Blog · Lab notes
What Shopify really costs, when to move, and what makes stores faster. Written from the stores we run ourselves, not from a brochure.
Before you hire a Shopify developer: what freelancers, studios and agencies cost in 2026, the risks of each, and 12 questions that expose a bad fit early.
9 min read
Set up a Shopify store in 10 working days with the day-by-day checklist we used to launch six of our own stores: what to do, in what order, what to skip.
8 min read
How to build a Shopify multi language store: Markets, translation limits, hreflang, multi-currency and PPP pricing, from stores we run in 11–14 languages.
7 min read
Shopify Plus pricing only pays off past a certain point. A simple break-even test, the features that justify it, and signs you're upgrading for vanity.
8 min read
How to move WooCommerce to Shopify step by step: URL map, 301 redirects, customers, orders and reviews, plus what breaks and how to catch it before launch.
9 min read
A Shopify studio on when not to use Shopify: five cases where Shopify alternatives like Squarespace, WooCommerce or Etsy fit better, free ones included.
8 min read
Shopify conversion rate optimization for low-traffic stores: why most A/B tests can't finish, and the fixes to make first, in order of impact.
7 min read
Shopify fees go far beyond the plan price. Every line on the real monthly bill (payments, transaction fees, apps, theme, shipping) and how to keep it lean.
8 min read
Shopify SEO in 2026: what the platform handles by default (sitemap, canonicals, hreflang) and the 12 fixes you still own, including AI answer engines.
8 min read
Shopify theme customization vs building a custom theme: which sections get you 90% of a custom look, what Horizon can do, and when custom code pays off.
7 min read
Shopify vs Etsy isn't either/or. The split strategy for makers: what stays on Etsy, what moves to your own store, and when to make the jump.
7 min read
Shopify vs Squarespace for ecommerce: when Squarespace is honestly enough, six signs you've outgrown it, and what a move to Shopify involves.
7 min read
Shopify vs WooCommerce, decided by store type: a decision table, the real 3-year cost lines, and the cases where WooCommerce is the better choice.
7 min read
What a Shopify website really costs in 2026: DIY, freelancer, studio and agency price bands, plus the monthly apps, theme and payment costs nobody quotes.
8 min read
Shopify wholesale without a second store: how native B2B works on every paid plan in 2026, where the 3-catalog limit bites, and when you still need an app.
9 min read
Shopify Xero integration for UK stores: which connector to pick, how to map VAT, and the reconciliation pitfalls that make payouts never match your sales.
9 min read
The best Shopify apps to install on day one, by category: reviews, upsells, subscriptions, search. Plus our selection criteria and the apps to skip.
7 min read
How to transfer BigCommerce to Shopify: product options, customer groups, orders and 301s, plus an honest BigCommerce vs Shopify comparison.
9 min read
Shopify speed optimization from real data: one Lighthouse lab run on the 6 stores we own, what slowed them down, and the fix order we now follow.
7 min read
Moving from Wix to Shopify? What transfers, what breaks (design, apps, product options, URLs) and the 14-day plan we use to switch without losing SEO.
9 min read
Next step
Send your URL. We check speed, SEO and the path to checkout, and write back the three fixes worth paying for.