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The Woodworkers Company

We partnered with The Woodworkers Company to future-proof their online presence by delivering a complex Joomla 3 to Joomla 5 migration paired with a complete visual and technical overhaul. This project revitalised the brand’s extensive eCommerce platform while significantly improving site performance, usability, and engagement resulting in page views surging by 59.8%. 

Joomla
Joomla Migration
YOOtheme
eCommerce
Custom Development

Client

Established in 1928, The Woodworkers Company is one of Australia’s oldest and most trusted suppliers of timber doors, windows, gates, shutters, and hardware. With a vast catalogue and legacy spanning nearly a century, the company has built a strong reputation for craftsmanship and reliability.

This was a complex migration and redesign, but the outcome was worth it—a faster, smarter site that reflects The Woodworkers Company’s legacy while driving real results.

Brief

The Woodworkers Company approached iSonic with the need to modernise their digital presence and secure their future online. Their previous Joomla 3 website, while functional, had become outdated and unsupported. The brief was two-fold: 

  • Perform a full migration to Joomla 5 while maintaining the integrity of their complex site structure, including: 
  • 208 Articles 
  • 370 Product Categories 
  • 1,944 Products 
  • 441 Content Modules 
  • Deliver a full website redesign to refresh their visual identity, improve user experience, and modernise their interface across all devices. 

Given the scale of their site and the volume of custom JShopping scripts and components, this was a highly technical and detailed project. 

woodworkers portfolio custom website design

Our Strategy

Our approach combined deep technical expertise with UX-driven design:

Joomla 5 Migration & Technical Optimisation 

We carefully migrated every component of the site to Joomla 5, reworking all custom-coded modules, especially within the JShopping eCommerce system. The upgraded backend was configured for long-term security and scalability, incorporating:

  • Compatibility with PHP 8.2 & MySQL 8.0
  • Joomla 5’s enhanced password encryption & admin interface 
  • Smart Search with improved filtering and custom field search 
  • Schema.org integration for SEO-rich results 
  • Drag-and-drop page builder for easy in-house content editing 
  • Advanced on-site search functionality to improve product discoverability across a vast catalogue 
  • New mega menu system to streamline navigation and replace the outdated, six-level dropdown structure from the legacy site 

Website Redesign 

The previous site had become visually outdated (see image). We delivered a full design refresh across all page types—balancing brand heritage with modern UX standards. A responsive, clean interface improved navigation, while a cohesive layout elevated product presentation and overall engagement. 

Design rollout was managed across a blend of builder, custom-coded, and standard-editor pages—each uniquely styled and tested for consistency and performance. 

Outcome

The launch of the new Joomla 5 website marked a major digital leap forward for The Woodworkers Company. In the three months post-launch, the results speak for themselves:

Performance Highlights (Mar–Jul 2025):

  • Sessions increased by 24.2%
  • Active Users increased by 20.7%
  • Key Events jumped by 48%
  • Organic Search saw the largest growth in new users
  • Page Views surged by 59.8%
  • User Engagement rose by 41.1%

Platform Benefits Realised:

  • Enhanced security with Joomla 5 encryption, patch support & admin logs
  • Faster page load speeds and performance responsiveness
  • Easier content updates via the new drag-and-drop builder
  • SEO-ready structure with Schema.org, Smart Search & improved tagging
  • Simplified navigation thanks to the custom mega menu, eliminating buried dropdowns and reducing user friction
  • Improved user experience with smart, accurate product discovery via advanced search tools

By addressing both the technical depth of the migration and the user-facing design, we’ve helped The Woodworkers Company stay competitive in the digital space—ensuring their legacy continues to thrive online.

Brains Behind the Build

iSonic Digital’s collaboration with The Woodworkers Company led to exceptional results! With a keen eye for functionality and design, the iSonic team transformed their online presence.

Meet the Team