Big Fish Creations
Web Integration · Partner delivery

Big Fish: the API vendor’s own pick.

Big Fish Creations is a California advertising and digital media agency. Their client — a new-and-used car publication — wanted site visitors searching not just their own inventory but their dealer network’s. Big Fish asked MarketCheck, the API vendor itself, who should build it. MarketCheck pointed to us. One phone call later we were engaged: Car Dealer WP Theme enhanced, MarketCheck API wired into site search, VIN decoder integrated — built, tested, deployed, white-label.

1 call
From the API vendor's own recommendation to engaged — MarketCheck named us; one conversation closed it
The challenge

A dealer publication limited to its own inventory, and an integration beyond the agency's in-house reach.

What shipped

Car Dealer WP Theme enhanced · MarketCheck API inventory search · VIN Decoder plugin — built, tested, deployed.

The result

Dealer-network inventory live in site search · 5.0 verified · "we would most certainly utilize their services again."

Industry
Advertising & media
Location
Graeagle, CA
Engagement
Jun 2020 – ongoing
Platform
WordPress · MarketCheck API
Motions
Configure · Integrate
Discover
Jun 2020 · vendor referral + scope
Configure
Theme modification + custom code
Integrate
API + VIN decoder integration
Operate
Test → deploy → ongoing
01 / The situation

What was actually happening.

The end client’s publication featured new and used cars — but site visitors could only search the publication’s personal inventory. Extending search across select dealers’ inventories meant a real integration: MarketCheck’s API, VIN-level decoding, and a WordPress theme that wasn’t built for any of it. Beyond the agency’s in-house reach — so they asked the API vendor who could.

02 / Pain point matrix

Where it hurt most.

Operational impact → Frequency → Monitor Critical Low priority Fix fast
1
2
3
4
  • 1Search limited to own inventoryVisitors couldn't see dealer-network stock — the publication's core value capped.
  • 2Integration beyond in-house reachMarketCheck API + VIN decoding exceeded the agency's WordPress bench.
  • 3Theme not built for itCar Dealer WP Theme needed modification and enhancement, not configuration.
  • 4Agency needed white-labelBig Fish owned the client relationship — the dev partner had to slot in quietly.
03 / What we shipped

The work, in motion.

A three-person pod — one project manager, two WordPress developers — running through Zoom, Teams, Basecamp, email, and the phone. “The Project Manager clearly outlined the tasks with targeted deadlines for the deliverables” — and the developers met them “in very satisfactory time.”

OS modules used Inventory searchVIN decodingMarketCheck APIWhite-label delivery
SITE SEARCHone box, WP theme MARKETCHECK API + VIN DECODER custom integration Own stock Dealer A Dealer B… WHITE-LABEL FOR THE AGENCY · VENDOR-REFERRED
{{VIDEO — search experience walkthrough · awaiting capture}}
{{GIF — VIN lookup in action}}
{{GIF — multi-dealer results view}}
One search box, the whole dealer network behind it.
04 / The ROI

Measured, not promised.

3
Person pod — PM + two WordPress developers, deadlines outlined and met
5.0
Verified Clutch rating — quality, schedule, cost, willingness to refer
Again
"We would most certainly utilize their services again" — the only metric an agency partner needs

When the API vendor is asked who should build it, they say our name.

In their words

“The Project Management from Amit, their lead, was exceptional. Tasks were assigned and met by their developers in very satisfactory time. None that we can think of [to improve] — we would most certainly utilize their services again.”

Michael Clawson · Owner, Big Fish Creations · verified Clutch review, Feb 2021
Under the hood
WordPressMarketCheck APIVIN DecoderAgency white-label

Car Dealer WP Theme as the base, modified rather than replaced. MarketCheck API wired into the site's search functions for live multi-dealer inventory lookup, VIN Decoder plugin handling vehicle-level identification. Engagement sourced by the API vendor's own developer recommendation.

5.0verified · vendor-referred · “we would most certainly utilize their services again” — Michael Clawson, Big Fish

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