Mobile App for Sneaker Enthusiasts

Sneakerheads crave instant updates on limited-edition drops and news, but many apps lag behind or offer a clunky experience. I set out to build a cross-platform mobile app that delivers real-time, curated sneaker updates, ensuring users never miss a release. The stakeholders included sneaker enthusiasts, content managers, and the marketing team. Key constraints were the need for rapid notification delivery, seamless iOS/Android performance, and a flexible backend for non-technical editors.

My role was to lead the end-to-end development of the app—from architecture to deployment. The main objectives were:

• Deliver fast, reliable push notifications for sneaker drops and news.

• Ensure a consistent, high-quality user experience on both iOS and Android.

• Empower content managers to easily update news and drop info without touching code.

• Keep sneaker fans engaged and connected to the latest trends.

I chose Flutter for its cross-platform strengths, allowing me to maintain a single codebase for iOS and Android without sacrificing performance. When I started the backend was realized with WordPress, which in the used configuration outgrew the demand for a super-performant experience, so in 2023 the website got a relaunch using Kirby.

For push notifications, I integrated Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) into Flutter. This enabled:

• Remote push notifications for both platforms.

• Handling notification permissions and user opt-in flows.

• Processing messages in foreground and background states.

• Triggering local notifications to boost engagement for high-priority drops.

I redesigned the notification pipeline so that whenever editors published a new drop or news item in Kirby, the backend triggered a Google Cloud Function to split up the users into several notification delivery chunks for greater concurrency. This ensured users received timely, relevant alerts. Throughout development, I collaborated closely with the backend developers, content managers, designers and stakeholders for a seamless fast and state-of-the-art app based on user feedback.

The app launched smoothly on both iOS and Android, with users praising the speed and reliability of notifications. Content managers reported that Kirby’s headless setup made updates effortless, reducing turnaround time for posting news. Most importantly, sneaker fans felt more connected and informed, making the app a go-to source for the latest sneaker culture updates. The affiliate marketing revenue increased significantly due to deadstock almost always delivered the fastest push notifications. Seconds matter here.