What HAMBLY FREEMAN LIMITED does

Hambly Freeman Limited is a privately-held UK digital development studio founded in 2014 and headquartered at 10 Kimberley Road, Exeter, Devon. The firm is positioned as a development partner to design and advertising agencies rather than a direct end-client agency, building bespoke websites, headless e-commerce stores, and CMS-driven digital properties for premium brands. Its secondary segment comprises organisations that engage it directly for full digital services. The studio is small — 14 employees based across Devon and adjacent counties — yet operates globally, with active projects in London, New York, San Francisco, Miami, Milan, Dublin, Istanbul, Stockholm and beyond.

The technical stack centres on modern headless architecture: Next.js and Tailwind CSS on the front end, Motion for animation, with DatoCMS as the primary headless CMS (and Contentful, Sanity, and WordPress as alternatives). Headless Shopify is a flagship capability, supported by bespoke customer-onboarding systems that integrate Sage ERP, CopperCRM, GoCardless, Stripe, PayPal and ShipStation. Differentiated technical features include layer-scrolled interactive 3D visuals (webp-optimised) and an automated bot that cross-references ArtLogic product data against the CMS on a scheduled basis.

Revenue is generated through project-based professional services engagements, with ongoing maintenance and enhancement retainers for existing clients. The published pricing model is not disclosed, but a Technical Project Manager role is advertised up to £35k, indicating a regional-UK cost base. The go-to-market is sales-led, relying on direct engagement with design agency partners (Thirdway, Ragged Edge, Bruce Mau Design, Socio Design, DD London, Mash Creative, Anagram and others) and word-of-mouth from a publicly showcased portfolio. Documented client outcomes include a 500% first-month sales lift for Heirlooms Linens post-migration, 57.2% average month-on-month sales growth for Galeta following its September 2025 launch, and a 58% sales volume / 65% sales value uplift for CoType Foundry after its early-2025 relaunch.

Name

HAMBLY FREEMAN LIMITED

Legal name

Hambly Freeman Ltd

Website

https://hamblyfreeman.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hambly Freeman is a UK-based digital development studio that builds bespoke websites, headless e-commerce, and CMS solutions primarily as a development partner to design and advertising agencies, with a 14-person Exeter team serving premium global brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Exeter

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Web Development Services: Project-based bespoke website development services for design agencies and organisations. Services include front-end development, headless technology implementation, UX/wireframing, and e-commerce development. Clients include global entertainment companies, venture firms, luxury brands, and design agencies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Hambly Freeman is a digital development studio that creates bespoke websites, headless e-commerce platforms, and custom digital experiences for design and advertising agencies and global enterprise brands. Their core work spans front-end development using Next.js, Tailwind CSS, and Motion; headless CMS implementation on DatoCMS (primary), Contentful, Sanity, and WordPress; and headless Shopify e-commerce builds with bespoke onboarding and ERP integrations. They also provide UX research, wireframing, animation-rich interfaces, and ongoing post-launch development support.

Product overview

Hambly Freeman Limited is a digital development studio that creates bespoke websites for exciting brands. The company operates as a development partner for design and advertising agencies, offering custom website development services built on modern headless technology stacks. Their core offerings include bespoke website development, headless Shopify e-commerce development, and UX/design services. Projects are typically built using Next.js, Tailwind, and Motion for front-end, with DatoCMS as their primary headless CMS of choice, alongside Contentful, Sanity, and WordPress options. They also develop bespoke customer onboarding systems and ERP integration services for specific client needs. The company works with clients globally from their Exeter, UK studio and maintains ongoing support relationships with clients after website launches.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bespoke Website Development Creation of custom, innovative, pixel-perfect bespoke websites for design agency partners and enterprise brands. Combines creative problem-solving with modern headless technology stacks (Next.js, Tailwind, Motion, DatoCMS, WordPress) and animation-rich front-end delivery.
• Headless Shopify E-commerce Development

Quantifiable outcome

• 57.2% average month-on-month sales growth for Galeta e-commerce site following launch
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Our FriendscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign agency collaboration partner for projects including Galeta B2B bakery e-commerce website with bespoke customer onboarding system and Sage ERP integration
• ThirdwaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding client relationship; 2025 website rebuild celebrating 15 years of redefining workplace design using headless Next.js and DatoCMS
• TokyocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign agency collaboration on Wonder website project for globally recognised experience specialists
• Layers DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on e-commerce and portfolio website for specialist visual agency using DatoCMS and Shopify headless architecture
• Ragged EdgecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular design collaboration partner including Bek Ventures headless website and previous Thirdway WordPress site in 2021
• Henrik Nygren DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign partnership for Modernity website project for Nordic designed goods with ArtLogic integration
• Mash CreativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on CoType Foundry website relaunch with bespoke type-tester interface, rebuilt checkout system, and 58% sales volume increase post-launch
• SEAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign agency partnership for McWilliam Studio garden and landscape practice website with immersive browsing experience and dynamic page loading
• DD LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term collaboration since 2018 on Shore Club Dublin apartments, Wendover Partners portfolio, Gemfields gemstone producer, and DD London portfolio websites
• Studio EverywherecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Proper Voltage battery technology website with interactive 3D visuals and headless Next.js architecture
• Land of PlentycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic branding agency collaboration for modern portfolio website with animated elements, rich colour use, and filterable work section
• Hype Type StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Formerly Known type foundry website with custom type testers and Shopify integration
• Socio DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-time design partnership including A.N Other fragrance e-commerce, Sociotype typeface sales, and You Collective leadership development websites
• AnagramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Aevi award-winning FinTech website with animation-heavy media-rich headless development
• Bruce Mau DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUX, strategy, wireframing and web development partnership including Ballinger architecture firm, DES Silicon Valley architectural design, and Studio Ma Arizona projects
• Ascend StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term design partnership on Delta-v US asset management website using DatoCMS and NuxtJS
• An Open UnderstandingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign partnership for Fire Without Smoke gaming portfolio website with immersive video viewing experience
• AW&CocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign partnership for Holland & Holland luxury British gunmakers e-commerce website carrying Royal Warrant
• Studio MistercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term partnership on Martello property technology promotional website with interactive product demo
• Fable&CocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrighton design agency collaboration on Pallas LLP international law firm website with London and New York offices

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Active Theory: Los Angeles-based interactive and immersive web studio building bespoke, WebGL/3D-driven experiences for global brands. Comparable in its emphasis on animation-heavy, performance-optimised bespoke builds and premium client base.
• KOTA: UK digital agency specialising in web design, build, and brand-led digital experiences for ambitious brands. Comparable in targeting the same premium-end client base and working with creative partners on bespoke development.
• Work & Co: Brooklyn-headquartered digital product studio delivering end-to-end bespoke web and e-commerce products for major brands. Comparable in delivering craft-led, custom-built digital experiences for enterprise clients.
• The Line: London-based creative web development studio known for animation-rich, bespoke websites for global brands. Closely comparable to Hambly Freeman in approach: small specialist team building high-end headless-style sites for design agencies and premium clients.
• Resn: New Zealand-based creative technology studio known for pushing interactive, bespoke web experiences for global brands. Comparable in its craft-driven, highly bespoke approach to web development.
• We Make Websites: UK-based Shopify Plus partner building bespoke e-commerce experiences, frequently in headless configurations. Highly comparable in its headless Shopify expertise and design-agency-driven GTM model.
• Stink Studios: London-based creative studio producing bespoke digital experiences, brand sites, and interactive campaigns for global brands. Comparable in creative-led, small-team model targeting premium clients.
• Code Computerlove: Manchester-based digital product studio creating bespoke websites, apps, and platforms for brands. Comparable UK-based operator in the same bespoke web development segment with similar premium positioning.

Broad incumbents

• AKQA: Global design and innovation agency delivering bespoke digital experiences, campaigns, and platforms for the world's largest brands. Relevant broad incumbent that competes for the same premium bespoke web work but operates at much greater scale.
• Dept: Global digital agency offering end-to-end web, e-commerce, and creative services across many verticals. Relevant broad incumbent operating in the same bespoke web/e-commerce space but at significantly larger scale and with a wider portfolio of services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hambly-freeman

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HAMBLY FREEMAN LIMITED