Hiring a Shopify website design agency is an important and big step for any business owner. But at the same time, it is not such a difficult or scary process. Of course, there are thousands of Shopify development agencies out there that can help you create, manage, and optimize your store and reach more people.
If you are planning to open a new Shopify store or you are already running a store that now needs a redesign, choosing the right Shopify design agency makes a huge difference. As you know, there are millions of Shopify stores online, and standing out with a unique and feature-rich design is essential.
Shopify is one of the well-known and leading eCommerce platforms in the world. Shopify powers more than 5.23 million active online stores. If you’re a startup or an established brand, you must go with a clean, user-friendly, and interactive Shopify design. Among other eCommerce platforms, Shopify has been a great option with features like built-in SEO, security apps, easy payment methods, and so much more.
But the truth is that just choosing a beautiful theme won’t be enough. You need experts who understand Shopify well, who can handle custom development, performance, user experience, and conversions.
What is Shopify?
Shopify needs no introduction. Because every business owner who has ever built out their online store knows about Shopify. Shopify is widely regarded as one of the best eCommerce platforms for businesses of all sizes. With Shopify, you can build a beautiful store with some amazing features. Shopify is well-known for its user-friendly design, robust features, and flexible options, helping entrepreneurs to create a feature-loaded store.
Shopify, as the best eCommerce platform, offers a lot of built-in features and apps. And with them, you can manage product listing, inventory, payment method, shipping, and marketing. Shopify Plus, on the other hand, is a great option for larger enterprises and high-growth brands. Shopify Plus version provides you with additional functionality, enterprise-level features, and more customization options.
If you want to build a new store or scale your existing one, hiring a Shopify app development agency can help you unlock the full potential of the platform. An experienced team of Shopify engineers can help you with setting up a store, custom app development, third-party app integration, checkout customization, and everything in between.
What is a Shopify Design Agency?
A Shopify design agency, in simple words, is a team of expert developers and designers who specialize in building and optimizing Shopify stores. These agencies usually provide a wide range of services, like new store setup, redesign of your old store, theme customization, speed optimization, and much more. A Shopify development agency always strives to provide you with a high-performing, user-friendly, and conversion-focused eCommerce website.
A typical Shopify website design agency offers:
- Shopify Store Setup Services
- Custom Theme Development
- Shopify Store Redesign Services
- Shopify App Development Services
- Shopify Speed Optimization Services
- UI/UX Enhancements Services
- Support & Maintenance Services
Why Should You Hire a Shopify Design Agency?
In short, you can’t handle all the technical stuff. And while Shopify is a beginner-friendly and easy-to-use eCommerce platform, it does offer some great features that everyone can easily use on their own.
But when it comes to advanced app integrations, payment methods, shipping, and custom theme development, you need to have a top Shopify app development agency by your side.
Apart from it, if you need SEO and Shopify speed optimization services, mobile-first design, you should hire a Shopify design agency.
Here’s why working with a Shopify development agency is good for your business:
- Saves Time: Designing and developing a store takes time. A professional team does it faster and better.
- Better Performance: Agencies know how to design fast-loading, SEO-friendly stores.
- Scalability: As your business grows, your Shopify website should grow too. Agencies build scalable systems.
- Ongoing Support: Most agencies offer website maintenance and speed optimization services.
- Access to Experts: You get UI/UX designers, Shopify developers, QA testers, and project managers all in one place.
9 Steps to Choose the Right Shopify Design Agency
1. Define Your Business Goals
Before you even begin searching for a Shopify design agency, get clear on what you actually need.
For example:
- If you want to set up a Shopify store.
- If you want to redesign your existing store
- If you want to improve the page speed
- If you want to add some custom features
Knowing your goals helps you decide which company to go with from the hundreds of agencies out there. Also, you need to consider your long-term goals, whether it’s scaling, branding, or integrating advanced tools. When your vision is clear, communicating with an agency becomes easier, and they can deliver a website that aligns perfectly with your objectives.
2. Check Their Experience with Shopify Projects
Experience matters. But more importantly, relevant experience matters even more. Look for agencies that specialize in Shopify website design and development, not just any web design agency.
Go through their portfolio:
- Check if they have worked with brands like yours.
- Check their previous Shopify projects; if they’re beautiful, responsive, and user-friendly.
An experienced Shopify development agency knows everything about the platform, like how it works, how to perform theme customization tasks. Also, they know what types of apps would work best for your specific brand, how to avoid performance issues, and how to create a seamless checkout experience. Don’t be afraid to ask how many Shopify stores they’ve built and maintained in their experience.
3. Explore Their Design Style and Portfolio
Every Shopify design agency has its own creative flavor. Some go minimal, some go bold and colorful. When checking their portfolio, see if their design sensibilities match your brand’s vibe.
You can also check:
- If their work speaks to your audience.
- If they can build beautiful and functional websites.
A good agency should offer responsive designs that look great on desktop and mobile. Also, look out for diversity. If all their projects look the same, they might not be flexible enough to bring your unique brand to life.
4. Read Testimonials and Case Studies
Don’t just take their word for it; see what real clients have to say. Testimonials, reviews, and especially case studies offer deeper insights into an agency’s process and impact. Case studies are gold because they show what challenge the client had, what solution the agency provided, and the results achieved. Check platforms like Clutch, Google Reviews, or even their LinkedIn. If possible, talk directly.
5. Evaluate Their Knowledge of the Shopify Ecosystem
Shopify is more than just a drag-and-drop e-commerce website builder. A top Shopify design agency should be well-versed in the full ecosystem, including Shopify apps, custom code, integrations, SEO, and store optimization. Whether you need Shopify store setup services, custom theme development, or Shopify speed optimization services, the agency should know how to handle it all. They can also help you with what options to keep and which theme will be good for your business. Ask them about recent Shopify updates and how they stay up to date with the platform.
6. Ask About Customization Capabilities
Every brand is different, and your store should reflect your taste and style. Many agencies rely heavily on pre-made themes, but if you’re after something more unique, you’ll need an agency that can do deep customization. Whether it’s tweaking the checkout flow, adding custom product filters, or creating animations, the agency should be capable of tailoring your Shopify store to match your business and branding goals. Check if they have in-house developers who understand Liquid (Shopify’s coding language) and if they’ve worked on custom Shopify app development before.
7. Check Their Communication and Support Process
Smooth and polite communication is non-negotiable. You don’t want an agency that disappears for days or throws around technical jargon. From your first inquiry to the final launch, you should feel heard, understood, and updated. Ask about their communication channels, like whether they use professional communication portals like email, Slack, or Trello.
To confirm if you’re communicating with a nice agency, check:
- If they provide you with a dedicated point of contact
- If they understand your project completely.
- If they will help you with post-launch maintenance services.
If they can handle urgent issues if your site goes down.
A great Shopify development agency offers structured communication and dependable post-launch support.
8. Compare Pricing and Value
Money matters, and it is important to stay on budget. But don’t just go with a random agency that gives you a very low budget. The best agency isn’t always the most expensive, but it’s rarely the cheapest either. You must compare pricing packages across multiple agencies. Understand what’s included in the price, like design, development, speed optimization, and revisions. A solid design upfront can boost conversions, reduce bounce rates, and save you money down the road. Be transparent about your budget and see how much value an agency can offer within that range.
9. Understand Their Process and Timeline
Before you say yes to the deal, ask about their workflow, like what happens after you sign the final contract.
You need to check what their process is:
- What tools do they use for project management?
- How long will it take to complete the project?
An agency that sets clear milestones and timelines will help avoid confusion and missed deadlines. Also, ask how they will handle delays or scope changes, if any. A transparent, well-organized process is a strong sign that you’re dealing with a professional Shopify web development agency that values your time and investment.
Why Should You Hire Appco Software as Your Shopify Design Agency?
Appco Software has been serving clients from different eCommerce industries for more than a decade now. We have some of the greatest, most well-versed, and certified Shopify developers in our company. As of today, we have completed over 5000 successful projects and worked with around 1600 clients worldwide. We’ve been recognized as a trusted Shopify partner.
And this shows how skilled our team is. Most importantly, it shows our ability to make things work. So, on a positive note, we’d like to offer you our full Shopify website design services. If you’re looking for a skilled Shopify design agency, we can help. Please send us an email or call us directly, and one of our Shopify engineers will help you accordingly.
We specialize in:
- Clean, high-converting retail designs.
- Shopify Speed Optimization Services
- Mobile-first development.
- Conversion-focused product pages
- Custom features and third-party app integrations.
- eCommerce to Shopify Migration Services.
Final Say
And there you have it all. In this comprehensive guide, we have discussed how you can hire an experienced Shopify design agency. If you want us to design your store, just call us, DM us on WhatsApp, or write us an email. As a top web and app development agency in Jaipur, it’s our responsibility to provide you with a scalable and secure Shopify store. Also, unlike other agencies, we don’t speak in techy language. We keep things simple, transparent so that we can connect with you on a human level first.
FAQs
1. How much does it cost to hire a Shopify design agency?
The price can vary based on the complexity of your project. For example, if you want something very customized, in this case, the price could be a little higher. To get an estimated price, please share your complete requirement with us, and then we will let you know the price accordingly.
2. How long does it take to launch a Shopify store?
Well, it also depends on your requirements. A simple store with minimal features can take 1 week. A complex store with high-end features and custom apps might take around 4 weeks or longer.
3. What’s the difference between a Shopify theme and a custom design?
A theme is pre-built and may be used by thousands of other stores. A custom design is made specifically for your brand. It gives you more flexibility and uniqueness.
4. Do Shopify agencies also offer marketing and SEO?
Some do, especially full-service Shopify development agencies. Here at Appco Software, we also offer 360-degree marketing and SEO services to all our clients.
5. What if I already have a store but need improvements?
Well, in this case, you need Shopify store rebuild services. In this service, you will be able to revamp your existing store with a new and modern design. Appco Software also provides redesigning services, Please contact us for more details.
6. How to hire a web design and development agency?
Well, before you hire a full-service Shopify agency, you must first consider all the points described in this article. And then, you can contact the agency and give them your requirements.