Case Study
Vessi.com’s Transition from Friendbuy to Lantern for Customer Accounts and Referrals
May 12, 2025
Vessi, the waterproof sneaker brand, transitioned from Friendbuy to Lantern to streamline their referral program, eliminate manual code creation, and lay the foundation for scalable customer retention strategies—unlocking a more seamless, automated experience for both customers and their team.
The Challenge
Outgrowing Friendbuy’s Limited Features and Scalability
Vessi.com, known for their innovative waterproof sneakers, had been using Friendbuy for their referral program for several years. One of the main challenges was the time it took to create unique codes and upload them into Friendbuy. The team was spending manual time creating these codes and monitoring them.
The Solution
Adopting Lantern for Scalable Referral and Retention Strategies
Vessi switched to Lantern to address these challenges. Lantern’s flexibility, seamless integration with Shopify, and ability to customize the referral experience aligned perfectly with Vessi’s growth plans. Lantern offered a comprehensive solution to not only manage referrals but also expand into loyalty programs, automated workflows, and personalized customer experiences.
Key Benefits and Improvements:
Streamlined Referral Program: Lantern replaced the need for manual bulk discount code creation. Referral codes are now automatically applied at checkout, providing a seamless experience for customers and saving significant time for Vessi’s team.
Scalability for Retention: With Lantern, Vessi could easily scale their retention strategies. Beyond referrals, they are exploring implementing loyalty programs and planning exclusive VIP access for top customers. Lantern’s platform made it easy to experiment and scale these new initiatives.
Shopify Integration: Lantern’s native integration with Shopify allowed Vessi to manage customer accounts, rewards, and referrals directly in the Shopify dashboard, eliminating the need to toggle between multiple tools. This streamlined operations and provided better visibility into key customer data.
The Results
Cost Savings: Lantern’s pricing was more competitive than Friendbuy’s, offering a broader set of features at a lower cost. The time saved from automating workflows further reduced operational costs.
Enhanced Customer Insights: Lantern’s integration with Shopify allowed Vessi to track customer behavior and reward segments directly within Shopify, making it easier to identify top customers and tailor retention efforts.
Seamless Customer Experience: The automatic referral code application and the option for customers to log into their accounts improved the overall shopping experience, increasing customer engagement and retention.
Looking Forward
Future Plans:
Loyalty and VIP Programs: Vessi plans to further enhance customer engagement by expanding its loyalty program and creating exclusive rewards for its most loyal customers.
Personalized Retention Strategies: With Lantern, Vessi aims to deliver even more personalized experiences, building stronger relationships with their customers through targeted retention strategies.
Final Takeaway
By switching from Friendbuy to Lantern, Vessi has not only improved their referral process but also laid the groundwork for more diverse and scalable customer retention strategies. With enhanced features, deeper integration with Shopify, and proactive support, Lantern has helped Vessi streamline operations, reduce costs, and build a stronger foundation for future growth.
