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A strong Shopify website can make or break your online store. With so many options, it can become a real feat to stand out.
And yet, some truly spectacular sites rise above the crowd. I’ve been able to learn from these havens of design and marketing and narrow down a few key lessons that you can take forward to your own Shopify designs.
If you want to be great, it never hurts to learn from the greats.
Ketnipz
Harry Hambley's character Bean started as a doodle but quickly became an Instagram sensation. Posting puns and colorful characters, @Ketnipz spread positive vibes that caught millions' attention online.
Hambley was even able to use this internet stardom to break into art festivals, where he started selling merch. However, it makes sense that if your following is online, your store should be too!
Harry's designs have been turned into fun, fashionable merch to bring fans a little bit of Bean's cuteness into their lives. From t-shirts and sweatshirts to accessories and more, you can find all of Bean's merch on the Ketnipz Shopify store.
What Works
The bright colors and eye-catching graphics on this storefront draw in Bean’s fans and leave them feeling excited. Who isn’t intrigued by that neon pink, or flame decals?
If your brand has a clear-cut identity like @Ketniz, use that to infuse every inch of your Shopify store with personality and pizzazz!
Tentree
Dave and Kalen wanted to go beyond simply providing eco-friendly products when they started their company. Their biggest goal with Tentree was to create a significant ecological impact.
For each and every item sold on their storefront, they plant ten trees. To date, that’s added up to over 50 million - and they plan to do even more.
Through their commitment to environmental stewardship, they are helping foster a brighter future for generations to come, something that is clear on their site and resonates with their audience.
What Works
Caring about something that your customers care about is not only a moral decision, it also makes good business. Studies show that 70% of customers want to engage with brands that share their values.
If you understand your demographic and what matters to them, you’ll be able to build brand loyalty while supporting a cause you care about, truly a win-win.
Artisaire
Artisaire is owned and operated by the Thomsen family, and they are fully devoted to the craft of wax sealing. They own each step of the production process, creating all the products in their Canadian factory.
Not only does Artisaire provide customers with beautiful, creative stamps and seals, but they practice what they preach. Each order comes with a personal thank-you note, sealed by hand!
They understand that wax sealing is more than just a business, it's a tradition. That's why Artisaire is one of the most beautiful, well-trusted storefronts on Shopify.
What Works
The team at Artisaire knows that details matter. You can see the same craftsmanship in their storefront as they use in their product. With a clean, precise font, uniform colors, and due attention given to every corner of the site, it’s obvious that any customer coming to the store is in good hands.
Terre Bleu
Terre Bleu offers a glimpse into the Bairds' world. From their rural estate in Milton, Ontario, they bring a little slice of the slow life right to your door!
The store features locally-made, lavender-infused beauty, household, and food products, all designed to bring a calming energy into your home. Terre Bleu is designed to be a refreshing break from everyday life, and it’s clear from the store design that you’ll find what you’re after.
What Works
Terre Bleu isn’t just selling household products, it’s selling an experience. Everything from the photos of a rustic storefront to the DIY blog is designed to give visitors the experience of a small-town, cottage-core dream.
Beefcake Swimwear
Mel Wells spent over two years of hard work and dedication to create and launch Beefcake Swimwear, a line of sustainable and ethically-made fashionable pieces inspired by the 1920s. Working with people in Portland, Oregon, the company ensures that everyone involved is paid a living wage.
To back up this commitment to quality, Mel has also shared information about the exact cost of manufacturing each item in the line. Transparency is key.
What Works
Being upfront with your customers about manufacturing costs and profit might seem like a counterintuitive way to make a splash. However, the trust this builds encourages brand loyalty and gets people excited about the artisans they’re supporting with each purchase.
Kulala
Dr. Sofia Axelrod's innovative Kulala Sleep Lamp is her company's defining success story. This cutting-edge technology helps individuals get better quality sleep by synchronizing the body's natural circadian rhythms.
With its accompanying smartphone app, people can take a much-needed break from screen time and enjoy a restful and comfortable sleep.
What Works
Instead of trying to provide tons and tons of ways for people to engage with their storefront, Kulala knows the value of their product. A simple, clean design allows the lap itself to shine, and there’s no need for hacky sales tactics.
Cowboy
Cowboy understands that an online purchase of an ebike is a big commitment. To give customers the confidence to purchase, they developed a comprehensive e-commerce experience that offers the opportunity to virtually explore the bike and see for themselves why it's worth the investment.
With high-quality video and photos featured on the homepage and throughout their Shopify store, customers can get an up close and personal look at the bike, and even book a free test ride to get a feel of it for themselves before committing!
What Works
Having quality content on your site like videos and photos shows confidence in your product. People will have an easier time getting invested in your brand if there are many sleek promotional materials to look through.
This focus on content allows Cowboy to keep the rest of their site’s design simple and straight to the point.
Cocofloss
Cocofloss is all about making dental hygiene fun. Their products feature new, yummy flavors like Fresh Mint or Passion Fruit, beautiful colors, and unique designs to keep oral care exciting.
Perfect for those who have no interest in sticking to the same old routine in their bathroom (or their marketing) Cocofloss is looking to brighten up your brushing and flossing experience.
What Works
In the same vein as their products, Cocofloss’ site features fun, creative design along with easy-to-navigate utility. It really is the best of both worlds.
Don’t be afraid to make bold choices with your branding, so long as the navigation and important information are as simple as brushing your teeth.
Loot Crate
Loot Crate is the ultimate subscription for any geek, gamer, or nerd that loves to collect. Every box is filled with exclusive and fun items, from collectibles to t-shirts, inspired by favorite characters, films, and games.
Not only do they provide fan-sourced items, they also give subscribers the chance to activate exclusive online content. Plus, they've established a community where swag-collecting fans can come together and share their crates.
What Works
There’s no denying that Loot Crate has found its niche. With a clear understanding of their core audience, they’re able to make bold site design decisions that will keep customers engaged.
If you have a clear demographic, don’t be afraid to deck out your site and brand with things targeted specifically to them.
TPMOCS
TPMOCS is passionate about helping Indigenous communities in need, which is why they team up with diverse tribes to create meaningful and stylish baby footwear.
Maria Running Fisher Jones, the founding partner, created TPMOCS to uphold her mother's importance of celebrating her Indigenous roots. They have workspaces in California, Washington, and Montana to work with the Blackfeet tribe.
What Works
The moment people engage with this storefront, they can see the strong and definitive brand story that TPMOCS carries. With prominent “our tribe” and “our story” tabs, it’s clear that the history of the product is just as important as the shoes themselves.
If your brand has a unique story to tell, don’t shy away from telling it. The more connected your customers feel, the more invested they will be in return.
Manitobah Mukluks
Manitobah Mukluks is a proudly Canadian company with cultural roots that stretch back centuries! Established in 1997 by Métis entrepreneur Sean McCormick, Manitobah Mukluks is based in - you guessed it - Manitoba and have plenty of footwear collections on offer!
If you're looking for something timeless and meaningful, they have they Storyboot Project Collection, made in partnership with Indigenous elders and artisans. For those who are on a budget or who want to add a more modern vibe to their wardrobe, the company has a great selection of footwear designed and crafted internationally as well!
What Works
On the opposite end of the spectrum from a company like Kulala, Manitobah Mukluks thrives on a diverse offering. Instead of focusing solely on their high-end products, they have a variety of options for different budgets and needs.
This attracts a far wider audience and ensures that anyone visiting their site can feel seen.
Allbirds
Tim Brown and Zoey Zwillinger are the "dynamic duo" behind the innovative footwear brand Allbirds. Their sustainable and natural materials, such as wool and eucalyptus, combined with their simple designs have made this a stand-out stores on Shopify.
Allbirds combines a commitment to sustainability with comfort and style for fashionable footwear that you can feel good about. Plus, their eco-friendly packaging is made of 90% post-consumer recycled cardboard.
What Works
You can see the personality of these shoes on every page of Allbird’s website. With a talented and experienced team of designers behind the screen, it’s no wonder why it’s so fun to look at.
If you can invest in a clean, design-focused storefront, you’re likely to inspire confidence in your brand right off the bat.
Flourist
Flourist's carefully sourced grains, beans, and freshly milled flours give baking enthusiasts an exciting experience to explore. Every brand and type of product they sell is 100% traceable, making sure customers know exactly how their products are sourced.
Additionally, customers can learn more about the farmers who grew their ingredients by reading stories on the website.
What Works
You know that your products deserve time to shine. By giving each one a page for itself with all the information anyone could want, you’re showing your customers their value.
Flourist knows that they provide luxury products, and take the time to explain what makes each of their flours special.
Verve Coffee Roasters
In 2007, three friends, Mike Eyre, Ryan O’Donovan, and Colby Barr, started a coffee shop in Santa Cruz, California called Verve. They had a straightforward mission to source beans from farms that used sustainable growing practices.
Fast-forward to today, and the trio’s coffee shop has grown into a multifaceted business, with over a dozen retail locations, a flourishing wholesale distribution arm, and an online shop.
To ensure sustainability, Verve launched the Farmlevel Initiative, dedicated to preserving heirloom coffee varieties, managing nurseries, and paying fair prices to coffee farmers.
What Works
No matter how much Verve grew over the years, or how diverse their offerings were, they kept their mission at the core of what they did. You can see the influence of California in the design of the storefront, as well as the core values the brand was built on in their continued sustainability work.
As your company grows and shifts, it’s important to stay connected to your roots. Customers can see the integrity and sincerity that this kind of focus brings.
Chocolate Alchemy
John Nanci's Chocolate Alchemy provides more than just the highest quality cacao beans - it's a haven of information and education.
From the initial process of shopping for beans to in-depth lessons on turning them into delicious bars of chocolate, the team at Chocolate Alchemy helps arm even first-time chocolate makers with the resources they need to make their own delicious creations.
What Works
If your storefront is just that, a store, you might be missing out on a valuable opportunity. By having all the information about chocolate making available on their Shopify, Chocolate Alchemy is able to attract organic traffic and turn casual browsers into enthusiasts.
Educating your customers, especially if your product is niche, is a great way to increase brand loyalty and ensure people get the most out of your product.
Package Free
Lauren Singer is inspiring people around the world to reduce their waste footprint with her company, Package Free. Since 2015, she has been teaching people how to live a zero-waste lifestyle through her TEDx Talk, which has gained millions of views.
Brandishing a mason jar containing three years worth of trash, Singer was able to get people excited about her brand. This powerful visual is motivating and teaching people that it is possible to reduce their waste, inspiring consumers to think twice before purchasing package-laden products.
What Works
With a platform like TED Talk backing your credibility, it’s hard to mess up a successful company. Customers trusted Singer based on her public appearances, and having the endlessly shareable mason jar didn’t hurt either.
If you or someone on your team has an opportunity to build up PR momentum, don’t squander it. Push people towards your brand and convince them that you’re more than a flash in the pan on their screens.
Beneath Your Mask
Dana Jackson was diagnosed with a severe form of lupus, a condition that drastically affected her skin and hair. In response, Dana searched for natural, people and animal-friendly products to nourish and heal her and her beauty journey. It ended up being a huge challenge.
This sparked the creation of Beneath Your Mask - a line of all-natural products that are both safe and effective. From hair masks to body oils, Dana has created a line of products that help its users feel beautiful inside and out.
What Works
Finding a specific need and filling it is business 101, but its effectiveness can’t be beaten. Dana was able to alchemize a bad situation into an opportunity, and that kind of ingenuity can be seen in Beneath Your Mask’s website design.
It’s straightforward, to the point, and centers on the ingredients that their core user base is after. The need for natural beauty products is clearly addressed right on the landing page.
SmartyPits
SmartyPits was founded with one mission in mind: to help people keep their pits healthy and safe. It offers a range of fresh and fun scents, striving to provide a guilt-free alternative to traditional deodorants.
With no harmful ingredients such as aluminum, paraben, phthalate, and talc, SmartyPits makes sure you can stay smelling good, without the worry of putting yourself at risk.
Why It Works
Right away when you enter SmartyPits’ storefront you can see how clever their copywriting is. They tell customers all the info they need right away.
“Feel good about it,” “women-owned,” and even SmartyPits itself are all eye-catching, memorable, and pack a punch when it comes to the brand’s values.
Tofino Soap Company
Angela established Tofino Soap Company with the conviction that natural and sustainable ingredients matter. She believes in harnessing the rich and healing properties of plants to produce her product line.
The company's goal is to offer simple, natural alternatives to synthetic body care products, emphasizing the importance of reducing non-biodegradable waste.
What Works
Even if you didn’t know that Tofino Soap Company focused on clean, natural ingredients for their soap, the sleek design of the website would have tipped you off. With spa-like colors and images, the site instantly transports you to the fresh Canadian wilderness.
When designing your site, try simplifying your brand identity to a few keywords like fresh, clean, and refreshing. Keep these in mind when choosing colors and layout.
GiveMeTap
Edwin's commitment to helping reduce single-use plastic bottles and providing clean drinking water to those in need is changing lives and making a difference in the world. His search to find water stations for his bottle led to a passion for water accessibility.
GiveMeTap has grown significantly since its creation, providing over 50,000 people in Ghana with clean drinking water for five years, as well as reducing the use of plastic bottles by 45 million.
Not only that, but Edwin also created an app to help people easily find places to refill their water bottles, making it all the more convenient. Because of Edwin's initiative, more people are becoming aware of the importance of reducing plastic bottles and finding ways to access clean drinking water.
What Works
Beyond selling people a bottle for their water, GiveMeTap invites customers into a community and provides continuous value. No matter where you are with your GiveMeTap bottle, you’ll be able to use the app and find a place to refill it.
This added value keeps people coming back and creates brand trust beyond a sale.
The Bottom Line
In our interconnected world, it’s distinctly possible that your Shopify storefront will be the only interaction you have with customers. By learning from these successful brands, and finding what works best for your brand and core user base, you can make sure it’s a good one.
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