The Shopify ecosystem is a huge playground that seems to be a great opportunity for almost everyone who’s a part of it: from web developers and designers to big service agencies. Around 5.23 million online stores are powered by Shopify, illustrating its widespread adoption due to its user-friendly nature and flexible design capabilities (source:demandsage.com). But have you ever wondered where exactly you are in that playground?
To be more specific, do you know what types of services that you and your competitors are doing? What are the top Shopify merchants’ demands when it comes to store development and optimization? What is the right direction to grow your development services?
To answer these questions, in today's article, we are going to list the 8 most popular Shopify development services and introduce to you the top 15 examples of certified Shopify Partners and Experts.
Introduction to Shopify Services
To understand how does Shopify work, it’s essential to explore its wide range of services designed to help businesses establish, grow, and optimize their online stores. Shopify provides a flexible platform where merchants can create professional, responsive stores, integrate apps for added functionality, and use powerful tools for marketing and analytics—all without extensive technical knowledge. This includes:
- Shopify Store Development - Creation of professional, responsive online stores tailored to specific business needs.
- Custom Theme Design - Ensures the store reflects the brand’s identity and provides a smooth user experience.
- App Integration and Custom Development - Integration and development of custom apps for added functionality.
- SEO Optimization - Improves website visibility and search engine rankings through strategic optimization techniques.
- Migration Services - Facilitates the transition from other platforms to Shopify.
- Ongoing Maintenance - Ensures the store runs smoothly with regular updates and performance checks.
- Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) - Enhances the shopping experience to help increase sales by improving site elements that drive customer action.
These Shopify services are vital for businesses aiming to scale efficiently, improve customer engagement, and stay ahead of industry trends. With Shopify's flexible platform and a wide array of developer expertise, businesses can find tailored solutions for virtually any e-commerce challenge.
Shopify Store Development Services
Shopify store development services are essential for creating and maintaining a professional e-commerce presence. Whether you're a new entrepreneur setting up your first online store or an established brand looking to enhance your digital storefront, these services provide the expertise needed to achieve success.
A strong, functional Shopify store can help businesses thrive in the competitive e-commerce landscape, offering flexibility, scalability, and an extensive range of customization options.
8 Common Types of Shopify Development Services
When you search for Shopify services, you’ll find a wide variety of Shopify website development services available. A typical Shopify services list includes eight key types of development services that are crucial for building, launching, and maintaining a successful Shopify store. These services address various aspects of the store’s functionality, design, and performance, and they are essential whether you're just starting or looking to improve your existing store.
Shopify Theme Development and Customization
The theme is the backbone of your store’s visual identity, shaping the overall user experience. Custom themes are tailored to match a business's brand and aesthetic, ensuring the store’s look is cohesive and professional. Customization can include everything from layout adjustments to unique features that enhance the shopping experience.
Accordingly, there's such a great supply of Shopify theme designs and customizations on the market. Many theme developers or agencies offer services such as building Shopify themes, UX/UI theme design or Shopify theme modification. Some of the big names to mention are Pixel Union and Liquify.
Shopify store setup and customization
To customize Shopify stores in the long run, obviously there must be coding and technical stuff involved. Not every merchant is tech-savvy or has a skillful development team. That's why web developers and agencies usually support store setup and customization services to unravel merchants’ problems.
Some of the main activities you can easily see are creating Shopify stores from scratch, building pages (landing pages, homepages, etc.), modifying existing Shopify pages, Shopify cart customization and page conversion rate optimization. A professionally designed Shopify contact us page can enhance your brand’s credibility and encourage more inquiries from potential clients.
Source: SellerSmith
For example, SellerSmith is a certified Shopify Expert that provides store development services such as theme customization and landing page design. PageFly, the top Shopify page builder app, is one of SellerSmith’s biggest projects. It can help Shopify merchants customize their own pages without the need for technical knowledge.
Being Shopify Expert Certified means that an individual or agency has demonstrated advanced proficiency in working with Shopify's e-commerce platform and is recognized by Shopify for their skills in setting up, customizing, and optimizing stores. The certification is awarded to those who meet Shopify's standards of expertise and professionalism, ensuring that they have the technical knowledge and experience necessary to provide high-quality Shopify services.
Shopify app development and customization
Shopify app development and customization often require advanced technical expertise, especially for projects involving Shopify mobile apps. These apps enable businesses to offer a seamless shopping experience across devices, catering to the growing number of customers who prefer mobile commerce. From building private apps to enhancing existing functionalities, developers help merchants optimize their mobile presence.
Source: apolo multimedia
An example of this is Apolomultimedia.com, who are certified Shopify Experts located in the US. They have had many projects related to app development and customization, the quality of which is proven in nearly one hundred 5-star reviews from their clients.
Shopify migration
Shopify migration is a crucial step for businesses aiming to streamline their eCommerce operations. Many merchants initially start on platforms like Etsy, Wix, or WooCommerce but eventually choose to migrate to Shopify for its robust features and scalability. Shopify's data migration services ensure a smooth transition, allowing businesses to focus on growth without technical disruptions.
With the help of experienced Shopify Experts and agencies, the migration process can be completed quickly and professionally, including services for upgrading clients to Shopify Plus.
Source: Litextension
Litextension and IT-Geeks are two great examples of Shopify Experts that provide channel migration services. For Shopify Plus partners, Swanky has years of experience in migrating complex websites from such platforms like BigCommerce or Magento.
Shopify store updating and maintenance
One of the most important Shopify website development services is probably continuing updating the store itself. When talking about the long-term factors of a sustainable online store, you can’t miss updating and maintenance. Shopify merchants who have no experience or knowledge of coding or technology would be more likely to hire a team to optimize and maintain their stores on a regular basis.
Some common services in this field involve back-end maintenance, Shopify update support, site security audit and data optimization. The Monthly Shopify support retainers from Liquify are a great example for this.
Shopify SEO service
You can see that many agencies or developer companies will include Shopify SEO and marketing services, along with other development services. That is because SEO is not only a strategy for increasing conversion rate and getting organic traffic, but also a pedal to optimize one's online store within itself.
SEO services are diverse. They could be improving SEO options, giving marketing and SEO advice to boost conversion rate, implementing XML sitemaps and Google Analytics, doing content audits and keyword research, or optimizing page titles. WhiteCap SEO is a Shopify Expert example of providing such SEO solutions.
PSD to Shopify theme conversion
Photoshop is a common tool to sketch and create a design when building a Shopify theme. To convert the photoshop design (PSD) to a functional Shopify page, merchants must have CSS/HTML knowledge in addition to knowing the customization settings of Shopify. However, a lot of Shopify web design companies will offer this kind of service for merchants.
That’s why there is a service called ‘PSD to Shopify theme’. You can refer to agencies like 99coders or even big Shopify Plus agency Eastside Co.
Shopify Plus enterprise services
For Shopify Plus enterprises, types of development are not that different, just bigger in scale. Shopify Plus merchants have a huge store database, and they need highly-skilled and top-tier service agencies to handle their stores' development and customization.
Some notable Shopify Experts, such as Jumpstart, Liquify and Eastside Co, all have years of experience in working with Shopify Plus merchants.
Top 15 Shopify development service companies
Liquify
Source: Liquify
Liquify has been a long-time partner with Shopify for over 10 years and is a recognized Shopify Expert. They specialize in providing top-tier Shopify store development services for Shopify and Shopify Plus merchants.
Liquify’s expertise includes custom Shopify theme development, branding, Shopify audits, and consultancy. Their Shopify services list is comprehensive, including custom design services, theme optimization, and Shopify Plus support.
Partnering with professionals to create a Shopify custom design can ensure your store stands out and meets all your specific business needs.
Eastside Co
Source: Eastside Co
This eCommerce agency is reputed as a world-class Shopify Experts and also Shopify Plus partner. They’ve undertaken big projects for huge companies like Nike, Unilever or Hera. Eastside Co offers a wide range of eCommerce services from Shopify web design and app development to marketing solutions such as SEO, PPC, email and content marketing, etc.
WhiteCap SEO
Source: WhiteCap SEO
As mentioned earlier, WhiteCap SEO is a US-based Shopify Expert that specializes in providing cutting-edge SEO strategies. Their solutions have helped many merchants increase their store's organic traffic to 104%, even of such large companies like Custom Ink or Bucketfeet.
ZAGO Sweden
Source: ZAGO
ZAGO is a Swedish Shopify Plus agency. They are a certified Shopify Expert since 2016 that provides graphic design, store setup and other Shopify website development services, marketing and SEO strategy for Europe and global leading brands. They've been partnering with Shopify, Storetasker, Yotpo and many more.
Jumpstart
Source: JumpStart
Jumpstart has been providing top-rated Shopify development services for Shopify Plus merchants for so many years. They have almost 15 years of experience in eCommerce strategy, UX design and development, custom integrations and store migration. JumpStart is one of the leading Shopify agencies in Asia.
uncap
Source: uncap
uncap (previous is Pivofy) is a popular Shopify service agency that has actively worked with many Shopify Plus partners. They focus on sales-oriented web development solutions and help migrate merchants from other platforms to Shopify.
IT-Geeks
Source: IT-Geeks
IT-Geeks is a big developer agency and a Shopify Expert since 2016 that supports Shopify merchants in many services such as web designing and development, digital marketing consultancy and mobile application.
Hextom
Source: Hextom
This agency has been helping more than 40,000 Shopify merchants and they are a certified Shopify Expert. Their main services include building and customizing Shopify apps and setting up Shopify stores as well as custom themes.
Expert Village Media
Source: Expert Village Media
Expert Village Media is one of the early Shopify Experts, since 2014, and were a certified Amazon partner before that. They’ve been creating 11 public Shopify apps and working with more than 20,000 Shopify merchants. Expert Village Media provides web design and store development services.
Corra
Source: Corra
Corra is one of the popular eCommerce agencies with US and UK-based Shopify merchants and they have been supporting many Shopify Plus clients such as Faherty, Totes or International Military Antiques. Their services are diverse but for Shopify development, the main ones could be mentioned are CX strategy and design, back-end integrations and custom store development.
Mageplaza
Source: Mageplaza
With 10 years of experience in the eCommerce strategy industry, Mageplaza has become one of the leading Shopify development companies. Their dedicated team of experts provides top-tier solutions for merchants who want to create a Shopify store. Leveraging their expertise, Mageplaza has successfully developed 10 Shopify apps, with 15,000+ user reviews. Some of their key services include Shopify & Shopify Plus Development, Shopify Theme Development, Shopify Store Set Up, Shopify Support & Maintenance Service, etc.
BSS Commerce
Source: BSS Commerce
BSS Commerce is a Shopify Technology Partner that accompanies global online merchants with comprehensive Shopify-related solutions. Since their establishment in 2012, BSS Commerce served 30,000+ B2B and B2C eCommerce brands worldwide, and. garnered 2700+ positive reviews.
Besides Shopify store development, BSS provides ongoing support, testing, maintenance, and optimization services. They also offer several Shopify apps and wholesale solution packages that help B2B and B2C merchants grow their businesses.
Superco
Source: Superco
Superco specializes in creating bespoke, scalable eCommerce solutions for larger businesses and high-volume merchants, with expertise in advanced customizations, complex integrations, and high traffic handling. Their portfolio includes working with established brands to enhance online presence and sales using sophisticated Shopify Plus features.
Whirlwind eCommerce LLC
Source: Whirlwind eCommerce LLC
Whirlwind eCommerce offers a personalized, boutique-style service, focusing on tailor-made solutions for each client. Their expertise includes custom Shopify design and development, SEO optimization, and creating engaging user experiences, with a hands-on approach dedicated to meeting each client's unique needs.
CodeClouds
Source: CodeClouds
CodeClouds operates globally, providing robust and scalable Shopify services to a wide range of international clients. Their services include end-to-end Shopify development, custom app development, and multi-platform integrations, with strengths in technical expertise and quick turnaround times for complex eCommerce needs.
5 Additional Shopify Services Companies to Consider:
- Fuel Made - Fuel Made specializes in creating custom Shopify stores, enhancing user experience with optimized design and tailored functionalities.
- Pixel Union - Known for developing premium Shopify themes and apps, helping merchants build visually appealing and high-performing stores.
- Swanky - Delivers Shopify Plus solutions, including data migrations, bespoke design, and strategic marketing for scaling businesses.
- Charle Agency - Charle specializes in custom Shopify development, app integrations, and strategic consulting for eCommerce growth.
- Blend Commerce - Blend Commerce provides CRO-focused Shopify development and custom app solutions to enhance store performance and user experience.
Conclusion
As mentioned from the beginning, joining the Shopify community is like swimming in an open sea. There are many chances for you as a web developer, designer or eCommerce agency, but, obviously, the competitive level is substantially high. However, if you invest time and money in excelling knowledge and skills in your mastery, and choose the right services to expand your business, the path to success will be much shorter.
