Shopify Development Christchurch

Shopify stores built around your brand

Shopify is one of the quickest ways to get a proper online store up and running. A good Shopify store needs more than a theme, though.

We’re a Christchurch web design agency and we’ve been building online stores since 2002. We bring the planning, scoping and design work that makes a Shopify store perform well.

You might be a Canterbury retailer moving your shop online, a growing brand that’s outgrown its starter theme, or a business switching from another platform. Either way, our in-house team at Kensington House in the Christchurch CBD will plan, design, build and launch your store. We don’t outsource any of it.

Shopify Services with Meta Digital

A Shopify store that sells well takes more than picking a theme and adding products. It needs a clear plan, good design and a solid build. We can help at every stage, from scoping and design through to migration, integrations and support after launch.

Shopify Strategy & Scoping

Shopify Strategy & Scoping

A clear plan before anything gets built

We start by getting to know your products, customers, margins and how your business runs day to day. Then we scope the store: the theme approach, the apps you need, integrations, content, budget and timeline. You get a clear plan without pages of specs.

Custom Shopify Design

Custom Shopify Design

Designed around your brand, not a template

Our designers create your store around your brand and your customers, so people can find products easily and get through checkout without hassle. Every design is mobile-first, accessible and built to convert.

Shopify Theme Development

Shopify Theme Development

Themes your team can update themselves

Our in-house developers build custom Shopify themes or adapt existing ones using Shopify’s Online Store 2.0 sections. That means your team can update pages, collections and campaigns without needing to call us.

Migrations to Shopify

Migrations to Shopify

Move platforms without losing your rankings

Moving from WooCommerce, Magento, Squarespace or an older platform? We’ll move your products, customers, orders and content across. We also set up 301 redirects from your old URLs so you keep your search rankings.

Shopify Services

Is Shopify Right for Your Business?

Shopify is a hosted eCommerce platform, so security, hosting and core updates are handled for you. It’s made for selling, and its checkout is one customers already know and trust. It’s a good fit for businesses that would rather spend time on their products and customers than on plugin updates.

It isn’t right for every business. If you need a content-heavy site or a lot of custom functionality, WordPress and WooCommerce might suit you better. We build on both, so we’ll tell you honestly which one makes sense.

Shopify Services

How We Work

Start with a chat. We have a discovery session to learn about your products, customers and goals.

Keep the scope simple. We work out what the store needs to do, which apps and integrations to include, and what it will cost.

Design. We turn your brand into a store design and refine it with you until you’re happy.

Build & integrate. We develop the theme, set up products and payments, and connect your systems.

Test and launch. We test everything thoroughly, then go live with you.

After care. We stay on hand for support, improvements and the odd coffee.

How We Work

Benefits of Working with a Christchurch Shopify Agency

Choosing a local team means you know who’s building your store and can talk to them directly. Here’s what you get when you work with us:

Local and hands-on You’re welcome to drop into our Christchurch CBD office to check progress or talk things through. You’ll deal with the people doing the work, not an offshore team or layers of managers.

25+ years of eCommerce experience We’ve designed and built online stores for brands including the All Blacks Shop, so we know what selling online at scale involves.

Honest about platforms We work with Shopify, WooCommerce and WordPress, so we recommend whatever suits your business best.

Set up for NZ GST, NZ payment gateways, local couriers and what Kiwi customers expect are all covered from day one.

How much does a Shopify website cost in New Zealand? It depends on how many products you have, how much custom design you want and which integrations you need. Adapting an existing Shopify theme costs less than a fully custom build. We’ll give you a clear estimate after a free scoping chat.

How long does it take to build a Shopify store? Most Shopify projects take 6 to 12 weeks from scoping to launch. The timeline depends on the scope, how ready your content is and the integrations involved.

Should I use Shopify or WooCommerce? Shopify suits businesses that want a hosted, low-maintenance store focused on selling. WooCommerce suits businesses that want full ownership, more flexible content and deeper customisation. We build on both and will recommend the right one for you.

Can you move my existing store to Shopify? Yes. We’ll move your products, customers, orders and content, and set up redirects so you don’t lose search traffic.

Do you only work with Christchurch businesses? No. We’re based in Christchurch and enjoy meeting Canterbury clients in person, but we build Shopify stores for businesses all over New Zealand.