May 12th, 2025 at 06:29 am
The Real Reason Brands Like Nike and Gymshark Scale While Others Stall
There’s a harsh truth in eCommerce that most founders and marketers learn the hard way:
You can’t scale profitably if you’re addicted to paid acquisition.
But most brands still pour the majority of their budgets into Facebook, Google, TikTok — hoping the next campaign is the one that pays off.
Meanwhile, the smartest brands are building something better.
Not just a sales engine — but a retention machine.
And you know what powers it?
- A fast, frictionless mobile app
- Thoughtful, behavior-based push notifications
- A rewarding, easy-to-understand loyalty system
- Seamless repeat purchase flows
At Nordstone, a trusted e-commerce app development company in the UK, we’ve helped brands launch and scale retention-first mobile experiences that aren’t just nice to use — they drive serious growth.
Here’s what we’ve learned after building 20+ successful apps for eCom businesses across London and beyond.
Why Paid Ads Are a Trap (And Retention Is Your Way Out)
Let’s talk about the math first.
- Ad costs have risen over 47% in the past two years
- Conversion rates are dropping due to privacy updates and buyer fatigue
- Brands are paying more to get less — and still neglecting the customers they already have
You don’t need to ditch ads altogether. But you do need to stop relying on them as your only lever for growth.
The most resilient brands play a different game. They’re building platforms that keep customers engaged long after the first sale.
Why Mobile Apps Are the Core of That Strategy
A mobile app isn’t just a more convenient storefront.
It’s your most powerful owned channel.
With the right app in place, you control:
- The user journey
- The message timing
- The loyalty program
- The re-engagement loops
- The data (without depending on 3rd-party platforms)
Apps also open the door to deeper behavior tracking — so you can personalize offers, push notifications, and the entire shopping experience in a way no browser ever could.
We’ve seen brands double their retention rate and increase repeat purchases by 30–50% in less than 90 days after launching with the right app strategy.
And the key to that? Working with the right e-commerce app developers in the UK who don’t just code — they understand user behavior.
Real Results From Real Brands
Let’s break down what this looks like in action:
Brand A: A Streetwear Label in London
- 2.5x increase in app-driven revenue within 60 days
- 38% repeat purchase rate through push + loyalty combo
- Cart abandonment drops by 22% thanks to behavior-based push
- Customers get excited about VIP tiers, exclusive drops, and milestones
Brand B: A Beauty Brand Scaling Across Europe
- 61% of customers use the app at least once per week
- 40% of reorders now happen through in-app reorder buttons
- Push messages are triggered based on skincare routines & repurchase timing
- Loyalty program is now a core part of their marketing — not just an afterthought
These results aren’t about “being a big brand.”
They’re about building intentionally — with retention in mind from day one.
How the Right App Changes Everything
Working with an experienced e-commerce app development company in London, you unlock:
1. Lightning-Fast Browsing & Checkout
Speed kills friction.
Your app should load instantly, pre-fill customer data, and support Apple Pay, Google Pay, and 1-tap checkout.
2. Smart Push Notifications
Sent based on behavior — not guesswork.
Examples:
- “Your size is low in stoc”
- “You’ve unlocked free shipping this month”
- “Your saved item is back”
3. Embedded Loyalty & Referral Systems
Track progress. Reward actions. Give early access.
Make loyalty visible and rewarding — not buried in the footer.
4. First-Class Reorder Logic
Turn post-purchase into pre-purchase.
“Buy again” should be a tap — not a search. That’s how LTV grows.
Watch This Idea in Action
If you’d prefer the short and sharp version of this, I’ve got you covered. I broke this exact idea down into a 30-second video:
Choosing the Right eCommerce App Partner in the UK
This part matters more than most people think.
Your app isn’t just another tech project.
It’s a customer experience platform, a retention tool, and a data engine — all in one.
So make sure you partner with a team that gets the full picture.
At Nordstone, we’re an experienced e-commerce app development company in the UK with deep experience across iOS, Android, React Native, and Flutter — and even deeper understanding of what makes an app succeed post-launch.
Our London-based team works directly with brands to:
- Plan smart UX flows
- Build custom loyalty systems
- Craft behavioral push logic
- Optimize repeat purchase journeys
- Design analytics that reveal actionable insights
TL;DR — If You Want to Grow, Build for Retention
- Ads are important — but they shouldn’t be your only source of growth
- A mobile app is the most powerful owned channel you can have
- Retention is the future — and the future is here
The fastest-growing eCommerce brands don’t just get more customers.
They keep them. And they do it with systems that scale loyalty, not just reach.
Ready to Build Your Retention Machine?
If you’re tired of paying more to get less, it might be time to stop thinking about your next ad — and start thinking about your next app.
Whether you’re launching your first mobile app or optimizing an existing one, Nordstone is here to help.
We’re the e-commerce app developers in the UK behind some of the most performant, customer-loved apps in the market.
The best brands already figured it out. Have you?
