When you’re building an online store today, it’s not enough to just have products and a checkout button. Shoppers expect more. They want beautiful websites, engaging stories about your products, and a smooth experience no matter what device they’re using. To make this happen, businesses need a system that handles both content and commerce without slowing things down.
That’s where the combination of Storyblok and BigCommerce Catalyst comes in. Storyblok gives you the tools to manage and design content in a flexible way, while BigCommerce Catalyst provides a modern foundation for powering your storefront. Together, they create a setup that’s fast, easy to manage, and ready for the future.
What is Storyblok?
Storyblok is a type of content management system (CMS), but not like the traditional ones you might know. Platforms like WordPress or Drupal tie your content closely to the design of your website, which can make things harder to change or adapt. Storyblok is different — it’s a headless CMS.
That means it separates your content from the way it’s displayed. Instead of locking everything into one website, Storyblok stores your content and sends it wherever you need it — a website, a mobile app, or even a digital display. This makes it very flexible.
But what makes Storyblok stand out from other headless CMS platforms is its Visual Editor. Many headless CMS tools are developer-focused, which leaves marketing teams struggling to picture how their updates will look. Storyblok solves this by letting content editors make changes and see them instantly, without needing to wait on a developer.
Why Storyblok Works Well as a CMS
There are a few key reasons why Storyblok is such a useful CMS:
- Easy for content teams
With the Visual Editor, marketers and content creators don’t need to guess how their changes will look. They can build pages, update copy, or add images, and see the results right away. This saves time and cuts down on back-and-forth with developers. - Reusable content blocks
Storyblok organizes content into “blocks” that can be reused across the site. Think of them like Lego pieces — once you’ve built a block, you can use it again anywhere. This makes it easy to keep a consistent design and saves a lot of effort. - Flexibility for developers
Since Storyblok is headless, developers aren’t tied to a specific front-end system. They can use modern frameworks like Next.js or React (which BigCommerce Catalyst is built around) without limitations from the CMS. - Great for global brands
If your business runs in different countries or languages, Storyblok has built-in support for translations and multi-region setups. That makes it easier to manage content across multiple markets. - Fast and secure
Storyblok delivers content through a global CDN (Content Delivery Network), which keeps websites running quickly no matter where your customers are. And because the CMS isn’t directly tied to your storefront, it also adds a layer of security.
A Quick Look at BigCommerce Catalyst
Now let’s look at BigCommerce Catalyst. BigCommerce is already known as one of the leading eCommerce platforms, and Catalyst is their modern storefront foundation. It’s built with flexibility in mind, so instead of being a one-size-fits-all system, it lets businesses put together a stack of best-in-class tools for their website.
Catalyst is designed to work with frameworks like Next.js, which makes it fast, scalable, and perfect for businesses that want full control over their storefront design and functionality. In short, Catalyst is all about giving you the freedom to build the store you want, while BigCommerce handles the heavy lifting of products, inventory, checkout, and payments.
Why Storyblok and Catalyst Work So Well Together
So, why use Storyblok with BigCommerce Catalyst? Here’s where the magic really happens:
- A perfect match for composable commerce
Catalyst is designed around the idea of composable commerce — picking the best tools for each part of your online business. Storyblok fits right in as the content piece of that puzzle, while BigCommerce handles the commerce side. - The right tool for each job
Storyblok manages content like blogs, landing pages, and product storytelling. BigCommerce takes care of transactions, product data, and checkout. Each platform focuses on what it does best, and together they create a smooth customer experience. - Better teamwork between developers and marketers
Developers can focus on building the storefront in Catalyst using modern tools, while marketers manage content directly in Storyblok without needing constant support. This makes teams more productive and reduces bottlenecks. - Faster launches
Catalyst comes with pre-built components and best practices, while Storyblok gives content teams the freedom to edit visually. Combined, this means businesses can launch new campaigns or products quickly without waiting weeks for development changes. - Ready for global growth
With Storyblok’s multilingual features and BigCommerce’s strong commerce infrastructure, it’s much easier to scale to new regions and offer localized shopping experiences. - Future-proof setup
Both platforms are API-first, which means they’re built to adapt. If you want to add new tools for personalization, analytics, or marketing automation in the future, you can plug them in without starting from scratch.
An Example: Launching a New Product
Let’s say your brand is launching a new product line. Traditionally, this might involve developers building new pages, hard-coding layouts, and slowing down your timeline.
With Storyblok and Catalyst, it works differently:
- Your products and pricing are already in BigCommerce.
- Your marketing team uses Storyblok to create a landing page with images, videos, and product descriptions.
- The Catalyst-powered frontend pulls content from Storyblok and product details from BigCommerce, combining them into one seamless page.
This approach means you can move faster, your team has more control, and your customers get a rich shopping experience.
Why We Recommend Storyblok for BigCommerce Catalyst
After looking at different CMS options, we chose Storyblok because it strikes the right balance:
- It’s powerful for developers but simple for non-technical teams.
- It works smoothly with modern frameworks like Next.js.
- It scales easily for businesses of any size.
- It fits perfectly into Catalyst’s composable architecture.
In short, Storyblok helps businesses bring their brand stories to life while Catalyst provides the backbone for eCommerce.
Wrapping Up
Shoppers today expect more than just a functional online store. They want content that inspires them, stories that connect with them, and a checkout that feels effortless. Meeting these expectations requires the right tools.
By using Storyblok with BigCommerce Catalyst, businesses can get the best of both worlds: a CMS that makes content simple and powerful, and a commerce platform that’s built for scale and performance. It’s a combination that not only works today but is also ready for whatever comes next in digital commerce.
If you’re looking for a CMS to pair with BigCommerce Catalyst, Storyblok is one of the best options out there — giving you flexibility, speed, and a future-proof foundation for growth.
