Shopify development agency for launches and rebuilds

Choosing the right level of build

Not every store needs custom development, and spending on it too early is a common waste. We offer four levels, and the first conversation is about which one you need.

Most stores sit in the first two rows. If you are weighing platforms before choosing, the Shopify vs WooCommerce comparison covers it. Larger merchants may be deciding on Shopify Plus.

Apps or custom code

The Shopify app store is a fast way to add features and a quiet way to slow a store down. Each app can add scripts, monthly fees and a dependency on a third party. Our rule is to use an app when the problem is common and well solved, such as reviews or subscriptions, and to write a small amount of code when the need is narrow.

• Use an app for reviews, subscriptions, loyalty and email, where the vendor's data model is the product.
• Use theme code for custom sections, badges, size guides and layout changes.
• Use Shopify's built-in tools for discounts, shipping rules and tax where possible.
• Remove an app fully when you stop using it, since leftover code keeps loading.

This keeps pages quicker and also helps search. Our Shopify SEO service picks up where the build ends.

Who this is for

New brands launching their first store, existing stores that have outgrown a theme, and merchants moving from WooCommerce, Magento, Wix or Squarespace. We work with merchants selling to the US, UK, Australia and the EU, so we set up tax, currency, shipping zones and legal pages for those regions, and tell you what to confirm with your accountant.

If you only need a few product edits or a banner change, a freelancer or your own team will do it faster than any agency. We say so.

How the project runs

1. Scope callCatalog size, markets, payment methods, integrations, existing data and launch date.
2. Plan and designPage templates for home, collection, product, cart and key content pages, shown as screens before any code.
3. Build on a duplicate themeWe never edit the live theme. Work happens in a copy that you can preview.
4. Data migrationProducts, variants, images, customers and orders imported from the old platform, with redirects mapped from old URLs to new.
5. Payments, tax and shippingGateways, rates, duties settings and email templates configured and tested with real orders.
6. TestingTest purchases on phone and desktop, speed checks, and a review of structured data.
7. Launch and trainingGo-live at a quiet hour, follow-up checks the next day, and a recorded walkthrough for your team.

A pre-launch list we work from is published as the Shopify launch checklist.

Related work

Belvra launched with a single product, The Mud Mask. Liftup built its Shopify store with a calm, premium design so the page could explain the formula, ingredients and weekly routine, and let shoppers add the mask to their bag from the first screen. A single-product store has no catalog to browse, so every section does more work.

For Blume, a USA skincare brand, we worked on the Shopify ecommerce experience. The case study lists a four-month project, a Figma design stage and reported rises of 35 percent in conversion rate and 50 percent in site traffic. Those figures describe the whole engagement.

Timeline, what you get and reporting

A configured or customized theme usually takes four to eight weeks. A fully custom theme or a migration with a large catalog takes longer. We agree dates after the scope call and show progress on a preview link, with a short written update each week.

• A live Shopify store on your own account, with you as owner.
• Theme source and a list of every installed app and why it is there.
• Migrated data and a redirect file for old URLs.
• Tested payments, shipping, tax and email templates.
• Staff training and a handover document.

Prices are a fixed quote after a short call, plus Shopify's own subscription and any app fees paid directly. See the Shopify store cost guide for market ranges, then request a proposal.