www.derya.usBigCommerce Website Design + Build
Derya Arms, a renowned Turkish firearm manufacturer, needed to establish their first U.S. digital presence from the ground up to break into the American market. Without a competitive website, they risked being overlooked by U.S. customers in a crowded industry dominated by established domestic brands. After 5 months of design and development, MAK Digital delivered a modern BigCommerce flagship site that directs customers to authorized dealers for firearms while enabling direct sales for accessories, positioning Derya to compete immediately in the U.S. market.
The Situation
Derya Arms is a well-established Turkish firearm manufacturer with a strong reputation in Turkey for quality firearms and accessories. As they expanded manufacturing operations to America, they needed their first flagship website to introduce the brand to firearms enthusiasts and dealers. The difficulty they faced was entering a market dominated by long-established domestic brands with polished digital presences. They needed a site that could compete immediately and establish credibility from day one. Without a professional, competitive website at launch, they risked being overlooked in favor of competitors who had spent years building their market presence.
The Core Challenge
Derya's biggest challenge was building a competitive website from scratch that could establish instant digital credibility in the American market. While they were already selling firearms in America, they had no online presence to compete with brands that had spent decades earning trust through polished digital experiences. Firearms enthusiasts research extensively before buying, comparing specs, reading reviews, and evaluating manufacturers' credibility. Without a professional website showcasing their products with quality visuals and detailed information, Derya would be overlooked in favor of brands with established online presences. This wasn't a build + design where they could improve gradually, this was their introduction to American firearms buyers, and the site needed to position them as a legitimate competitor from launch.
Additional Obstacles
Building from scratch also meant solving technical challenges unique to their business model. As a firearm manufacturer, they couldn't sell firearms directly online, customers researching firearms needed to be directed to authorized dealers through a dealer locator, while accessories and parts required standard eCommerce checkout. This meant building two distinct product page templates within one site. Beyond functionality, Derya wanted product pages that showcased their firearms like landing pages with large, impactful imagery, and they needed full control to customize these pages themselves. The team required the ability to rearrange page layouts, reorder content sections, swap imagery, and adjust design elements without being locked into a fixed template or needing developer assistance. This flexibility was crucial for adapting quickly to the American market and presenting different products with the visual impact they deserved.
SEO added another layer of urgency: without ranking in search results from launch, Derya would remain invisible to firearms enthusiasts researching their next purchase, giving established competitors an even bigger advantage.
Custom Templates + Webpages:
Services Completed:
Applications & Integrations:
- BigCommerce - eCommerce Platform
- GA4 - Google Analytics
- reCAPTCHA - Security
- Cloudfare - Content Delivery
- Google Maps - Mapping
- Powr - Photo & Video Gallery
Our Approach
MAK Digital built Derya's first U.S. site on BigCommerce, focusing on professional design, search visibility, and custom functionality.
Shopping Experience by Product Type
Since firearms couldn’t be sold online and accessories required a standard eCommerce checkout, the website had to support two completely separate purchasing experiences.
- Built custom product template for firearms featuring detailed specifications, customizable content sections, and Google Maps-integrated dealer locator directing customers to authorized retailers
- Created standard eCommerce template for accessories and parts with direct purchasing capability
- Designed flexible product pages allowing Derya's team to customize page layouts, content, specifications, and imagery based on each product's needs
Search Visibility from Launch
Without immediate search rankings, Derya would remain invisible to firearms enthusiasts researching their next purchase.
- Implemented rich snippet data and optimized alt/title tags for all product imagery
- Optimized site speed with content lazy loading to improve both user experience and search rankings
- Built SEO foundation to compete in firearms-related searches from launch
Modern Design & Functionality
Derya needed a site that looked as polished as established American firearms brands and provided the features customers expect from modern eCommerce.
- Developed custom product pages with high-quality imagery and video integration
- Integrated Searchanise for fast, predictive product search helping customers find specific firearms and accessories quickly
- Developed custom side cart, mega navigation, and mobile menu for smooth browsing across devices
Post-Launch Independence
Derya's team needed to manage content and adapt to market feedback without waiting on developers.
- Implemented custom fields for easy content and design management across product pages
- Created custom image boxes that the team can update without developer assistance
- Delivered training and documentation for ongoing site management
Custom Features & Functionality
- Custom About us page
- Custom Contact us page
- Custom Side Cart using custom React Component
- Full site Design + Build + Development
- Multiple custom category page templates
- Custom Mega Navigation using custom React Component
- Custom Mobile Navigation using custom React Component
- Theme Build using BigCommerce Stencil technology
Business Impact
Derya went from having no U.S. website to a professional firearms storefront that competes with top American brands in design and functionality. Customers now have a direct destination to explore Derya's products, find authorized dealers through an integrated locator map, or purchase accessories directly from the site. The seamless user experience, high-quality imagery, detailed specifications, and intuitive navigation, positions Derya alongside well-known U.S brands rather than looking like a newcomer trying to break in. They now have the digital presence that matches the quality firearms they manufacture.
The professional site gives their U.S. team a credible platform to promote products without being held back by lack of online presence. The different product templates work smoothly: customers get clear direction to dealers for firearms or straightforward purchasing for accessories. With custom fields and manageable backend tools, Derya's team can update products, adjust content, and adapt messaging without waiting on developers, critical flexibility as they learn what resonates with American customers.
Derya now has a digital foundation built to scale with their U.S. expansion. The BigCommerce platform and custom templates can handle growth, whether they add new firearm models, expand their dealer network to new regions, or introduce additional product lines, without requiring a rebuild. As they establish brand recognition in America, the site can evolve with them. They went from having no U.S. website to having a competitive platform ready to support whatever direction their expansion takes.
Ask away, we're here to help!
Derya Arms BigCommerce Website Design + Build : Everything You Need to Know About the www.derya.us newly designed and built site
How did you handle the dealer locator integration for firearms?
We built a custom product template that displays a "Find a Dealer" button where the add-to-cart button would normally appear on firearm product pages. When customers click it, they're taken to an integrated Google Maps dealer locator showing their nearest authorized Derya dealers. This keeps the site compliant with firearms sales regulations while providing customers a clear path to purchase.
Can firearms manufacturers sell accessories directly while directing firearms to dealers?
Yes. We created two distinct product page templates—one for firearms that directs to the dealer locator, and another for accessories and parts with standard eCommerce checkout. Derya's team can easily assign which template each product uses, allowing them to sell accessories directly while staying compliant with firearms regulations.
How long does it take to build a firearms eCommerce site from scratch?
It depends on the scope and complexity. Derya's site took 5 months because we built custom product templates that allow easy content and design updates, integrated dealer locator functionality, and created a complete design from scratch. Simpler builds without custom features can be faster, while sites requiring extensive integrations or unique functionality may take longer. The timeline includes design approval, development, testing, and launch preparation.
How do you optimize a firearms site for search engines while staying compliant?
We implemented SEO best practices—rich snippets, optimized imagery, and structured data—while building product pages that provide the detailed specifications and information firearms enthusiasts search for. The dealer locator system works seamlessly without hurting search rankings, so Derya's firearms show up when customers research specific models or features.
Can Derya's team update product pages and content themselves?
Yes. We built the site with custom fields that allow Derya's team to update product specifications, add custom content sections, change imagery, and modify dealer information without needing developer help. This was critical since they're adapting to a new market and need flexibility to respond quickly.
How did you make the site compete with established American firearms brands?
We focused on professional design quality that matches what customers expect from brands dominating the U.S. market—high-quality product imagery, detailed specifications, video integration, and intuitive navigation. The site presents Derya as an established firearms manufacturer with a polished digital presence, not a new foreign brand trying to break in.
What makes the product search work well for firearms with technical specifications?
We integrated Searchanise, which provides fast, predictive search that understands firearms terminology. Customers can search by model name, caliber, action type, or other specifications and get relevant results immediately. This is crucial for enthusiasts who know exactly what they're looking for and expect quick, accurate search results.
Can the site scale as Derya expands their U.S. catalog?
Yes. The BigCommerce platform and custom templates we built can handle growth without requiring a rebuild. Whether Derya adds new firearm models, expands their accessories catalog, or targets different customer segments, the infrastructure supports it. The flexible product page system means they can showcase new products with the same quality as their launch catalog.
