David Riches

✨ Current Project (2025)

• Delivered a new headless website with Next.js 15 and BigCommerce for Retail and B2B channels, improving site performance and scalability. Built using React, TypeScript components, Tailwind, Radix UI and legacy components from Storybook.

• Implemented geolocation-based personalization to deliver localized content, pricing, and user experiences based on user location detection.

• Developed custom Algolia integration with header instant search results, product recommendations, and intelligent query suggestions to enhance product discovery.

• Heavily customized BigCommerce's B2B checkout and implemented advanced shipping options, including filtered payment rules and UI enhancements for improved conversion rates.

• Integrated Klaviyo marketing automation alongside Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager for comprehensive user tracking and engagement.

🎖️ Previous Achievements

• Integrated express checkout service with Apple Pay, PayPal, and Google Pay using Braintree to provide seamless payment options and reduce checkout abandonment.

• Redesigned the checkout flow into a streamlined two-step process, improving user experience and conversion rates. Used Styled Components and Material UI to enhance visual appeal and create a more intuitive payment journey.

• Overhauled the Storybook component library, introducing new components and optimizing existing ones specifically tailored for Master of Malt's platform requirements.

• Facilitated UI collaboration sessions between development and creative teams, fostering cross-functional innovation and leading to improved design solutions and faster delivery cycles.

• Developed bespoke React components for Builder.io landing pages, enabling dynamic content creation and delivering more personalized user experiences.

A Global Full-Service Digital Agency - UK (EMEA Clients)

Part of the engineering team at a full-service digital agency, delivering scalable solutions for major European brands across diverse industries including fitness, logistics, healthcare, and food & beverage.

🏋️ Basic-Fit - Leading European Fitness Group

• Developed robust Contentful backend infrastructure

  for Basic-Fit's mobile app and digital gym displays, supporting their operations across five countries and enhancing member engagement across their fitness network.

• Created comprehensive content models

  and developed custom React apps/UI extensions, streamlining content management for their multi-platform digital ecosystem.

🏬 Mileway - Europe's Premier Logistics Real Estate Business

• Led the complete platform migration

  from outdated WordPress CMS to a modern Contentful backend for Mileway, Europe's top logistics real estate company managing 1700+ properties.

• Built custom React applications

  for automated brochure generation, interactive Google Maps assets, and detailed site plans, integrating seamlessly with backend microservices to improve operational efficiency and client experience.

💊 Souvenaid Project (Danone) - Healthcare Digital Solution

• Developed specialized digital platform

  for Souvenaid, Danone's dietary supplement supporting individuals with Alzheimer's disease, ensuring accessibility and user-friendly experience for healthcare contexts.

• Created comprehensive component library

  in Storybook integrated with Contentful backend and Next.js frontend, enabling consistent healthcare-focused user experiences across multiple touchpoints.

🌱 Alpro Project (Danone) - Global Plant-Based Brand Platform

• Optimized multi-market website performance

  for Alpro's global plant-based food and drinks platform, supporting 32 diverse markets with localized content and languages.

• Implemented new features and performance enhancements

  using Contentful, Gatsby.js, TypeScript, and Netlify functions, improving site speed and user engagement across international markets.

Digital Marketing Agency - Manchester (Remote)

Remote developer for a Manchester-based digital marketing agency, delivering high-impact websites and digital experiences for major brands across charity, luxury spirits, and e-commerce sectors.

WaterAid (Toilet Stories Campaign)

• Led full-stack development of an impactful campaign website using React and Gatsby.js, creating an engaging digital experience to support WaterAid's global sanitation awareness initiative.

• Delivered responsive, performance-optimized platform that effectively communicated the campaign message and drove user engagement for the international charity.

Highland Park Whiskey - Premium Brand Experience

• Served as lead frontend developer for Highland Park's bespoke brand website, collaborating with a third-party creative agency to deliver a sophisticated new digital presence.

• Developed immersive brand experience that reflected Highland Park's premium positioning while ensuring optimal performance and user experience across all devices.

Macallan Whiskey - Luxury E-commerce Platform

• Enhanced e-commerce functionality for Macallan's luxury whiskey platform using React, implementing feature improvements and resolving critical bugs to optimize the customer purchasing journey.

• Maintained high-performance standards for the luxury brand's digital storefront, ensuring seamless user experience and supporting premium product sales.

Global Digital Agency - Frontend Development Specialist

Frontend development specialist within the tech team of a global digital agency, leading development projects for Fortune 500 clients including Facebook, Shell, and major consumer brands. Collaborated closely with creative and UX teams to deliver cutting-edge digital solutions across diverse industries.

Facebook - Consumer Marketing Platform

• Delivered targeted HTML/CSS solutions for Facebook's Consumer Marketing department.

Shell V-Power - Digital Brand Playbook

• Built comprehensive digital playbook using React and Gatsby.js with Contentful CMS, creating a scalable content management system that enabled Shell's global marketing teams to maintain brand consistency across regions.

Mytime Active - Regional Leisure Platform

• Led full-stack development as primary Drupal 8 and frontend developer for Mytime Active's leisure website, serving communities across south-east UK and streamlining facility booking and membership management.

Grolsch.com - "AS I AM" Campaign

• Spearheaded development for Grolsch's "AS I AM" brand campaign, creating an engaging digital experience that reinforced the beer brand's authentic positioning and drove consumer engagement.

WaterAid - Global Charity Initiative

• Developed impactful digital platform for WaterAid's global water and sanitation programs, creating user-friendly interfaces that effectively communicated the charity's mission and facilitated community partnership initiatives.

Bayer Content Hub - Enterprise CMS Solution

• Architected modern content management system using Drupal 8 with custom Fractal frontend theme layer, implementing Atomic Design principles to ensure scalable, maintainable code architecture for Bayer's global content operations.

Drupal Developer & Front-end lead, working on fast turn around projects for various brands such as Scotts Miracle Grow, Make-a-Wish foundation and British Council. Reporting directly to the Head of Production & working closely with creative UX teams and Quality assurance. Supporting junior team members and providing client CMS training.

Worked in the Specialist & Activity sector - building new websites for various brands such as the NFL, Exodus, Quark Expeditions and YMT vacations. After 2 years I made an internal move to the Crystal Ski UX team, working closely with designers and UX researchers creating rapid prototypes, boosting revenue by adding functionality and improving performance in the booking flow.