«STVOL» Mobile App Development

STVOL is the largest official network of firearms, ammunition, and hunting goods stores in Ukraine. It is a large-scale business with its own backend infrastructure and years of established customer data. However, the company lacked a mobile application.

The main objective was to digitalize the loyalty program. Customers previously had to carry physical plastic cards—our goal was to transition this entire functionality into a smartphone. Now, a checkout barcode, point balance, product catalog, and latest network updates are always at hand. STVOL in your pocket—literally.

The brand's target audience is highly sophisticated: hunters, tactical enthusiasts, and individuals who precisely know what they are buying. The UI/UX design had to fully reflect this character—we made it dark, sleek, and profoundly branded, free of any visual noise. The interface is implemented in signature colors with support for Liquid Glass, the latest design system from Apple. Meanwhile, the backend remained on the client's side, while our team completely covered the frontend and cross-platform development on Flutter for iOS and Android.

Within the framework of the project, we provided a full cycle of development and support:

• Mobile Development: Creating a cross-platform application on Flutter for iOS and Android.
• UI/UX Design: Developing a premium interface based on Liquid Glass and a unique Brand System.
• App Store Moderation: Legal guidance, documentation preparation, and successful negotiations with Apple.
• QA Testing: Comprehensive manual and automated testing to ensure application stability.

The project required complex technical synchronization without altering the client's fundamental infrastructure:

• Existing STVOL Backend and Servers — integration without migrating the current business infrastructure.
• Website Product Catalog via WebView — seamless display of the entire inventory directly inside the app.
• Bonus Card and Barcode System — full digitalization of the loyalty program.
• Firebase Push Notifications — implementation of instant alerts to replace expensive SMS campaigns.
• App Store & Google Play — a full deployment cycle, including passing specific Apple moderation for the firearms category.

• Digital Loyalty Program: Plastic cards are completely replaced by the mobile app. The customer instantly views their status, discount tier, and current point balance, simply presenting a barcode from the screen at checkout.

• Seamless WebView Integration: The entire product catalog is integrated via WebView. Users can freely browse the full inventory inside the app, and only the final checkout or reservation step opens in an external browser, fully adhering to strict App Store guidelines.

• Premium UI/UX + Liquid Glass: A sleek dark design tailored to the target audience, aligned with Apple's modern visual language.

• Push Notifications Instead of SMS: Utilizing Firebase Push Notifications for instant alerts about promotions and news, generating measurable monthly cost savings on marketing communications.

• Coming Soon (Super App): We are currently actively rebuilding the entire catalog natively inside the app. In the near future, browsing products will become even faster and smoother, with only the final payment step remaining in the external browser.

Publishing a firearms-related application on the App Store is a task most teams avoid due to the high risks of rejection. Guideline 1.1.3 strictly prohibits the sale of weapons through apps. Upon detecting firearms in the catalog, Apple's moderators automatically blocked our initial build.

This was an organizational and legal challenge, not just a technical bottleneck. We acted as dedicated advocates for the project:

• Prepared a comprehensive legal document package confirming the official licensed status of the STVOL network.
• Proved the application's purpose as an informational showcase and loyalty card rather than a direct sales platform.
• Applied a precise architectural workaround: the catalog is browsable inside the app, but any purchase or booking step smoothly transfers the user to an external browser (Safari/Chrome), fully complying with Apple's requirements.

Result: After successful negotiations with the moderation team, the appeal was granted, and approval was secured without any changes to the app's functionality. The application is successfully published and operates stably on both the App Store and Google Play.

• Plastic is History: The loyalty program is completely digitalized. Plastic cards are being successfully phased out, simplifying customer interaction.

• Cost Optimization: The rollout of Push notifications replaced paid SMS text blasts, establishing a direct, free, and efficient communication channel.

• Exclusive Market Status: A conservative firearms business received a modern, high-tech mobile application, securing a powerful competitive advantage and reinforcing its leadership image in the industry.

Have a project idea? Tell us about it—we will break down exactly what is needed for a successful launch: from the Discovery phase to final deployment and support in the App Store and Google Play.