Effectively launching and scaling an e-commerce store on Shopify is more than just building a website. To truly succeed, you need an experienced partner — someone who knows the details of the platform inside and out, from intricate design elements to backend development and marketing strategies. That’s where a Shopify agency comes into play.
But what exactly makes one agency better than another, and how can you ensure you’re partnering with the best Shopify agency for your store? Let’s dive into what differentiates top agencies from the rest and outline some of the best choices available today.
What is a Shopify agency, and why is it critical to choose the right one?
A Shopify agency is a specialized team of developers, designers, marketers, and strategists working together to help online store owners leverage Shopify to maximize their business potential. Choosing the right Shopify agency can be the difference between moderate growth and extraordinary success, because the best team for you will ensure optimal store performance, effective scalability, and robust customer experience management.
What makes a Shopify agency stand out?
Not all Shopify agencies are created equal. Some excel in technical execution but fall short on strategy or communication. Others may offer stunning designs yet lack scalability solutions for growing brands. Understanding what truly sets a standout Shopify agency apart can help you make a confident, informed decision for your store. From technical credentials to client collaboration, here’s what to look for when evaluating your options.
Technical expertise and certifications
When evaluating agencies, look for teams with Shopify Plus certifications. These certifications indicate that an agency possesses verified knowledge of the more advanced parts of Shopify’s platform, including headless commerce, advanced Liquid templating, complex API integrations, and robust performance optimization.
Proven track record and case studies
Quality agencies provide transparent case studies, client testimonials, and measurable results like increased conversion rates, higher order values on average, and improved sales numbers. An extensive portfolio gives you confidence that an agency has boosted the success of stores similar to yours.
Service offerings and specializations
Some Shopify agencies provide end-to-end services, while others specialize in a particular area of expertise. Consider whether you need any special offerings:
- Store setup and theme customization
- Custom app development
- SEO and PPC marketing
- Complete digital marketing campaigns
Communication and collaboration
The best Shopify agencies have clear communication, offering detailed project road maps, regular progress updates, and responsive support even after your store’s launch. Good collaboration means better results and fewer surprises along the way.
Pricing models and value
Pricing varies from fixed fees to hourly rates. When considering costs, it’s important to evaluate agencies not just by sticker price but by the expected long-term ROI, including value-added services like strategic consulting or ongoing optimization.
Ongoing support and maintenance
Post-launch support is crucial — you don’t want an agency to withdraw support right when you launch your shop. The best agencies offer continuous monitoring, performance enhancements, security updates, and optimization recommendations to ensure your store continues to perform at its peak.
Top types of Shopify agencies to consider
Depending on your store’s size, goals, and technical needs, different types of Shopify agencies may be a better fit for you. Some agencies specialize in design or marketing while others focus on enterprise-level customization or end-to-end development. Here’s a breakdown of the most common types of agencies to help guide your decision.
Shopify Plus experts
Ideal for large enterprises or rapidly growing brands, Shopify Plus experts are an excellent choice for stores that require sophisticated customizations, integrations, and scalability solutions.
Design and UX/UI-focused agencies
UX-focused agencies are perfect for brands emphasizing aesthetics, user experience, and mobile-first design.
Marketing-centric agencies
Focused heavily on SEO, PPC, social media marketing, and conversion rate optimization, agencies with a marketing-first angle are sure to drive traffic and sales.
Full-stack development partners
Full-stack development partners can provide comprehensive solutions, including complete store builds, custom apps, and complex backend integrations.
The 10 best Shopify agencies to consider
Choosing the right Shopify agency is a critical decision for any e-commerce business looking to grow and scale. A good agency acts as a strategic partner, offering expertise in design, development, marketing, and a host of other areas to help you build a successful online store.
The following are 10 of the best Shopify agencies to consider, each with its own unique strengths and specializations.
1. Swanky
As one of the first Shopify Plus partner agencies, Swanky has a long history of creating innovative, data-driven e-commerce stores for ambitious brands. It’s widely recognized for its comprehensive approach, combining creative design with strategic development and marketing.
Type of service: Swanky offers a full suite of services, including Shopify and Shopify Plus development, migration from other platforms, custom app development, conversion rate optimization, and digital marketing services including SEO, PPC, and email marketing. Its specialty is in building and optimizing stores for high-growth brands.
Target audience: Swanky primarily works with medium-to-large-sized businesses and enterprise-level merchants on Shopify Plus. It often supports ambitious brands looking for a long-term partner to help them scale and dominate their market.
2. We Make Websites
We Make Websites (WMW) is a prominent Shopify Plus agency known for its work with some of the world’s most recognizable brands. It’s a Shopify powerhouse with a strong reputation for delivering high-quality, custom e-commerce solutions.
Type of service: WMW provides a full range of services, including custom Shopify and Shopify Plus store builds, migrations, theme development, and ongoing support and maintenance. It also offers strategic services like business and UX strategies to ensure the stores it builds are not only visually appealing but also highly effective in selling.
Target audience: WMW’s clientele includes well-known brands and enterprise-level merchants who require a high degree of customization and a powerful, scalable e-commerce platform.
3. Absolute Web
Absolute Web is a full-service e-commerce agency that provides a wide range of solutions to businesses of all sizes. It’s known for its comprehensive approach to digital commerce.
Type of service: Absolute Web’s services include development, custom solutions, UI/UX design, and digital marketing. It works on the entire e-commerce ecosystem from building the initial store to implementing marketing strategies to drive traffic and sales.
Target audience: Absolute Web serves a diverse range of clients from small to large businesses and offers solutions tailored to various industries.
4. Eastside Co
As one of the original Shopify Plus Partners in the UK, Eastside Co is a veteran in the Shopify ecosystem. It’s a leading agency known for its in-house team of e-commerce specialists who deliver a full range of services.
Type of service: Eastside Co specializes in store design, development, and migration, and it also provides ongoing support. It offers performance marketing services like SEO, PPC, and email marketing, making it a one-stop shop for brands looking to build and grow on Shopify.
Target audience: Eastside Co works with a wide variety of merchants from startups to established businesses, helping them with everything from initial store launches to international expansion.
5. Ethercycle
Ethercycle is a highly specialized Shopify Plus agency that has been helping merchants since 2011. The agency has gained significant recognition not just for its client work but also for hosting the Unofficial Shopify Podcast, which has amassed millions of downloads. Its approach is focused on strategic consulting and conversion rate optimization to drive substantial revenue growth for its clients.
Type of service: Ethercycle’s services are centered around increasing conversions and revenue. The agency offers strategic consulting, custom theme design and development, store setup and migration, and merchant support. Its expertise also extends to performance marketing, including SEO, email marketing, and paid advertising. A key differentiator is its focus on conversion rate optimization, where it uses data to make informed decisions that directly impact a client’s bottom line.
Target audience: Ethercycle works with independent, stable businesses that sell their own private label products. It primarily serves mid-to-large-sized merchants on the Shopify Plus platform who are serious about scaling their businesses and are looking for a long-term strategic partner. Ethercycle typically partners with business owners who are interested in honest, data-driven advice to help them grow.
6. P3 Media
P3 Media is a full-service Shopify expert dedicated to helping businesses grow quickly and sustainably. It focuses on building high-conversion websites and implementing targeted performance marketing strategies.
Type of service: P3 Media offers a range of services designed to accelerate business growth, including high-converting website builds and targeted performance marketing campaigns. Its focus is on delivering a strong return on investment for their clients.
Target audience: P3 Media is suitable for businesses of all sizes that are looking for a growth-oriented partner. It’s a good choice for merchants who want to see quick and measurable results from their e-commerce efforts.
7. Liquify
Liquify is a highly-ranked and long-standing official Shopify expert and Shopify Plus agency. With a reputation built on data-driven performance, the agency is known for creating high-performance e-commerce sites that not only look beautiful but also convert effectively. It’s a highly trusted agency in the Shopify ecosystem.
Type of service: Liquify offers a full spectrum of services, including complete store redesigns and theme customizations, custom Shopify development, migration services, and dedicated Shopify SEO and content marketing packages. It’s particularly adept at providing monthly support retainers and offering specialized services for Shopify Plus merchants. Its design philosophy emphasizes simplicity and an intuitive user journey.
Target audience: Liquify works with a diverse clientele, ranging from startups and solopreneurs to large retail giants and enterprise-level brands on Shopify Plus. It’s a great partner for any business, regardless of size, that is looking for a data-driven approach to e-commerce and a partner with a deep understanding of the Shopify platform.
8. Charle Agency
Charle Agency is a Shopify and Shopify Plus agency that has quickly built a reputation for delivering high-quality, data-driven e-commerce solutions. They pride themselves on crafting bespoke stores that are built for growth and conversion.
Type of service: Charle’s services include custom Shopify and Shopify Plus store builds, migrations, custom app development, and ongoing support. It takes a strategic approach to e-commerce, ensuring that every aspect of the store is optimized for performance.
Target audience: Charle works with a variety of businesses from those just starting out on Shopify to large enterprises migrating to Shopify Plus. It’s a good fit for brands that prioritize a strategic approach to their online store.
9. blubolt
blubolt is an e-commerce agency that made the strategic move to focus on Shopify after previously working with a proprietary platform. This gives it a unique perspective and deep expertise in the e-commerce space.
Type of service: The agency offers a full range of services, including store design, development, and strategic consultancy. It’s particularly well-suited for businesses looking to migrate to Shopify from other platforms.
Target audience: blubolt works with ambitious brands of all sizes who want a partner with a deep understanding of the e-commerce landscape.
10. Codup
Codup is a full-service e-commerce development company with over 150 specialists. It’s known for its mission to revolutionize software development projects by delivering high-quality, agile solutions. The company specializes in solving complex problems and taking on challenges other agencies might consider impossible.
Type of service: Codup’s services include custom development, system integrations (like connecting your store to an ERP or CRM), storefront enhancements, automations, data and platform migrations, and reporting dashboards. It’s particularly strong in B2B e-commerce and specializes in building custom apps and headless commerce solutions.
Target audience: Codup primarily targets midmarket to enterprise companies, especially those in the manufacturing, distribution, industrial supply, medical, and wholesale sectors. Their services are well-suited for businesses that require custom, process-driven digital solutions and complex integrations.
How to vet and compare agencies
To find the perfect Shopify agency for your store, you’ll need a plan:
- Shortlist agencies based on client testimonials and industry reviews.
- Request detailed proposals from your shortlist outlining processes, timelines, deliverables, and relevant case studies.
- Jump on discovery calls to assess cultural fit, communication styles, and technical expertise.
- Pilot small projects like website audits or minor enhancements to evaluate the agency’s responsiveness and quality.
Introducing the Jotform Agency Partner Program
For agencies looking to extend their service offerings and drive further client success, joining the Jotform Agency Partner Program can provide significant advantages:
- Referral link sharing: Client sign-ups are easy via partner links and seamless onboarding.
- Lead submission: Agencies can submit leads, and Jotform manages the sales cycle, saving agencies valuable time.
- Comarketing opportunities: Engage in joint webinars, success stories, and promotional activities to boost the agency’s visibility.
Integrating Jotform with Shopify services empowers agencies to deliver enhanced data collection, automation, and streamlined workflows, offering a substantial competitive advantage.
Ready to choose your Shopify agency?
Choosing the right Shopify agency is critical for the sustained growth and success of your online store. With the factors outlined here, you can carefully evaluate potential partners for your shop — plus, you can consider agencies that also offer seamless integration with powerful form-building capabilities through the Jotform Agency Partner Program.
Ready to elevate your agency’s offerings? Become part of a network committed to excellence, collaboration, and growth.
This article is aimed at e-commerce entrepreneurs, online store owners, and business leaders who are considering partnering with a Shopify agency to build, optimize, or scale their store.
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