Choosing the right platform for your e-commerce business is essential and the difference is key. For businesses considering Shopify, one question often arises: should you stick with Shopify or upgrade to Shopify Plus? The key Shopify difference depends on your business‘s unique needs and growth trajectory.
Visual Identity specialises in delivering exceptional solutions for both Shopify and Shopify Plus. Whether you need a budget-friendly off-the-shelf solution or a fully bespoke platform, our expertise ensures your store aligns with your goals, budget, and brand.
In this article we explore the key Shopify differences, benefits, and why our approach ensures your online store thrives – no matter its scale.
Shopify vs Shopify Plus explored
The key Shopify differences – when Shopify is best
Shopify is an excellent platform for startups and smaller businesses. It offers a reliable, cost-effective foundation to build your online presence and grow your business. Whereas, Shopify Plus is designed for businesses experiencing high sales volumes, managing multiple stores, or looking to create truly customised experiences for their customers. Shopify Plus provides enterprise-level features and the ability to fully customise your checkout experience. It also includes dedicated Merchant Success Managers to provide ongoing guidance and support, ensuring your store remains optimised as your business evolves.
One of the key Shopify differences lies in the level of customisation and control. While Shopify offers robust features for designing and managing an e-commerce store, Shopify Plus allows businesses to manage multiple storefronts and staff accounts, making it the ideal choice for businesses operating on a larger scale or in international markets.
However, the main benefit of Shopify Plus is that high-volume merchants have the ability to negotiate better merchant fees and card rates. For those with high-volume sales transactions, these lower processing costs can result in significant savings annually – making Shopify Plus an excellent choice for scaling businesses looking to optimise their expenses.
Shopify ideal for start-ups and small businesses
- Shopify is ideal for startups and small businesses looking for a cost-effective, scalable platform
- Shopify provides great customisation within its themes and apps
- Pricing: Shopify’s plans are cost-effective for small businesses.
Shopify Plus delivers advanced features for large-scale operations
- Shopify Plus is designed for high-growth businesses, offering enterprise-level features and flexibility to handle complex needs
- Shopify Plus offers deeper control, including access to a script editor for advanced customisation
- Customisable Checkout: Fully brand your checkout experience
- Unlimited Staff Accounts: Perfect for managing large teams
- Dedicated Support and Resources with access to a dedicated Merchant Success Manager and exclusive tools
- Shopify Plus starts at $2,000/month, offering significant ROI for high-volume businesses.
The key Shopify Plus differences – when to upgrade
For many businesses, the decision to upgrade comes down to growth and scale. If your store experiences high traffic, requires complex integrations, or faces operational challenges like managing international markets, Shopify Plus provides the tools you need to meet these demands. While Shopify’s tiered plans remain a cost-effective solution for smaller operations, the enhanced functionality and ROI offered by Shopify Plus make it a worthwhile investment for businesses with greater ambitions.
An upgrade to Shopify Plus is ideal if your store:
- Handles high traffic and sales volumes
- Requires advanced customisations or international scaling
- Faces complex operational challenges like multi-store management
- Needs enterprise-level security and performance
Visual Identity’s expertise: The key Shopify Plus development difference we bring!
Visual Identity brings a level of expertise that ensures our clients get the most from Shopify and Shopify Plus. For businesses requiring complex solutions, we have delivered exceptional results with Shopify Plus. Our work with Michael Jones Jewellers, for example, resulted in a fully bespoke, scalable e-commerce platform designed to meet the needs of their luxury clientele. Similarly, our award-winning work with Barker Shoes showcased our ability to create innovative, highly customised solutions. The success of this project earned us multiple national awards, including E-commerce Agency of the Year.
- Michael Jones Jewellers: With Shopify Plus, we delivered a fully bespoke, scalable e-commerce platform that caters to their luxury clientele.
- Barker Shoes: Our Shopify Plus expertise earned us numerous national awards, including E-commerce Agency of the Year. We combined innovative design, custom functionality, and seamless integrations to elevate Barker Shoes’ online presence and drive growth.
Award-winning Shopify Plus solutions
Shopify off-the-shelf solutions that deliver without compromise
For clients who don’t require bespoke development but still need impactful solutions, our enhancements to off-the-shelf Shopify templates have transformed their businesses. Brands like ZooHause, Kazoop, and Endure Max have benefited from our attention to detail and expertise. ZooHause’s Shopify store became a trusted destination for home goods, while Kazoop’s migration from Magento 2 allowed them to achieve a cost-effective, user-friendly solution just in time for Black Friday. Endure Max saw their Shopify template refined to create a seamless shopping experience, driving customer satisfaction and conversions. These examples highlight our ability to elevate standard Shopify builds into something truly remarkable.
For businesses that do not require bespoke solutions, we’ve transformed their online presence with high-quality off-the-shelf Shopify templates for impactful business-changing solutions:
- ZooHause: We enhanced their Shopify store with meticulous branding and functionality improvements, making it a trusted destination for home goods.
- Kazoop: After migrating from Magento 2, we delivered a cost-effective, user-friendly Shopify solution just in time for Black Friday, boosting sales and reducing operational costs.
- Endure Max: By refining an off-the-shelf Shopify template, we optimised their site for conversions, creating a seamless shopping experience that increased customer satisfaction.
For these clients, our attention to detail and expertise in Shopify’s framework made all the difference – proving you don’t need a fully bespoke build to achieve significant results.
Why our clients choose Visual Identity?
Visual Identity brings a level of expertise that ensures our clients get the most from Shopify and Shopify Plus. For businesses requiring complex solutions, we have delivered exceptional results with Shopify Plus. Our work with Michael Jones Jewellers, for example, resulted in a fully bespoke, scalable e-commerce platform designed to meet the needs of their luxury clientele. Similarly, our award-winning work with Barker Shoes showcased our ability to create innovative, highly customised solutions. The success of this project earned us multiple national awards, including E-commerce Agency of the Year.
Our approach is always tailored to the unique needs of the businesses we work with. For clients seeking bespoke solutions, our extensive experience ensures every element of their store is designed to their exact requirements, delivering platforms that are both functional and visually stunning. For businesses like Kids Shoe Den. opting for off-the-shelf solutions, we add significant value by customising designs, improving functionality, and optimising the user experience to create impactful results without the cost of full bespoke development.
As a family-run business, we understand the challenges and aspirations of owner-managing directors of SMEs. We share your entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to excellence, which is why we excel at building strong, collaborative partnerships. We’re uniquely positioned to deliver practical, ROI-focused solutions that not only meet but exceed your expectations.
Bespoke development meets cost-effective solutions
We deliver London agency-quality solutions, combining top-tier expertise and knowledge, all at more accessible, out-of-town rates. Whether you need a tailored platform or enhancements to an off-the-shelf solution, our approach maximises Shopify’s potential for your business:
- For off-the-shelf solutions: We go beyond the basics, adding unique branding, functionality, and UX improvements to help your store stand out.
- For bespoke projects: Our extensive experience ensures every detail of your store is tailored to your exact requirements, delivering a platform that scales with your business.
The family business difference
As a family-run agency, we understand the needs of owner-managing directors of SMEs. We share your entrepreneurial spirit, making us the perfect partner for:
- Building strong, collaborative relationships.
- Offering practical, ROI-focused solutions.
- Delivering a personal touch that aligns with your vision and values.
Are you ready to elevate your online store?
Whether you’re launching your first store or scaling with Shopify Plus, Visual Identity delivers the key Shopify differences and has the expertise, creativity, and personal touch to help your business thrive.
To learn more about how we can help you, contact us today at hello@visualidentity.co.uk and let’s start building your e-commerce success story together.
At Visual Identity, we combine Shopify expertise with award-winning creativity to deliver e-commerce solutions that drive results—whether you’re launching your first store or scaling with Shopify Plus.
📧 Contact us today to discuss your needs and learn how our team can help your business thrive.
👉 Email us: hello@visualidentity.co.uk
#ShopifyExperts #ShopifyPlus #EcommerceSolutions #BespokeDevelopment #SMEBusiness #FamilyBusiness #EcommerceAgencyOfTheYear
By Jacqui Newham (Wilkins), Visual Identity Managing Director
