How to choose the perfect Shopify agency for ecommerce growth (Updated 2025)

Christian Armstrong, Lead Shopify Developer, Unified
3rd January 2025
The Shopify logo on a laptop with a blurred background of a modern coworking space.

Shopify has become the cornerstone of ecommerce for nearly 5 million businesses, ranging from solo sellers to enterprise brands. While it offers remarkable out-of-the-box functionality, realising its full potential requires specialised expertise.

Congratulations on deciding that Shopify is the right platform for your ecommerce business. The next step is selecting an ecommerce agency to build or migrate your store and help elevate your business to new heights. 

Choosing the right Shopify agency is almost as critical as the platform itself, as this partner can fundamentally transform your digital commerce strategy, determining whether your online store merely exists or truly excels.

What is a Shopify agency?

A Shopify agency comprises a multidisciplinary team of professionals dedicated to providing comprehensive digital commerce solutions.This means a team of specialists that can offer end-to-end support, from design and concept, to user experience to the build and ongoing support. Shopify agencies craft digital experiences that align closely with your brand's unique market positioning and commercial goals. In short: they offer complete digital transformation solutions.

Key considerations when choosing a Shopify agency

When deciding on a partner, you need to consider several key factors. Do you require a full-service agency to manage the entire process, or are you looking for assistance and consultancy to support your in-house team? Are you seeking purely development abilities, or is this an ongoing relationship that will involve post-launch digital marketing?

Technical expertise and certifications

The technical expertise and build quality of your store are pivotal in determining its performance, scalability, and user experience. Look for agencies with previous developments and demonstrable technical expertise on past projects. Key indicators of genuine expertise include: 

  • A Shopify Plus certification

  • Shopify partnership

  • Track record of successful and complex implementations

  • Deep technical understanding of Shopify's architectural capabilities

  • Proven experience across diverse industry sectors

The most effective Shopify agencies demonstrate proficiency across multiple technical domains, including advanced Liquid templating language expertise, experience with headless commerce architectures, sophisticated API integration capabilities, performance optimisation techniques, and mobile-first design philosophies. By prioritising technical knowledge, you ensure your chosen agency can navigate complex integration challenges and deliver a strategically sophisticated solution.

Comprehensive solution offerings

Your ideal partner may offer more than just development and technical grounding. An agency that can showcase its skills from conception to delivery will reassure you that every aspect of your brand will be well cared for online. Core features to look for include:

  • Bespoke theme design and development. Tailored to your brand, ensuring a unique and engaging user experience

  • Strategic ecommerce consulting. Interpreting market trends to drive your business forward

  • Performance optimisation methodologies. Ensuring your site is fast, efficient, and scalable.

  • Seamless third-party system Integrations. Integrating ERP systems, subscription solutions, and other critical tools

  • Integrated digital marketing and SEO spport. Enhancing your online visibility and driving organic traffic

  • Proactive maintenance and continuous improvement strategies. Ensuring your site remains optimised and up-to-date

These comprehensive offerings demonstrate an agency's commitment to your long-term digital success, rather than treating your project as a transactional engagement (unless that’s what you’re after, of course). Unified has delivered a broad range of complex implementations for merchants on Shopify, including full-service migration and ongoing support, for clients like House of Hackney.

Strategic partnership approach

The most valuable Shopify agencies view your engagement as an ongoing strategic partnership. They should demonstrate a genuine understanding of your business model and long-term objectives, offer proactive recommendations of innovative solutions, and have the ability to design scalable digital infrastructures. They’re also able to advise on the right service providers to help maximise your business potential and address potential challenges, such as implementing a PIM partner or other complementary technology. A commitment to continuous improvement and adaptation is also crucial, transforming the agency from a service provider to a genuine business collaborator.

Growth and digital marketing

An effective Shopify agency should integrate comprehensive digital marketing strategies into their solutions. This includes SEO support to enhance online visibility through keyword research, on-page optimisation, and tailored content creation. The agency may also specialise in social media marketing and pay-per-click advertising to build brand awareness and engage audiences, as well as email marketing to craft and optimise campaigns for better open rates and conversions. Additionally, they should provide performance analytics and reporting to track key performance indicators (KPIs) and make data-driven decisions. Content creation and management are crucial, involving the production of high-quality, engaging content that aligns with your brand's voice and messaging, and ensuring all content is up-to-date, relevant, and optimised through content management systems. 

Portfolio and case studies

A robust portfolio serves as tangible evidence of an agency's capabilities. When reviewing potential partners, conduct a thorough examination of their previous work. Look for a client portfolio showcasing adaptability, documented success within your specific industry vertical, quantifiable performance improvements and business outcomes and authentic client testimonials that reveal genuine partnership. Case studies provide insights into an agency's problem-solving approach, technical creativity, and ability to deliver measurable commercial impact.

You can view some Unified success stories here.

Unified client, The Conran Shop, Magento > Shopify migration, featured in widespread Shopify ad camapign, 2024.

Making your decision

Selecting a Shopify agency means identifying a partner who comprehends your specific business challenge and can translate strategic vision into a powerful digital solution, while being a good team to work with. The most successful partnerships extend beyond technical implementation, focusing on collaborative growth and continuous innovation.

Why choose Unified as your Shopify agency?

In today’s fast-paced digital economy, ecommerce is less an option for a business, more a necessity. With global ecommerce sales projected to exceed $7 trillion by 2026, businesses have unprecedented opportunities to reach and engage customers worldwide. Navigating the complexities of building, managing, and scaling an ecommerce store requires more than just a platform. It demands expertise, strategy, and a partner committed to your success.

As a leading Shopify agency, we specialise in helping businesses like yours unlock the full potential of the world’s most powerful ecommerce platform. Whether you’re launching your first store, migrating from another platform, or optimising for growth, our team delivers tailored solutions that position your business for sustainable success.

At Unified, we specialise in delivering nuanced Shopify solutions that transform potential into demonstrable commercial success. Our approach combines technical excellence with strategic insight, creating digital experiences that drive meaningful business outcomes. If that sounds like something we can help with, we’d love to chat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Shopify free?

Shopify is not a free platform, but offers tiered pricing structures to accommodate diverse business scales and budgetary constraints. We will be able to advise the best tier for your requirements.

Is Shopify SEO friendly?

Shopify is highly SEO-friendly, offering several built-in features to enhance your store's visibility on search engines. These include customisable metadata, automatic sitemap generation, clean and semantically structured code, and mobile optimisation frameworks. Additionally, Shopify supports SSL certification, canonical tags, and 301 redirects, all of which are crucial for SEO.

How easy is Shopify to customise for my business needs?

Very. You can choose from a comprehensive theme library or opt for bespoke theme development to tailor your store's appearance. The platform also boasts an extensive app ecosystem that allows you to add various functionalities, and advanced API connectivity for more complex customisations.

What is Shopify Plus?

Shopify Plus is an enterprise-level ecommerce platform designed for high-growth businesses. It offers advanced features process automation, enhanced customisation and enhanced integrations.

What are the benefits of choosing Shopify Plus?

Unlimited staff accounts, customisable checkout options, support for up to 200 inventory locations, priority 24/7 support and the ability to sell in 50 global markets. Additionally, it offers multi-channel selling, advanced analytics, and seamless integrations with various third-party apps and solutions.

How much does a Shopify Plus licence cost in 2025?

A Shopify Plus licence typically starts at approximately £1,750 GBP for UK-based businesses. The cost can go up depending on the business requirements.

Do you offer ongoing maintenance and support?

Yes - our relationships can be project based or we can work together to maintain and grow your Shopify ecommerce site.

Emerging trends to leverage for Shopify in 2025:

The future of ecommerce is dynamic, and staying ahead means embracing emerging trends:

  1. Social Commerce
    Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are reshaping the shopping experience. Integrating your Shopify store with these channels cab ensure seamless social selling.

  2. Mobile Optimisation
    With mobile commerce accounting for 43% of ecommerce sales, a good Shopify agency will ensure your store is fully optimised for mobile devices, delivering a superior shopping experience on any screen.

  3. AI and Personalization
    From tailored product recommendations to automated customer support, expert Shopify agencies can use Shopify’s AI tools to create personalised experiences that delight customers and drive repeat purchases.

  4. Flexible Payment Options
    Offering payment flexibility is essential. Tools like Shopify’s Shop Pay Installments can help you reduce cart abandonment and increase average order value.

What sets our Shopify expertise apart?

Our agency isn’t just about building websites. It’s about crafting digital experiences that convert visitors into loyal customers. We understand that your Shopify store is the cornerstone of your business, and we’re here to ensure it performs seamlessly, scales effortlessly, and stands out in a competitive market.

Here’s what makes us the partner of choice for businesses looking to thrive on Shopify:

  1. Strategic approach
    We don't just build Shopify stores. We design strategies. By understanding your business goals, target audience, and unique challenges, we create a roadmap tailored to your growth. Our team aligns your Shopify store with your broader business objectives, ensuring every element drives measurable impact.

  2. Comprehensive services
    From design and development to marketing and ongoing support, we offer end-to-end Shopify solutions. Whether you need a bespoke theme, seamless third-party integrations, or advanced performance optimisation, our team ensures every aspect of your store is expertly handled.

  3. Technical excellence
    Shopify’s capabilities are vast, but unlocking its full potential requires deep technical expertise. Our certified Shopify developers excel in advanced Liquid templating, API integrations, headless commerce, and mobile-first design. We deliver beautiful ecommerce stores that are fast, scalable, and future-ready.

  4. Long-term partnership
    We’re not just a service provider; we’re a strategic partner. Our team is committed to your ongoing success, offering proactive recommendations, performance monitoring, and continuous optimisation to keep your store ahead of the curve.

How we help businesses succeed on Shopify:

Our track record speaks for itself. As a trusted Shopify agency, we’ve worked with businesses across industries to create ecommerce stores that combine stunning design with powerful functionality.

1. Seamless store setup
Launching your first store? We guide you through every step of the process, from selecting the right Shopify plan to designing a visually compelling storefront that reflects your brand’s identity.

2. Platform migrations
Migrating to Shopify from another platform can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. We handle complex migrations, ensuring your data, design, and functionality transition smoothly, minimising downtime and maximising performance.

3. Custom development
Your business is unique, and your Shopify store should be too. Our custom development services deliver bespoke themes, tailored features, and integrations that align with your brand and enhance the user experience.

4. Marketing and growth support
A successful Shopify store isn’t just about great design. it’s about driving traffic and converting visitors. Our team integrates marketing tools, implements SEO best practices, and crafts strategies to ensure your store gets seen and generates sales.

5. Ongoing Maintenance and Optimisation
The ecommerce landscape evolves rapidly, and your store needs to keep up. From performance optimisation to feature updates, we provide continuous support to keep your Shopify store running smoothly and meeting customer expectations.

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Want us to help grow your business?

Give us a call, jump on a chat or come by our office in London. Our door is always open.

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