Shopify Development

A direct-to-consumer brand had built their Shopify store using a popular premium theme from the Shopify marketplace. It looked good, but their conversion rate was 1.2% - well below the 2.5% industry average for their category. Their page load time was 4.8 seconds. The theme loaded 23 JavaScript files, most of which they did not need. The mobile experience was cramped and frustrating. Checkout had unnecessary friction points. And they were paying $89/month for three apps that could have been handled by simple custom code. We rebuilt their store with custom Shopify development. First, we created a custom theme optimized for their specific product catalog and customer journey: simplified navigation, improved product page layouts with social proof prominently displayed, and a mobile-first design that actually converted on phones (72% of their traffic). Second, we optimized performance: custom code replaced app bloat, images were properly compressed and served via CDN, and lazy loading ensured fast initial paint. Page load time dropped from 4.8 seconds to 1.3 seconds. Third, we customized the checkout experience: trust badges, clear shipping information, and post-purchase upsells that increased average order value 18%. Fourth, we built custom functionality that eliminated app fees: a product customizer, subscription options, and wholesale pricing tiers - all native to the theme. The results after 6 months: conversion rate increased from 1.2% to 3.4%, bounce rate decreased 42%, average order value grew 23%, and they saved $267/month in app subscription costs. Custom Shopify development is not about vanity features - it is about removing friction, reducing costs, and building a store that converts browsers into buyers at every touchpoint.