When you’re starting a new online e-commerce store, you’re going to be asked to make a lot of decisions pretty quickly.
If you’ve come aboard to Shopify, one of those decisions is pretty straightforward but critical:
Should you use a pre-built theme, or invest in a Shopify custom design?
Pre-built Shopify themes are, admittedly, pretty convenient, especially if you’re still in the “idea testing” stage or have only a few simple products to sell. Pre-built themes will run up a smaller tab than the cost of a custom Shopify store. If you’re looking for the less expensive, fastest solution, then a template theme might be the right option for you.
If you’re committed to success, there are a few other things to consider when launching an e-commerce store on Shopify, aside from speed:
Appearance & Branding
Branding is one of the most critical aspects of any successful business. It’s what builds a following, engenders loyalty, and creates raving fans. To some degree, all products and services can be copied or imitated...but branding is unique. Your brand is what sets you apart from competitors in your space.
As you work to develop a unique brand that attracts loyal customers, why have a website that looks just like a bunch of others? Shopify customization options are restricted in pre-built themes, and you may find yourself quickly frustrated by the limitations hemming in your creativity.
A gifted Shopify designer can work with you to find the best way of expressing your brand with a custom Shopify store.
Customization
Pre-built Shopify themes are limited in the amount of customization offered. Add-ons and plug-ins can bring in some functionality, but the site may lose its flow. This can start to look patched together without brand consistency throughout.
A custom Shopify theme, on the other hand, is built to match your unique needs and specifications. If your product offerings become more complex, chances are a pre-built theme won’t be able to keep up.
Scalability
So you’ve got a great product, you’ve worked hard to build a brand and a loyal following, your marketing is on point, and your sales are rocketing into the sky. YEAH!
Starting a new e-store is exciting! There’s a lot to consider, from branding to value propositions to product sourcing, payment gateways, marketing, social media, customer service and so much more. If you’re curious to see how a custom Shopify design could pay off for your business model in the long run, contact us. Tako is a Shopify design and development agency, which means we live and breathe all things Shopify. We're happy to walk you through the cost and process for building out a custom Shopify theme.
(Check out Jordana Cosmetics - this is a fully custom Shopify template that was built by Tako Agency.)
Happy building!
