Top 15 Australian Shopify Web Designers and Developers

Shopify is one of the top eCommerce platforms and its popularity is growing rapidly. One of the advantages we identified in our Shopify review is that it has an intuitive interface and it’s easy enough for novices to use. There are also user forums to go to for help on the Shopify website and website tutorials at the Shopify help center.

So you may ask, why are we giving you recommendations for Experts to help you set up your online store using Shopify software?

Why choose a Shopify expert?

There are several reasons. Not everyone wants to design or develop their own storefront and populate it with their products. Some people don’t have the time and others don’t have the design experience or even minimal technical ability. Yet others just want to focus on the retail aspects of their business and leave the online part of “online store” to someone else.

If this sounds like you, read on for our recommendations of Shopify Experts who can help you in creating your new online store or transitioning your existing one onto the Shopify platform. All of these experts reside in Australia and have gone through a selection process by Shopify to attain their official accreditation.

Which one to choose?

As you may need help with only part of the process – for example, you may want to design your own store, but not to set it up yourself – here is a breakdown of the different categories of experts and the services they provide.

• Design – create the look and feel of your store; incorporate your brand
• Setup – setup a basic store from an existing theme and customize the theme
• Development – created an app for the app store or build custom store from scratch
• Marketing – create marketing campaigns, usually digital, which may include social media strategies
• Photography – take photos for your online store, primarily of your products

Many of these Shopify Experts are skilled in several categories and some offer web services beyond Shopify ones, which may fulfill other web development needs you have.

The Heavy Hitters

Blackbelt Commerce

Blackbelt Commerce, formerly known as the Shopify Ninjas, does nothing other than developing Shopify stores. They’re upfront about who their clients should be – if you’re in a hurry or on a very tight budget, then another agency would be a better fit for you.

Blackbelt Commerce offers the full range of Shopify services— setup, design, development, marketing, and photography. They’ve also created plugins for bilingual stores, an auto country selector and an HTML email template to replace the text one that is the Shopify default.

The Working Party

The Working Party, a boutique web design, and development company has been working with Shopify since 2012. The company states that it’s “fast, agile, creative, pragmatic,” and eCommerce is just one of the digital services it offers.

The Working Party works with clients to move their eCommerce and point of sale systems to Shopify: it doesn’t say whether they also build Shopify stores from scratch, though they are setup experts.

Elkfox

Elkfox is an agency that has two specialties – Shopify and MailChimp. Their Shopify experience is in both the retail and wholesale areas, and the company is very experienced in custom theme design.

They supplement their Shopify services with product photography, and they also have an app that will help with integrated email. ElkFox’s website is a little confusing to use as all the navigation is in the off-screen footer, and some of the links just go to the contact page.

Leafcutter

Leafcutter Creative Digital is a creative e-commerce and communication solutions provider. Shopify is just one of five areas of expertise in this company, but the common thread is a results-driven digital strategy.

Leafcutter has been working with the Shopify platform since 2012 and specifies the industries they’re involved with as not-for-profits, pharma, and education. They start with strategy and then will build you a store – from a basic one to a fully customized, integrated shop.

The Marketing Gurus

Reload Media

Reload Media have been Shopify Experts since October 2016, and their focus is on delivering digital marketing campaigns for your eCommerce business. Their website doesn’t say if they actually build Shopify stores, but their digital services to support your online business include SEO, pay per click advertising, social media strategy, conversion rate optimization, and email marketing.

30 Acres

30 Acres provide the full range of Shopify services— setup, design, development, and marketing—plus proven expertise in digital marketing strategy and execution. Their Rules (that is, their business philosophy) is upfront on their website, so you can see what they stand for.

30 Acres has many detailed eCommerce case studies on their website, on the Shopify page. The company is experienced in developing custom themes as well as custom apps for their clients.

Design Champs

The Hope Factory

We can’t tell you much about The Hope Factory and Shopify because there is not lots of information on their website. eCommerce is only one of five digital services they offer: design and development and conversion optimization are among the others.

There’s a store in which you can purchase a Shopify coaching-by-the-hour package and a Shopify store setup package, both for a specified dollar amount, but no information as to what you get.

Yarn Digital

Yarn Digital has been a Shopify Expert since June 2015, and offer five digital services, one of which is eCommerce. The company is qualified as a design and setup Shopify Expert, but their website doesn’t give any details about their skills beyond saying that the online stores they create can sell ice to Eskimos.

Yarn Digital does have some heavy-hitting clients, such as Lululemon and Sony Music, that have used their design services.

Seventyfour Design

Seventyfour Design specializes in custom digital experiences and brand development that will take your business to the next level. This agency has five years experience offering design, development, and setup Shopify services, as well as photography of your products.

They’ll work with you on your brand identity and make sure it’s reflected in your custom theme design. There are no useful examples of their work on their website – just screenshots.

White Flag Studio

White Flag surrenders all their skills, knowledge and expertise to you. And there’s a picture of the founder of this company identifying all the ways his body parts and tools help in doing this. White Flag is a multi-purpose studio, and eCommerce is just one of seven digital services offered.

You need to work through all the screenshots of work done to find which are Shopify design and setup solutions and contact the studio to get any more information.

All Around Awesome

Disco Labs

Disco Labs lives for Shopify. They have had extensive experience on the Shopify platform – they’ve run their own stores on Shopify, designed custom themes, and built custom apps. In addition, Disco Labs have published Shopify books and courses, one of which is in partnership with Shopify.

Their focus now is on helping high volume businesses make the transition to Shopify Plus. Don’t be put off by their basic website – these guys know what they’re doing.

Createur

If their own website is a guide, Createur has a minimalist philosophy to “helping people flourish in the digital age.” Createur is an independent digital agency, and Shopify Experts in design, development, setup and marketing.

There’s not much information in their three visually-stunning web pages. You have to browse through the examples of their work (but they do explain what services they performed for each client) and then contact them.

Do Commerce

Do Commerce are eCommerce experts who specialize in Shopify. And they do everything Shopify and have done since 2012. The company builds stores of all sizes, customizing both themes and functionality.

They’re experienced in integrating Shopify stores with 3rd-party apps and software and are well-versed in marketing and advertising, including Google Adwords and Facebook advertising. To complete the package, Do Commerce also offers ongoing Shopify support. This is a full start-to-finish company, with an excellent blog.

Setup and Tweaks

Shopify StartUp

Shopify Startup does just that, gets your online store up and running. The owner of this company operates nine Shopify stores of his own, so he’s been through all the problems that may occur and can help with everything from your initial thoughts to ideas about profitability.

Shopify Startup offers three levels of service: Basic for up to 20 products; Better for up to 100 products; and Custom. This company may fit your budget if you’re just starting out with a small store.

Insider Media Group

The Insider Media Group is a boutique agency that offers a range of digital services, of which eCommerce is one. The Group has been a Shopify expert since March 2016 and is accredited for setup and marketing.

Their setup is the full range, from tweaking a template to custom design or migrating an existing store. Marketing includes SEO and social media and PR. Insider Media group will also train you on Shopify if you need help.