Virid and Journeys: How a 20-Year Partnership Forged a Gold-Standard eCommerce Platform

RESTON, Va. – January 28, 2026 – Enterprise commerce solutions provider Virid has secured a Gold recognition at the 2026 AVA Digital Awards for its transformative work on the Journeys eCommerce storefront. The award, presented in the highly competitive Web Element, E-Commerce/Storefront category, highlights not just a single project, but the culmination of a two-decade strategic partnership dedicated to navigating the complexities of modern retail.

This accolade is more than a trophy; it serves as a powerful validation of a long-term, collaborative approach in an industry often characterized by short-term contracts and rapid platform turnover. The AVA Digital Awards, sponsored and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP), are a recognized benchmark for industry excellence. With thousands of entries from across the globe, the judging process is notoriously rigorous. Industry professionals evaluate entries based on a high standard of creative and technical excellence, making the Gold award a significant achievement that places Virid’s work in the upper echelon of digital innovation.

The Architecture of a Long-Term Digital Alliance

In the fast-evolving world of digital commerce, a partnership spanning over two decades is a rarity. The enduring relationship between Virid and the retail giant Journeys demonstrates a strategic commitment to continuous evolution. For Journeys, which operates over 900 brick-and-mortar stores alongside a formidable eCommerce presence, the challenges of creating a seamless customer experience are immense. This is not a simple case of managing an online store; it is about orchestrating a unified commerce ecosystem where the digital and physical realms merge.

Over the years, this alliance has moved beyond a typical vendor-client dynamic to become a deeply integrated collaboration. Virid has been instrumental in tackling some of the most complex challenges in omnichannel retail for the brand. This includes the successful implementation of a Buy Online Pick Up In-Store (BOPIS) system, a feature that has become a consumer expectation and a logistical necessity for bridging online convenience with physical store assets. Furthermore, the partnership has enabled the integration of diverse alternative payment methods, catering to modern consumer preferences for digital wallets and “Buy Now, Pay Later” services. Perhaps most significantly, Virid helped architect a custom loyalty program, a critical tool for fostering customer retention and brand affinity in a crowded market.

This sustained collaboration has allowed for a deep understanding of Journeys' unique business logic, customer base, and growth objectives. Instead of periodic, disruptive overhauls, the strategy has been one of constant refinement and agile adaptation, allowing Journeys to stay ahead of market trends and consumer expectations. It is this depth of partnership that enables the creation of a truly bespoke and effective digital storefront, one worthy of industry-wide recognition.

Beyond the Shopping Cart: Engineering Unified Commerce

At the heart of Virid's award-winning work is its proprietary platform, marketAgility. Designed specifically for the demands of complex, high-volume retailers, the platform serves as the technological backbone for Journeys’ sophisticated digital operations. The company's approach stands in contrast to one-size-fits-all SaaS solutions, instead offering what it terms "best-of-breed composability."

This composable architecture allows retailers to select and integrate best-in-class tools for different functions, avoiding the rigidity of a monolithic system while maintaining the stability of a single-source solution. Built on Microsoft Azure, the platform provides the scalability and high-volume performance necessary to handle seasonal traffic spikes and ensure real-time inventory management across hundreds of stores and a central warehouse. This capability is crucial for the flawless execution of features like BOPIS, where inventory accuracy is paramount.

Virid’s solution is more than just a platform; it’s a comprehensive service. The company pairs its marketAgility technology with expert-led agency services, acting as a strategic partner in everything from website design and user experience to performance optimization and long-term roadmapping. This integrated model ensures that the technology is not just implemented, but continuously leveraged to its full potential. By offering deep API access and full customization, marketAgility empowers retailers like Journeys to create unique customer experiences, from custom checkouts to complex product catalogs, that would be impossible on more restrictive platforms.

"We are thrilled to be recognized for our work with such a valued retail partner," said Steve Deller, President and CEO of Virid, in a recent statement. "This award highlights our continued commitment to delivering commerce solutions that help our clients grow."

Setting a Benchmark in a Competitive Landscape

The Gold AVA Digital Award solidifies Virid's position in a fiercely competitive enterprise commerce market populated by giants like Salesforce Commerce Cloud, Adobe Commerce, and Shopify Plus. While many platforms offer powerful tools, Virid's distinction lies in its hybrid approach, combining a highly flexible, proprietary platform with deep, hands-on strategic guidance. This model is particularly attractive to retailers with unique operational needs that cannot be forced into a standardized template.

The award validates that this 'platform-plus-partnership' model can produce results that are not only effective in driving revenue but are also recognized as the gold standard for design and functionality. For other large retailers grappling with the challenges of unifying their physical and digital operations, Virid’s success with Journeys provides a compelling case study. It demonstrates that achieving a truly seamless, customer-centric omnichannel experience requires more than just technology; it requires a deep, collaborative partnership focused on shared long-term goals. As the digital and physical shopping worlds continue to converge, this integrated and customized approach to commerce is poised to become the new benchmark for success.