The PadPad project started as a personal initiative where I was both the client and the developer, which allowed me to experience both the business and technical challenges firsthand throughout the entire process. The project originally launched under the name gamershop.gg as a merchandise webshop offering custom products featuring the logos and graphics of streamers and esports teams.
Initial Situation
The first version was built on WordPress + WooCommerce, using a purchased template.
In practice, however, we quickly ran into several problems:
A system that was difficult to maintain
Custom modifications were regularly overwritten during updates
Slow loading times
Difficulties handling spam and unwanted traffic
Limited flexibility for managing complex business logic
It quickly became clear that the platform was not sustainable in this form over the long term.
Decision: Complete Rebuild
Because of these issues, I decided to rebuild the entire system from scratch using modern technologies and a fully custom architecture.
At the same time, a business decision was made as well:
we moved away from the broader merchandise direction and narrowed the focus to a specific niche product — mouse pads.
Implementation
The new system was built entirely as a custom solution:
Laravel-based backend architecture
Filament admin panel
Livewire-based dynamic components
Vue.js + Fabric.js product editor
Tailwind CSS frontend
Queue system + Horizon for background processes
Online payment integration with Barion
Shipping integrations:
Hungarian Post (MPL) API
GLS API
Key Feature: Custom Product Editor
One of the most important parts of the project was a canvas-based product editor, which allows users to:
Customize designs in real time
Upload and position custom graphics
Preview changes dynamically
This feature significantly improves the user experience and increases the value of personalized products.
Results
The new system:
Provides faster and more stable performance
Gives full control over future development and expansion
Enables more efficient administration
Creates a scalable foundation for future growth
Key Takeaway
This project clearly demonstrates that an off-the-shelf system can provide a fast launch, but may become limiting when more complex requirements emerge.
The complete rebuild made it possible to create a modern, sustainable platform optimized for a specific niche market.
Personal Closing
What made this project particularly interesting is that the biggest challenge was the client himself — which, in this case, was me 😀
