ABOUT PROJECT
ClipdUp, founded by Brian Grimaldo, delivers a seamless, end-to-end marketplace experience tailored for the barbering community, uniting both new and pre-owned professional-grade supplies under a single, powerful ecosystem. Through a scalable, intuitive platform architecture, ClipdUp enables vendors to onboard with minimal friction, showcase their portfolios of clippers, shears, and grooming essentials, and dynamically adjust pricing in real time. User-centric design ensures that barbers and enthusiasts alike can leverage advanced search filters, detailed product dashboards, and an integrated Shopify storefront link to facilitate direct merchandise purchases, maximizing conversions while reinforcing brand loyalty.
Complementing our core commerce functionality, ClipdUp’s “Find a Shop” feature empowers shop owners to amplify their local presence by submitting geo-verified business profiles, which are then rendered on an interactive map interface. Customers can pinpoint barbershops by state or city, view key service offerings, hours, and social proof metrics. This strategic synergy between product marketplace and localized shop directory not only enhances the platform’s value proposition but also fosters robust community engagement across every level of the barbering ecosystem.
Key Challenges
Interestingly, the development of ClipdUp stands out not because of the challenges it presented, but because of the remarkable absence of them. From the outset, the project benefited from a crystal-clear vision, a well-defined scope, and seamless communication between the client and our team. Once the requirements and time estimates were aligned, the Roobykon Software specialists moved into execution mode with precision and confidence. Thanks to this alignment and mutual understanding, the development process unfolded without friction, delays, or scope creep.
TECHNOLOGY STACK
Solution Highlights
ClipdUp was developed using the Sharetribe Web Template as a foundation, allowing Roobykon Software to accelerate delivery while maintaining full flexibility for custom features and marketplace logic. Leveraging this robust starting point, our team crafted a tailored barbering marketplace experience using a modern, high-performance tech stack that ensured both scalability and seamless user interaction. At the heart of the platform lies a powerful custom API layer, designed to handle complex data flows and marketplace-specific logic with precision and reliability.
The frontend was developed using ReactJS and React Router for a responsive, single-page application experience, while Redux ensured smooth state management across user journeys. Final Form was implemented to streamline dynamic form handling across listings, shop submissions, and user profiles. On the backend, NodeJS and Express delivered efficient server-side operations, while MySQL provided a stable and performant relational database structure.
THE PROCESS
01
Early design & user acquisition: The ClipdUp journey kicked off with design development and the launch of a “Coming Soon” landing page, built on WordPress. This initial step laid the groundwork for early user engagement. A MailChimp-integrated contact form allowed users to subscribe for updates, helping the marketplace admin start building a future user base before the platform itself was live. While the landing page collected emails and attention, our team was already moving forward with the core platform’s staging environment.
02
Design-to-development pipeline: Our approach was clean and efficient: each design, once reviewed and approved by the client, immediately entered the development phase. This page-by-page delivery model allowed us to keep the momentum high without compromising on quality or consistency. As each piece of the platform came together (from product listings to the Find a Shop page), we ensured smooth transitions between visual concepts and live functionality.
03
Seamless communication: All collaboration was channeled through Slack, where the client maintained an impressive level of availability and engagement. This direct and responsive communication workflow allowed our team to operate without friction. Decisions were made quickly, feedback loops were tight, and there were no delays from the client’s side.
04
Steady, streamlined delivery: From the project’s kickoff on February 13, 2025, to its public launch on March 26, 2025, ClipdUp evolved without formalized phases. Instead, we embraced an agile, continuous delivery mindset, where each finished design was immediately transformed into a working page. Although a few final tweaks and refinements remain in the backlog, the platform is already live, functional, and gaining traction in its niche market.
Main Features
Rewardful referral system
One of the key monetization tools integrated into ClipdUp is the Rewardful system, enabling providers to generate custom referral links and earn rewards based on the sales made by users they bring to the platform. To support this functionality, Roobykon developed a dedicated analytics page within the admin panel, where the marketplace owner can track detailed statistics for each referrer. Bonus payouts are handled manually, giving the admin full control over the process.
Flexible commission management
ClipdUp empowers the marketplace admin with a custom commission management tool that allows setting individual commission rates for each provider. This flexibility ensures that high-value vendors or strategic partners can be incentivized differently. In the absence of any adjustments, a default global commission applies automatically, keeping things streamlined and fair for all users.
Featured listings promotion
To increase vendor visibility and generate platform revenue, we introduced a listing promotion system. Providers can opt to feature their listings in the homepage’s “Featured” section and receive top positioning in search results. A maximum of 10 spots are available, and while the promotion is active, the provider pays a 5% marketplace commission. Promotions can be ended at any time (either by the provider or by the admin), providing flexible, controlled exposure.
Find a shop directory
The Find a Shop feature is designed to connect customers with local barbershops across the U.S. While not tied directly to the marketplace engine, this feature supports offline promotion: barbershops contact the admin independently and can pay for advertising placement. The admin then adds these shops to an interactive map using the admin console. This page is purely informational, but it plays a crucial role in community engagement and visibility.
Customizable referral links
To support social media-driven growth, Roobykon implemented custom referral link editing, allowing providers to personalize their referral URLs. This makes the links more user-friendly and brand-aligned, ideal for placement in Instagram bios, TikTok profiles, and other social platforms, helping drive traffic and build trust.
RESULTS
ClipdUp officially went live on March 26, 2025, and it marked more than just a launch date; it was the result of a truly smooth and enjoyable collaboration. From the very first conversation, even before the contract was signed, we instantly clicked with the client. He had a clear vision, a real passion for their industry, and trusted us to bring their ideas to life. That kind of alignment from day one made all the difference.
Working together felt natural. Communication was easy, decisions were made quickly, and the whole process moved forward without a hitch. We focused on building a platform that was not only functional but also meaningful for its community. Today, ClipdUp is up and running, connecting barbers and vendors across the country, and we’re proud to have been part of turning that idea into reality.
Lessons from ClipdUp
Looking back at the development of ClipdUp, we can confidently say that it was a journey filled with valuable lessons that have made Roobykon a stronger, more professional team. As with any project, challenges arose (some expected, some unexpected), but each one served as an opportunity for growth and improvement.
One key lesson we learned early on was the power of balancing customization with scalability. The integration of features like Rewardful, commission management, and the Find a Shop page required us to carefully consider how we could offer tailored solutions for the client while ensuring the platform could scale smoothly as the user base grows. This was a reminder that in development, you need to look at both the present and future needs of the platform.
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