
RESULTS
A faster, more agile ecommerce experience.
Another key factor in UPLIFT Desk’s success was the collaborative partnership with BigCommerce. "BigCommerce goes beyond being just a platform provider — they’ve become an integral part of our team. Our developers are on a first-name basis with theirs, and we work closely to align on goals and ensure our success," said Burrow.
One of the most noticeable benefits of Catalyst has been site speed and performance. They found that Catalist provided excellent Google Lighthouse scores right out of the box. "Everything just feels snappier," Burrow shared. "Our customers can configure their desks faster, and we’ve reduced the friction that used to slow them down.”
Since migrating to Catalyst and integrating Fastlane, UPLIFT Desk has seen significant improvements across key business metrics:
Drastic increases in Google Lighthouse scores, improving site speed, SEO, and performance.
Averaging 2–7 seconds for the full desk configurator to load, ensuring a seamless customer experience.
Site updates that once took weeks now take just hours, allowing for faster innovation.
Improved developer efficiency, freeing the team from working around tech debt and enabling them to focus on new features.
Higher conversions with Fastlane by PayPal, reducing checkout friction and increasing completed transactions.
Better sales than they had seen in months just one day after launching the new site.
With a faster, more flexible ecommerce foundation, UPLIFT Desk is well-positioned to continue optimizing its digital experience, driving growth, and delivering unparalleled service to its customers.
"BigCommerce goes beyond being just a platform provider — they’ve become an integral part of our team. Our developers are on a first-name basis with theirs, and we work closely to align on goals and ensure our success."
DANIEL BURROW, VP OF SALES AND MARKETING, UPLIFT DESK
LOOKING AHEAD
Setting a new standard for the customer journey.
With Catalyst in place, UPLIFT Desk is focused on expanding into new markets, including Europe, to reach a broader customer base. The company is also enhancing its B2B offerings, making bulk purchases and enterprise solutions more seamless. Additionally, UPLIFT Desk is planning a full redesign of its product catalog and website UI to create a more intuitive and visually compelling experience.
"We’re only scratching the surface of what’s possible with Catalyst," said Burrow. "Now that we’re no longer constrained, we can move faster, experiment more, and truly deliver the best possible shopping experience for our customers.”
By leveraging BigCommerce and Catalyst, UPLIFT Desk can scale, adapt, and continue leading the ergonomic furniture market in an increasingly competitive landscape.
"Now that we’re no longer constrained, we can move faster, experiment more, and truly deliver the best possible shopping experience for our customers.”
DANIEL BURROW, VP OF SALES AND MARKETNG, UPLIFT DESK
Published: August 2025
