Customer story: How Kost Eyewear future-proofs its B2B web shop with Vicus and OpenMage

How a generational shift, market realism and technological calm come together in a future-proof B2B web shop.

I spoke with entrepreneur Joshua Barki and business manager Omry Shemes of Kost Eyewear in Amersfoort about this.

For more than thirty years, Kost Eyewear has revolved around the same principle: deliver a good product, honor agreements and build relationships that last for years. From that basis, the company grew into an international wholesaler of sunglasses and reading glasses, active in several countries and especially strong in private label collections for retailers and chains.

In this, the webshop always played a practical, supportive role. Not as a marketing machine or growth accelerator, but as the daily work platform for orders, inventory, invoices and customer information. This is precisely why the system became increasingly important unnoticed.

"Without the web shop, my workday is actually at a standstill. Then you know it is no longer a tool, but a core process."
Omry Shemesh - business manager Kost Eyeware

Daily operation requires a reliable foundation

That realization came not from one major incident, but from daily practice. Much runs through the webshop: orders, stock lists, packing slips, invoices. When such a system fails or starts to malfunction, it immediately affects the entire organization.

Although the webshop was running stably on OpenMage (Magento 1), small frustrations were slowly accumulating. Dated design, slow screens in the backend, settings that did not feel logical and modules that were once added but were now hardly used.

No major problems, but signals that it was time to look ahead.

Staying in control yourself

A key thread in the discussions with Vicus was the need to maintain control. Kost Eyewear wants to be able to work independently, understand how processes run and be able to make minor adjustments themselves - without relying on outside parties for every change.

"I want to understand how it works so I don't have to depend on someone else for every little change."
Omry Shemesh - business manager Kost Eyeware

That need fits with the way the company has always been run: pragmatic, uncluttered and focused on the core. Technology should support, not distract.

Not hype, but a conscious choice

Soon the question arose: wouldn't it make more sense to migrate directly to Magento 2? Technically, that was certainly possible. But business-wise, it didn't appear to be the best choice for the moment.

Vicus mapped out three scenarios: stay as is, upgrade within OpenMage or migrate to Magento 2 - including costs, risks and impact over a five-year period. That transparent comparison gave peace of mind and direction.

"Magento 2 can do a lot, but what we needed most right now was stability, security and peace of mind."
Omry Shemesh - business manager Kost Eyeware

The conscious decision was to continue building with OpenMage: remove unused modules and modernize the look and feel - without overturning daily processes.

Generational change: rest as a strategic choice

This choice also fits a more important moment within the company: the transfer to a new generation. Experienced entrepreneur Joshua Barki is taking a step back step by step, leaving room for innovation, but without letting go of the core of the company.

What remains is the long-term vision: reliability, down-to-earthness and relationships that last for years. Where the new generation places accents is in structure, overview and more conscious use of technology.

Not faster, not bigger - but better organized.

Technology that follows, not dictates

Topics such as AI, multilingualism and online findability are explicitly included in the strategy. Not as hype, but as possible tools for the future. Only when they contribute to overview, efficiency and grip.

That vision fits perfectly with the way Vicus works: deploying technology at the pace and ambition of the organization, with an eye for continuity.

Looking ahead with confidence

When will this choice succeed in five years?

"In five years, this choice will be successful if the web shop just does what it is supposed to do - without surprises."
Omry Shemesh - business manager Kost Eyeware

With a cleaned-up platform, a clear technical foundation and a partner who thinks along, Kost Eyewear has created that calm and space. Ready to look ahead in a controlled way, without being rushed by trends or technical pressure.

Together we look at what fits your business, your market and your stage.

Are you also faced with the choice: stay, upgrade or migrate with your Magento or OpenMage web shop?
Then a sober, honest consideration is often more valuable than a quick technical decision.

Feel free to contact us for an exploratory discussion - we'll clarify the options, just like we do at Kost Eyewear.