Celeso x Sabre Digital
Conversion rate doubled from 1.7% to 4%+ through CRO and custom Shopify development alone. Google Ads reinstated after 2+ years of failed attempts by other agencies.
- 1.7% conversion rate despite strong paid traffic
- Google Ads suspended for 2+ years (counterfeit goods)
- Multiple agencies and freelancers failed to resolve suspension
- Standard theme store not reflecting premium positioning
- Generic product imagery not selling the lifestyle
- Google Ads written off as a channel
- Conversion rate doubled to over 4%
- Google Ads reinstated and scaling in 2026
- Full custom Shopify rebuild with premium CRO
- AI-generated 3D animated product sections
- Lifestyle content selling the aspirational male ICP
- Google Ads now one of the strongest acquisition channels
"I came to SABRE with a store that was converting, but nowhere near where it should've been. Harry completely changed the way we approached things. He actually understands what moves the needle on a Shopify store, not just surface-level tweaks. Within a few weeks of the changes going live our conversion rate had doubled, which alone paid for itself. The biggest difference though was Google Ads. We'd spent months messing around with it and couldn't even get it set up properly. Harry took over and it's now one of our strongest acquisition channels, and has opened up scale we honestly didn't think we were ready for yet."
Founder, Celeso
Review posted February 2026.
Celeso is a premium men's jewellery brand based in the USA, specialising in high-end steel bracelets positioned for ambitious, style-conscious men. The brand already had strong paid traffic through an existing Meta Ads agency, but the Shopify store was not converting at the level the traffic deserved.
Sabre was brought in to solve the conversion problem. After analysing Shopify data and heatmaps, the pinch points were clear: the store did not feel premium enough to justify the price point, product pages lacked the conversion information customers needed to buy, and the imagery did not sell the lifestyle the brand represented.
Sabre rebuilt the homepage, collection pages, product pages, navigation and information pages using full custom code. AI was used to create animated 3D product sections and lifestyle imagery that matched the aspirational male ICP identified through the ads account and Shopify data.
The conversion rate went from 1.7% to over 4% with zero changes to advertising, offers or pricing. Just the website.
Data First. Then Rebuild.
Sabre used Shopify analytics and heatmap data to identify the real conversion blockers before writing a single line of code.
Before touching the store, Sabre analysed Shopify data, session recordings and heatmaps to find where customers were dropping off. The high-traffic pages, particularly product pages, were not giving customers the information they needed to buy with confidence at a premium price point.
Sabre rebuilt the store using full custom code. Every page was designed to feel premium and on-brand: storytelling copy, emotive language, clear materials and quality information, shipping and returns detail, and social proof placed at every decision point. The goal was to make the website match the quality of the product.
AI was used to create animated 3D moving sections of the products, giving customers an interactive, premium experience. Lifestyle imagery was generated to sell the aspirational identity: premium, ambitious, style-conscious men. The ICP was identified by analysing the existing ads account and Shopify customer data.
Conversion rate went from 1.7% to over 4%. No changes to advertising, offers or pricing. Just the website. The CRO work paid for itself within weeks.
- Shopify data and heatmap analysis before any changes
- Full custom-coded homepage, collection and product pages
- Navigation and information pages rebuilt
- Premium storytelling copy and emotive language throughout
- AI-generated animated 3D product sections
- AI lifestyle imagery matching the aspirational male ICP
- Conversion information added to high-traffic product pages
- Social proof placed at every decision point
- CVR doubled from 1.7% to 4%+ with zero ad changes
CRO Impact
Before Sabre. After Sabre.
Drag the slider to compare the original Celeso store against the custom Sabre rebuild. Every page was rewritten and rebuilt from scratch using full custom code.
The original store used a standard Shopify theme with no custom development. Product imagery was basic, copy was generic, and there was no conversion-focused structure on any page. The homepage led with a sale banner rather than brand storytelling. Product pages lacked the trust signals, materials information and social proof customers need at a premium price point.
Sabre rebuilt every page using custom Liquid code. AI-generated 3D product renders replaced the static product images. Lifestyle imagery was created to match the aspirational male ICP. Navigation, collection pages, product pages and information architecture were all redesigned around conversion.
Every section of the Celeso store was rebuilt with custom code. The 3D animated product renders, lifestyle imagery, trust elements, conversion copy and premium dark theme were all designed to match the quality of the product and the expectations of the customer.
Stock Photography. Luxury Watchmaker Energy.
The original Celeso store used generic white-background product shots. Sabre used AI to transform them into aspirational lifestyle imagery that matched the premium positioning of a luxury watchmaker.
When Sabre audited the Celeso store, the product photography was the weakest link. The bracelets are crafted in 316L surgical steel and inspired by iconic watch designs. But the imagery told a completely different story: plain white backgrounds, no context, no lifestyle, no aspiration.
Sabre took the existing stock product images and used AI to generate a full suite of lifestyle content. The creative direction was deliberate: position Celeso as a luxury watchmaker, not a bracelet brand. Mediterranean terraces, Monaco Grand Prix, boardroom settings, marble bars at sunset. Every image was designed to make the customer see themselves in the product.
This imagery was then used across the homepage hero, collection pages, product galleries and paid advertising. The visual identity shift was a major driver of the conversion rate doubling from 1.7% to over 4%.
Every AI lifestyle image was generated from a single stock product photo. No photoshoots. No studio time. No model fees. The entire content suite was created in hours, not weeks, and contributed directly to the conversion rate doubling.
2 Years Suspended. Everyone Else Failed.
Celeso's Google Ads account had been suspended for over 2 years with a counterfeit goods flag. Multiple agencies and freelancers had tried and failed to resolve it. The founder had written the channel off entirely.
Another agency had originally set up Google Ads for Celeso, but the account was suspended for a counterfeit goods violation. Over the following 2+ years, multiple agencies and freelancers attempted to get it reinstated. None succeeded.
Sabre took a different approach. Using techniques developed from years of working with sneaker and streetwear resellers who face similar false counterfeit flags, Sabre rebuilt a compliant account without circumventing the original suspension. The process required specific compliance knowledge that most agencies simply do not have.
Google Ads is now live and scaling. The founder described it as one of the strongest acquisition channels the brand has, opening up scale they did not think they were ready for.
Google Ads reinstated after 2+ years and multiple failed attempts by other providers. Now one of Celeso's strongest acquisition channels and scaling in 2026.
- Google Ads suspended for 2+ years (counterfeit goods flag)
- Multiple agencies and freelancers had failed to resolve
- Founder had written off Google Ads as a channel
- Sabre rebuilt a compliant account using specialist techniques
- Google Ads now live and scaling as a primary acquisition channel
Suspension Timeline
Honest Advice. Not False Promises.
When Sabre audited Celeso's existing Meta Ads agency, the honest answer was that they were doing a great job. Sabre said so.
Celeso already had a Meta Ads agency managing their paid social campaigns. As part of the onboarding process, Sabre audited their account to assess performance and identify opportunities.
The honest answer was that the existing agency was doing strong work. The campaign structure was solid, the creative approach was effective and the commercial terms were fair. Sabre would not have done anything meaningfully different.
Rather than trying to win the Meta Ads business on a false promise, Sabre told the founder exactly that. A few minor suggestions were shared, but the recommendation was to keep working with their current agency on paid social.
This is how Sabre operates. The goal is not to sell services a brand does not need. It is to identify where the real impact is and focus there. For Celeso, that was CRO, custom development, AI content and Google Ads reinstatement, not replacing an agency that was already performing.
- Audited existing Meta Ads agency honestly
- Confirmed they were doing strong work
- Did not try to win business on a false promise
- Shared minor suggestions, recommended keeping them
- Focused on CRO and Google Ads where the real impact was
- Sabre only takes on work where it can genuinely add value
CRO and Google Ads FAQ
Yes. For Celeso, Sabre doubled the conversion rate from 1.7% to over 4% purely through website changes. No changes were made to advertising, offers or pricing. The improvements came from custom development, product page optimisation, AI content and conversion-focused copy.
In many cases, yes. Sabre has resolved multiple Google Ads counterfeit goods suspensions across different niches. For Celeso, the account had been suspended for over 2 years and multiple providers had failed. Sabre used specialist techniques developed from working with resellers to rebuild a compliant account.
Yes. Sabre regularly works alongside other agencies and will always give an honest assessment. For Celeso, Sabre audited the existing Meta Ads agency and confirmed they were doing strong work. Rather than trying to replace them, Sabre focused on CRO, Shopify development and Google Ads where the real impact was.
Yes. Sabre works with ecommerce brands across the UK, Europe and the United States. Celeso is a US-based brand that partnered with Sabre for CRO, custom Shopify development, AI content and Google Ads management from London.
Is This Situation Familiar?
Many ecommerce brands come to Sabre in situations similar to this case study. You might recognise your business here if:
- Your store is getting traffic but the conversion rate feels too low
- Your product is strong but the website does not reflect the quality
- Your Google Ads account is suspended or has never worked properly
- Agencies have made surface-level tweaks without fixing the core issues
- Your ads perform well but the website leaks revenue
- Your business should be scaling faster than it is
If this sounds familiar, the problem is usually not the ads or the product. It is the conversion infrastructure of the store.
Sabre specialises in identifying the real bottlenecks and fixing the systems that drive ecommerce growth.
Is Your Store Converting Where It Should Be?
If your store is getting traffic but not converting, the problem is usually the website, not the ads. In a free 30-minute strategy call Harry will review your store, identify the biggest conversion blockers and give you honest advice on what to fix first.
Book a free strategy call
30 minutes with Harry. No pitch, just honest insights for your store.
- ✓ Review your conversion rate and funnel
- ✓ Identify where revenue is leaking
- ✓ Get honest advice on what to fix first
- ✓ No obligation, no contracts
We only take on 2-3 new brands per month to ensure hands-on strategy.
