GERDA sells through a model in which one online store includes products with very different values and logistics requirements: from accessories and locks to large-format products. In this environment, the delivery mechanism cannot rely on a single, fixed free shipping threshold.

An additional challenge was the need for clear customer communication. Information about how much is missing to qualify for free shipping should be visible not only in the cart, but also earlier, while browsing the offer and product pages.

Challenge

The store needed to combine several layers of logic in one module:

• separate free shipping thresholds for Poland and international shipping,
• exceptions for products shipped on pallets,
• the ability to trigger free shipping through a specific coupon rule,
• consistent marketing communication on the product page, category list, and in the cart,
• configuration that can be managed from the Magento admin panel without involving a developer.

In practice, this meant building a solution that supports sales, organizes logistics, and does not complicate the daily work of the e-commerce team.

Solution

For GERDA, we implemented a dedicated Magento 2 module, Kowal_FreeShipping, which controls both delivery cost calculation and customer communication.

1. Different free shipping thresholds by country

The module allows setting a separate free shipping threshold for Poland and another one for international orders. This is important in a store where handling and transport costs vary by market.

GERDA store's publicly available delivery terms communicate the following thresholds:

• free shipping from PLN 99 for domestic deliveries,
• free shipping from PLN 2499 for international shipping.

The module reflects this model in a configurable way, without hardcoding values in the code.

2. Support for large-format and pallet products

Not every product should qualify for standard free shipping. Therefore, the solution takes into account products assigned to selected attribute sets and treats them as pallet goods.

If such a product is in the cart, the module:

• identifies it by attribute set,
• applies a fixed pallet delivery cost,
• distinguishes the cost for Poland and international shipping,
• prioritizes logistics logic over the standard free shipping threshold.

This gives GERDA full control over situations where free shipping should not apply to goods requiring a different delivery model.

3. Free shipping with a discount code

The solution also supports a promotional scenario. The administrator can select a specific cart rule in Magento, and after the assigned coupon is used, the delivery cost is automatically set to zero.

This makes it possible to run promotional activities such as:

• free shipping for a selected campaign,
• a temporary sales promotion,
• a benefit for a specific customer group,
• support for a newsletter or remarketing campaign.

4. Customer communication at key points in the shopping path

The delivery cost calculation mechanism alone is not enough. For GERDA, it was also important that customers know in advance how much is missing to reach the threshold.

Therefore, the module displays dynamic messages:

• in the cart,
• on the product page,
• on the category page.

The messages are based on the current cart value and can display:

• information that free shipping has been reached,
• information about the missing amount, for example using the {{amount}} placeholder.

Importantly, communication on the PDP and PLP was prepared in a way that is safe for Magento performance and cache, using customer data updated on the frontend side.

Business impact

The implementation gave GERDA one consistent tool for managing delivery logic and sales communication.

Key benefits:

• greater transparency of delivery costs for the customer,
• better support for purchasing decisions before entering checkout,
• the ability to increase average cart value through a message about the missing amount,
• correct handling of logistics exceptions for pallet products,
• quick support for coupon-based promotional campaigns,
• full editing of settings from the Magento admin panel.

Implementation scope

As part of the module, we prepared:

• configuration in the Magento panel,
• plugins modifying shipping cost calculation,
• support for logistics exceptions,
• integration with cart rules,
• frontend components for the cart, product page, and category list,
• editable marketing messages.

Summary

The GERDA case clearly shows that free shipping in e-commerce is not a single switch, but an element of sales and logistics strategy. Stores with a more complex assortment need a solution that accounts for different markets, product exceptions, and promotions while clearly communicating the rules to the customer.

This is exactly how the implemented Kowal_FreeShipping module works: it combines flexible business logic with simple operation for the store team.

GERDA serves both individual and business customers, so it was essential to create a cart that is simple for B2C users while remaining convenient and clear for companies.

The Kowal_Checkout module helped organize the order form, improve field readability, and logically separate contact person details from company details—without giving up Magento’s native two-step checkout.

The result is a more intuitive purchasing process, fewer errors when placing orders, and a checkout that naturally adapts to the needs of both individual and business customers.