Canada Bike Distributors

Visit The Live Website

Project Overview

Client: Canada Bike Distributors
Platform: WordPress + WooCommerce
Role: Lead Developer & E-Commerce Architect

Northern Wave Digital developed a sophisticated wholesale e-commerce platform for Canada Bike Distributors, an Edmonton-based premium bicycle and accessory distributor servicing independent retailers nationwide. This B2B-focused website required advanced functionality including user authentication, price gating, and wholesale ordering capabilities to serve two distinct audiences: bicycle manufacturers seeking Canadian market access and independent retailers looking to expand their product offerings.

The Challenge

Canada Bike Distributors needed a professional digital platform that could:

  • Restrict pricing and product information to verified wholesale buyers only

  • Manage different user access levels (manufacturers, approved dealers, prospective dealers)

  • Facilitate efficient wholesale ordering with dealer-specific pricing

  • Position CBD as “Canada’s #1 Bicycle Distributor” while maintaining B2B professionalism

  • Streamline dealer onboarding and manufacturer partnership inquiries

  • Provide scalable product catalog infrastructure for future expansion

Traditional retail e-commerce platforms aren’t built for B2B complexity—wholesale pricing must remain confidential, product access requires authentication, and the sales process involves relationship-building rather than instant checkout.

    Technical Solution

    WordPress + WooCommerce Architecture

    Selected WordPress with WooCommerce for its flexibility and B2B customization capabilities:

    • Custom User Roles: Implemented tiered access system (public visitors, pending dealers, approved dealers, administrators)

    • Price Gating: Wholesale pricing visible only to authenticated, approved dealer accounts

    • Login System: Secure authentication requiring approval before wholesale access

    • Product Catalog Foundation: Built 4 template products demonstrating full pricing structure and specifications for scalable expansion

    • Dealer Dashboard: Custom account area for order history, pricing access, and account management

    E-Commerce Features

    Wholesale Pricing Structure:

    • Tiered pricing based on dealer status and order volume

    • Hidden pricing for unauthenticated visitors (encouraging dealer sign-up)

    • Flexible markup and discount systems for different product categories

    • Easy backend management for price updates across product lines

    User Authentication & Gating:

    • Custom registration forms capturing dealer business information

    • Admin approval workflow for new dealer accounts

    • Login-required product pages and pricing visibility

    • Secure session management and user verification

    Product Management System:

    • WooCommerce product templates for bicycles, parts, and accessories

    • Comprehensive product fields (specifications, distributor notes, stock status)

    • Category organization by brand, product type, and use case

    • Scalable structure supporting hundreds of future SKUs

    Order Processing:

    • Wholesale-optimized checkout flow

    • Dealer-specific order history and reordering

    • Backend order management for CBD fulfillment team

    • Integration-ready architecture for future inventory systems

    Key Features

    Secure Login & Registration System

    Built comprehensive authentication managing wholesale access:

    • Custom registration forms with business verification fields

    • Email confirmation and admin notification workflow

    • Manual approval process ensuring dealer legitimacy

    • Password recovery and account management tools

    • Role-based permissions controlling site access levels

    Price Gating & Visibility Control

    Implemented sophisticated pricing visibility rules:

    • Public visitors cannot see products or pricing

    • Login prompts at strategic conversion points

    • Approved dealers access full pricing and ordering

    • Conditional content display based on user authentication status

    • “Become a Supplier/Retailer” CTAs for non-authenticated users

    Template Product Infrastructure

    Developed 4 fully-configured template products demonstrating:

    • Complete product information architecture (titles, descriptions, specs)

    • Image gallery layouts for product photography

    • Pricing fields and wholesale discount structures

    • Category and tag organization systems

    • Inventory and stock status management

    • Related products and cross-selling opportunities

    These templates provide scalable framework for adding hundreds of products efficiently.