You may have heard of CMS tools if you want to start creating an online store. And you are probably considering using one of the most popular tools today, Shopify . But… What is Shopify?
What is Shopify?
Shopify is a CMS tool , that is, an e-commerce platform used by both companies and individuals to create virtual stores. Shopify.com is a Canadian company founded in 2004 when Lütke, one of its founders and a computer programmer, created an e-commerce software . However, in 2009, it launched an API for the platform and the App Store, leading to unprecedented growth. In 2020, the growth of the tool began to rise: the platform's revenue was around 2,422 million euros, which translates into a growth of 86%, which increased subscription revenue by 41%, according to data provided by Marketing4Ecommerce . Thanks to Black Friday and Cyber Monday campaigns, the average shopping cart price in 2011 rose from €59.52 (2020) to €71.64. In addition, Shopify, aware of the fact that cross-border businesses were prominent (29% of total orders), translated this situation into Shopify Markets , a tool that promotes the internationalization of online minority businesses so that they can market from anywhere in the world. Shopify has recently acquired e-commerce fulfillment provider Deliverr for a reported €2 billion. Using Delieverr, it is possible to position products according to demand estimates. Shopify believes that the more independent businesses there are, the better the economic system works. For this reason, the Canadian company, in collaboration with the auditing and management firm Deloitte, wrote a report called “The Shopify Effect .” The report states that companies that have used Shopify as a CMS platform managed to create a total of five million jobs, generating more than €421 billion in 2021. This growth has led Shopify to become the second company with the highest revenue volume. Similarly, merchants belonging to Shopify invoiced more than €23 billion in cross-border goods and services in 2021. Finally, the group of partners that make up the platform generated 656,000 jobs and more than €30 billion in revenue in 2021. From 2022 to 2024, Shopify has continued to expand and strengthen its position in the global e-commerce market. In 2022, Shopify's revenue exceeded €3.5 billion, maintaining a solid growth rate. The company has continued to innovate with new features, including advanced AI tools for commerce personalization and improved customer experience. Shopify Plus, the platform’s version geared toward larger businesses, has gained traction, attracting big-name brands looking for a convenient solution for their businesses. The integration of Deliverr has allowed Shopify to offer a more complete fulfillment solution, improving delivery times. In 2023, Shopify launched a series of updates focused on sustainability and green commerce, allowing businesses to measure and reduce their carbon footprint. This initiative has been well received in terms of global awareness of environmental sustainability. Shopify Markets adoption has continued to grow, making it easier for merchants to expand their operations internationally. By 2023, the percentage of cross-border orders fulfilled through Shopify exceeded 35%. Shopify has strengthened its partner ecosystem, with over 1 million active partners in 2024. These partners provide apps, themes, and services that enrich the platform’s functionality, significantly contributing to merchants’ success. The Shopify Effect indicates that by 2023, businesses using Shopify have generated over €500 billion in global economic activity and created over 6 million jobs. This continued growth underscores Shopify’s position as a key pillar in the global e-commerce ecosystem.Shopify Features
- More than 1,500 different templates to design your ecommerce.
- Advanced support for unlimited products.
- AI integration to optimize prices.
- Custom shipping costs.
- Advanced reporting and analytics.
- Improved abandoned cart recovery.
- Multi-channel sales integration.
- Shopify Markets Pro.
- Support for cryptocurrencies and digital payments.
- Improved support for mobile apps.
- AI-powered customer service solutions.
Advantages of Shopify
Knowing the features of Shopify and the advantages offered by the platform will help you discover if this tool fits the needs of your e-commerce.Advantages
- Programming knowledge : it is not necessary to know about design or programming, the platform has these types of functionalities integrated.
- Security and reliability : includes a free SSL certificate, guaranteeing a secure connection from your website.
- Fraud Protection – Shopify takes security and vulnerability backup seriously.
- Multilingual ecommerce : If you intend to have your store operational in countries that speak different languages, Shopify offers this option.
- Payment currency : In the same way that you can select the multi-language option, the platform allows you to sell products in a wide variety of currencies.
- Unlimited storage space – e-stores need sufficient storage space, this feature is available in all plans of this CMS.
- 24/7 technical support : In addition to the easy handling of the platform, it is necessary to have a good technical response at any time, so that your website is not affected.
- Mobile app : Shopify also has a mobile app for the platform, allowing easy and convenient access.
Selling on Shopify step by step
1 - Sign up for Shopify
Log in to the platform with an email address. This should be an account you use frequently, as this is how Shopify will frequently contact you.
2 - Configure your store's basic data
Configure your store settings : Shopify gives you the ability to customize your online store to best suit your needs. Here you'll need to manage the following:- General : Store data
- Payments : Select different payment methods such as PayPal, credit card, alternative payments, etc.
- Checkout Process : You can configure options such as offering the customer registration in our online store, invoice format, refund policies, and privacy policy.
- Shipping : shipping zones or package types.
- Notifications : what kind of notifications will your ecommerce customers receive?
- Files : to upload the images, videos or documents that you are going to use on your website to the platform.
- Sales channels : you can include social networks, mobile apps or physical stores.
- Account – Here you can select account management, permissions, access or store status.
- Billing : In this section you can manage invoice information.
3 - Create your custom domain
When you create your online store with Shopify, a domain name is automatically generated. If you want to change it, you must go to the sales channels option, select the online store and choose the domain name option.4 - Design your store
Once you've made the general and basic changes to your ecommerce, it's time to adjust the design so that it best suits your online store. You have free and paid options, since Shopify is a freemium tool . However, if you have knowledge of CSS, you can use it as well.
5 - Add your products
Once you have your website's look and feel set, start adding products to your store. To do this, select the Products section and then Add Products. Each product will have its own tab that displays the Product Name, Unique Description, Price, Inventory, and Image.
6 - Analyze your store's results
The store is now ready to use, but Shopify also offers you the option to view statistics about your online business and the orders you receive, in order to improve the store's results.
Shopify pricing
Shopify currently offers a free 14-day demo , which is intended to familiarize you with the platform and evaluate whether it is the most suitable solution for your online store. Once the trial period is over, the price of Shopify varies depending on the plan chosen:- Basic Plan (28.81 euros per month): you can create unlimited categories and products and 2 employee accounts.
- Shopify Plan (€78.49 per month): up to 5 employee accounts and you can create ecommerce performance reports.
- Advanced Plan (297.06 euros per month): ideal for large companies, providing up to 15 employee accounts.
What is Shopify Plus?
Due to the exponential growth of the platform, Shopify is working to improve and offer customers a better service that fits the needs of each type of business. The original platform is focused on small and medium-sized businesses. In this way, Shopify is launching a new e-commerce option for brands with high transaction volumes with Shopify Plus . This option means that large businesses can access Shopify or, if they have grown during this period of time, they do not have to leave the platform due to increased turnover. To do this, Shopify Plus offers all the features of the original platform and, additionally, you will have access to Project Manager, Account Manager and Priority Support.5 examples of Shopify stores
VOGUE
Vogue.es is one of the main brands working in Spain with the Shopify platform:
MEDIAMARKT CANARIAS
Another company that heads the list of large companies that are betting on the robustness of the CMS tool we are talking about is MediaMarkt Canarias:
SEVILLE FC
We can also find official websites selling sports products. Sevilla FC is betting on the Shopify platform to manage its sales to the public more easily.
TOUS
The brands that work with this tool vary in content and form. In this case, the well-known brand TOUS is one of the companies that trust their e-commerce to Shopify.
KARA
Kara is another fashion store that has joined the Shopify platform to manage the sale of clothing and accessories for men and women.
