How Volume Reinvented Crowdfunded Art Book Publishing with WooCommerce

Background

Traditional art book publishers rely on large print runs to justify expensive design, paper stocks, and binding. That limits the types of projects and pushes niche topics out of reach. Inspired by successful micro-publishing models in the gaming world, Lucas Dietrich and Darren Wall decided to open a new path for visual culture books. They envisioned a system where creators could validate ideas before committing to print.

Goal

The aim was to build a platform that combines the aesthetics of a monograph launch with the functionality of a crowdfunding page. By turning pledges into confirmed pre-orders, creators and backers see real-time progress. This gives print budgets clarity, lets sponsors adjust specifications, and reduces the financial risk of inventory sitting unsold.

Challenges

Key hurdles included supporting high-resolution image galleries, managing media previews, and offering custom project fields without bloating load times. The team needed selective content publishing so only approved pitches appear. They also wanted bulk editing tools for Darren to update multiple campaigns quickly and a search function that surfaces campaigns by theme or creator name.

Solution

Norwegian agency Heydays took on the build. On top ofWooCommerce, they installedWooCommerce Pre-ordersfor funding windows andAdvanced Custom Fieldsto handle bespoke data. They addedAdmin Columns Proso Darren could manage dozens of entries in one view, andRelevansiito enhance search. Yoast SEO was configured for page titles and meta descriptions.

Implementation

The workflow starts when a creator submits a pitch form built withGravity Forms. After approval, Darren creates a dedicated product page. Pre-orders open, Stripe captures payments, and Mailchimp sends backer updates. WP Rocket caches pages and images, keeping performance crisp. The result is a smooth, branded experience that scales as more campaigns launch. s

Results

Since its November launch Volume funded its first title by printmaker Anthony Burrill in weeks. Two architecture monographs joined the roster and more are underway. Early campaigns have attracted over 200 collectors, who now influence print runs and special editions. With risk reduced, creators can focus on design, not logistics.

Looking Ahead

With a lean team of two, Volume adapts quickly. They plan to test limited drops, timed releases, and extra-large formats. Later this year they aim to add small-batch print options, and invite guest editors to curate special series. Every new feature is rolled out in days, keeping this platform far more agile than legacy publishers.