As Shopify continues to grow exponentially, rolling out new features and functionality to suit an ever-wider range of businesses, its partner network has become even more critical.

Simply put, a Shopify Partner is an agency or individual that has been officially recognized and accredited by Shopify as having expertise in developing, designing, and implementing solutions specifically tailored for Shopify or Shopify Plus merchants. They play a crucial role in helping brands maximize the potential of the Shopify Plus platform to achieve their goals and grow their online presence effectively.

In this post, we discuss what services Shopify Partners offer, the benefits of working with them, and how to choose the right one for your brand.

Shopify Plus Expert is a specialized eCommerce solution designed for higher volume stores, offering advanced features and scalability for larger and more complex businesses.

Shopify Plus is tailored to handle high volumes of traffic and transactions, providing more flexibility, customization options, and advanced features compared to the standard Shopify platform. Services offered by Shopify Plus Experts include custom design, development, migration, optimization, support, and maintenance for Shopify Plus stores.

Shopify Plus is optimized for high performance, and fast page load speeds, and supports multiple languages, currencies, and payment methods, making it suitable for businesses looking to expand internationally.

Shopify Plus might be the best choice for brands experiencing rapid growth or with substantial revenue, offering tools to enhance international selling capabilities, although the migration cost should be carefully considered.

Shopify Plus Partners:

Shopify Plus Partners are certified experts who specialize in serving merchants on the Shopify Plus platform, which is designed for high-growth and enterprise-level businesses.

These partners undergo additional training and accreditation to demonstrate their proficiency in using Shopify Plus's advanced features and capabilities.

Shopify Plus Partners offers a broader range of services that cater specifically to the needs of larger and enterprise-level merchants, including custom development, advanced integrations, scalability solutions, strategic planning, and dedicated support.

They possess a deep understanding of the unique requirements and challenges faced by large-scale eCommerce businesses and have experience implementing complex solutions to address them.

Here are some key steps to find a Shopify Plus Partner for your business:

Define your needs and goals clearly, considering what services you require (design, development, marketing, support, etc.), your budget, timeline, and specific requirements.

Start with the Shopify Plus Partner directory, which lists certified partners. Browse using filters to narrow down based on location, expertise, services offered, and client reviews. Ask for recommendations from other retailers, tech partners, or agencies already working with Shopify Plus Partners. Personal referrals can provide valuable insights.

Review case studies on potential partners' websites to evaluate their work quality, expertise, and capabilities. Look for experience with projects similar to yours. Consider the specializations of each partner, as some may focus on specific industries or types of projects like DTC or B2B.

Conduct interviews to assess the partner's communication style, project management approach, and ability to understand your business goals.

Evaluate the partner's technical expertise in areas like custom theme development, app integrations, and performance optimization. Look for partners with strong industry knowledge in your vertical, as this can provide valuable strategic insights.

Prioritize partners with a track record of successful Shopify Plus migrations and growth for high-volume merchants. Consider the partner's ability to provide ongoing support, training, and optimization services to ensure your store's long-term success.

By following these steps and leveraging the Shopify Partner ecosystem, you can find a Shopify Plus Partner well-suited to help your business thrive on the platform.

Here are the key criteria for selecting a Shopify Plus Partner:

Expertise and Specialization:

• The partner should have proven experience working with high-growth merchants.
• They should be considered a thought leader in commerce and identified as such in the public market.
• The partner should have the technical expertise and commerce knowledge necessary to build world-class solutions on Shopify Plus.
• Look for partners with strong industry knowledge in your vertical, as this can provide valuable strategic insights.

Proven Track Record:

• The partner should have an existing portfolio of high-volume merchants with a proven track record of success.
• Review case studies on potential partners' websites to evaluate their work quality, expertise, and capabilities.
• Consider the partner's ability to provide ongoing support, training, and optimization services to ensure your store's long-term success.

Customization Capabilities:

• The partner should be able to provide end-to-end services and have the bandwidth to support multiple complex solutions.
• Evaluate the partner's technical expertise in areas like custom theme development, app integrations, and performance optimization.

Other Key Factors:

• The partner should have completed three or more successful referrals in the last 12 months.
• Conduct interviews to assess the partner's communication style, project management approach, and ability to understand your business goals.
• Prioritize partners with a track record of successful Shopify Plus migrations and growth for high-volume merchants.

By carefully evaluating potential partners against these criteria, you can find a Shopify Plus Partner well-suited to help your business thrive on the platform.

In conclusion: what is a Shopify Partner?

When choosing a partner to implement an online store on the Shopify Plus platform, it is worth being guided by portfolio, and experience, but above all, bet on cooperation with an agency that is certified by Shopify Plus – this proves its skills and quality of services.

Having the experience and expertise of a Shopify Partner onboard is critical for brands wanting to maximize the potential of the Shopify platform and deliver the desired level of growth. 

If you’re looking to migrate to Shopify, or already use the platform and need additional support, blubolt is an accredited Shopify Plus partner. Explore our expert Shopify services and browse our client work for Shopify inspiration. Alternatively, get in touch to discuss your requirements. We would love to help!