Big Ass Fans
Performance optimization and Magento version upgrade for the industry-leading air movement solutions provider, trusted by over 80% of Fortune 500 companies.
The Client
Big Ass Fans is the leading manufacturer of high-volume, low-speed (HVLS) fans and air movement solutions. Their product line includes:
- Large industrial overhead fans (Powerfoil series)
- Residential ceiling fans (Haiku, i6, es6)
- Directional fans for targeted airflow
- Evaporative coolers and heating systems
With a tagline of "No Sweat. All Chill," they serve both industrial/commercial and residential markets, with products installed in facilities owned by over 80% of Fortune 500 companies.
The Challenge
Big Ass Fans' e-commerce platform was experiencing performance issues that impacted the customer experience:
Slow Page Loads
Page load times were affecting bounce rates and conversion, especially on product pages with multiple configuration options.
Outdated Version
Running on an older Magento version meant missing out on performance improvements and security patches.
Complex Product Catalog
Large product catalog with configurable products and custom options was straining database performance.
Cache Inefficiency
Existing caching configuration wasn't optimized for their specific traffic patterns and product structure.
The Solution
I implemented a comprehensive performance optimization strategy alongside a careful version upgrade:
Performance Audit
Conducted a thorough performance audit identifying bottlenecks in database queries, third-party extensions, and frontend assets.
Magento Version Upgrade
Executed a careful upgrade to the latest Magento version, addressing deprecated code and ensuring all custom functionality remained compatible.
Varnish Configuration
Optimized Varnish cache configuration with custom VCL rules tailored to their product structure and customer browsing patterns.
Database Optimization
Rewrote slow queries, added strategic indexes, and optimized the catalog structure for faster product page loads.
Frontend Optimization
Implemented lazy loading, optimized images, minified assets, and reduced render-blocking resources for improved Core Web Vitals.
The Results
The optimized Big Ass Fans store now delivers a significantly faster shopping experience. Improved page load times have reduced bounce rates and the upgrade to the latest Magento version ensures they have access to the newest features and security patches.
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