The client
Pouch Lab sells nicotine pouches online across the UK, with brands including VELO, Nordic Spirit and XQS. Age-restricted products come with problems most shops never face: many card processors won't take them, advertising is restricted, and every visitor has to be age-checked.
The brief
- A store that looks like a brand, not a template.
- Age verification for every visitor.
- A checkout that can actually take payment for nicotine products.
- SEO groundwork so the shop can win search traffic without paid ads.
What we did
Design
A bold, illustrated look on Shopify's Horizon theme, built mobile-first, since that's where most shoppers browse.
Age checks and fraud
Age verification on entry, plus fraud and IP blocking to stop bad orders before they cost money.
Payments
A redirect checkout through a payment provider that approves nicotine products.
Easy browsing
Shop by brand, flavour or strength, with colour-coded strength levels so shoppers find the right pouch fast.
SEO
Structured data, written collection and product copy, and a blog covering UK nicotine law and news, tracked in Google Search Console.
Ongoing improvement
Monthly reviews of search and on-site behaviour, so changes are based on data, not guesswork.
The lesson for any business
If a shop with this many restrictions can build steady search traffic, so can a plumber or a dentist. Get the basics right: a fast site, clear pages for what you sell, and content that answers what customers search for.
Visit Pouch Lab, for adults 18+ only.
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