What is Shopify? The E-Commerce Platform Simplifying Online Retail

If you’re an entrepreneur or business owner looking to launch an ecommerce store, you’ve likely come across Shopify. Shopify Inc. is a prominent Canadian multinational e-commerce company offering various online stores and retail systems services. Known as one of the most popular e-commerce platforms globally with millions of merchants, Shopify empowers merchants of all sizes to sell their products online quickly.

But what exactly is Shopify ecommerce, how can you shop on it, and why is it gaining so much traction, especially among businesses in Singapore? From pricing structures to what you can (and cannot) sell, here’s everything you need to know about Shopify in Singapore.

What is Shopify?

At its core, the Shopify platform is an all-in-one e-commerce solution that enables merchants to create, customize, and manage ecommerce stores, facilitating the development of their online presence. It provides all the tools you need to sell products, including website hosting, payment processing, and even marketing tools—all without requiring advanced coding knowledge.

Shopify is designed to be accessible for beginners while scalable enough for enterprise businesses. Whether you’re a Shopify merchant selling handmade crafts or running a Shopify B2B store specializing in bulk sales, the platform adapts to suit your needs.

Key features of Shopify and Shopify App Store

• Store customization: Choose from hundreds of themes and easily customize your online store to match your brand or get a web design agency to build a custom theme.
• Payment gateway: Shopify supports multiple payment options, including credit cards, PayPal, and more.
• Shopify apps: The Shopify App Store offers over 8,000 apps, including tools for dropshipping and AI customer support, to expand the functionality of your store.
• Built-in marketing tools: From SEO features to social media integrations, Shopify helps you attract and retain customers.
• User-friendly interface: The platform is intuitive, making it ideal for entrepreneurs without technical know-how.

How does Shopify work?

The beauty of the Shopify platform lies in its simplicity. It removes much of the complexity associated with setting up and maintaining an ecommerce store. Here’s how it works step by step:

1. Sign up for an Shopify login: Create a myshopify account on the Shopify website. The Shopify admin dashboard will guide you through building your store.
2. Choose a plan: You can test out various Shopify plans with the free trial, including Shopify Starter, Basic Shopify, Shopify and Advanced Shopify.
3. Customize your store: You don't have to know web design or web development. Choose a theme from the Shopify theme store that suits your business. Shopify offers both free and paid themes that cater to various industries. Use the drag-and-drop editor to customize your layout and branding.
4. Add products: Upload the products you want to sell, complete with images, descriptions, and pricing details. Pro Tip: Write SEO-friendly product descriptions to attract more shoppers.
5. Choose a payment gateway: Set up payment processing for your shoppers to checkout. Shopify Payments is the default, but you can also integrate other gateways like GrabPay or PayPal.
6. Launch your store: Once you’re satisfied with your setup, hit “Publish,” and your e-commerce store will go live. Shopify takes care of hosting and backend systems, so you can focus on your business
7. Manage your store: Use Shopify’s dashboard to track orders, manage inventory, and analyze sales. Shopify helps companies process orders efficiently, streamlining the management of product inventory, payment processing, order fulfillment, and customer relationships. The platform’s reporting features help you make data-driven business decisions.

Building an online store

Building an ecommerce store with Shopify is a straightforward process that can be completed in a few steps. First, Shopify merchants need to choose a theme that reflects their brand’s identity and customize it to suit their needs. Shopify’s Theme Store offers a wide range of free and paid themes that are designed to be responsive, mobile-friendly, and optimized for search engines.

Once a theme is chosen, businesses can start adding products to their ecommerce store. Shopify’s product management system allows companies to easily add, edit, and manage their products, including product descriptions, prices, and images. Businesses can also set up payment and shipping options which allows them to control how customers checkout directly through their online store.

Shopify’s online store builder also includes features such as drag-and-drop page builders, customizable layouts, and built-in SEO optimization. This makes it easy for businesses to create a professional-looking ecommerce store without needing to know how to code.

Selling on multiple sales channels

The Shopify platform allows businesses to sell on multiple channels, including their ecommerce store, social media channels, and marketplaces. Shopify’s sales channels feature enables retailers and merchants to connect their catalog with marketplaces such as Amazon, Walmart, and Etsy, and sell their products to a wider audience.

Businesses can also use Shopify’s social media channels feature to sell their products directly on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. This feature allows companies to tag their products in posts and stories, making it easy for shoppers to purchase from their social media feeds.

Shopify’s point-of-sale (POS) system also allows companies to sell in-person at retail stores, pop-ups, and offline events. The POS system integrates with Shopify’s online store, allowing businesses to manage their inventory and sales across all channels from a single dashboard.

How much is Shopify and Shopify Plus?

Shopify offers a range of pricing plans, making it cost-effective for startups, small businesses, and large enterprises. Here's a breakdown of the primary plans available in Singapore:

• Basic Shopify (SGD 29 per month): Ideal for new e-commerce businesses with low product volumes.
• Shopify (SGD 99 per month): Best for growing merchants with more advanced needs like gift cards and professional reporting.
• Advanced Shopify (SGD 399 per month): Features advanced reporting tools and lower transaction fees—perfect for high-volume sellers.
• Shopify Plus (USD 2,500 per month): A comprehensive solution for enterprise-grade businesses, offering additional features for scalability and Shopify B2B operations.

Check out our article comparing Shopify Advanced and Shopify Plus. Keep in mind there might be additional costs for third-party apps, themes, or payment gateway fees.

What can you sell on Shopify?

Shopify makes it possible to sell nearly anything online, but there are certain guidelines to follow. Common products sold on Shopify include:

• Physical products: Clothing, beauty products, electronics, and more.
• Digital products: eBooks, courses, or music files.
• Services: Sell consultation or coaching packages.

• Subscriptions: Offer subscription boxes or memberships.

What are Shopify's prohibited products?

To maintain a safe marketplace, Shopify prohibits the sale of certain items, including but not limited to: Age-restricted products (e.g., alcohol, tobacco). Cannabis and drug-related products. Human parts or livestock. Weapons, ammunition, or explosives. Surveillance equipment.

Managing Your Finances

Shopify provides merchants with a range of tools to manage their finances, including cash flow, customer data, and payment processing. Shopify’s payment processor allows businesses to accept payments directly through their ecommerce store, and also provides features such as payment tracking and dispute resolution.

Shopify’s financial reports feature also provides companies with insights into their sales, revenue, and expenses, making it easy to track their cash flow and make informed business decisions. Businesses can also use Shopify’s accounting integrations feature to connect their Shopify account with their accounting software, such as QuickBooks or Xero.

Shopify’s customer data feature also allows merchants to analyse their customer data, including customer contact information, order history, and loyalty program data. This feature provides businesses with a single view of their customers, making it easy to personalize their marketing and sales efforts.

Extending Shopify’s Functionality

Shopify’s App Store provides businesses with a range of apps that can extend the functionality of their ecommerce store. The App Store offers over 8,000 apps, including apps for marketing, sales, customer service, and inventory management.

Businesses can use Shopify’s app integrations feature to connect their Shopify account with third-party apps, such as social media scheduling tools, email marketing software, and inventory management systems. This feature allows companies to automate tasks, streamline their workflows, and improve their overall efficiency.

Shopify’s API feature also allows developers to build custom integrations with Shopify, providing companies with even more flexibility and customization options. The API feature provides developers with access to Shopify’s data and functionality, making it easy to build custom apps and integrations.

Why use Shopify?

E-commerce is growing rapidly in Singapore, driven by tech-savvy consumers and government initiatives supporting digital transformation. Here's why Shopify is an excellent platform for merchants in the local market:

• Simplified Operations:Shopify eliminates much of the hassle of running an ecommerce store. With features like inventory management and analytics, you can streamline your operations and focus on growth.
• Local Payment Options:Shopify supports various payment gateways popular among Singaporean consumers, including GrabPay and PayNow, alongside global options like credit cards and PayPal.
• Established App Ecosystem: With thousands of apps available that integrate seamlessly with Shopify, store owners can extend their store's capabilities across various areas like marketing, sales, inventory management, customer service, and more.
• Scalability for Growth: From small online stores to large Shopify B2B enterprises, Shopify scales seamlessly as your business expands.
• Mobile Optimization: With a smartphone penetration rate of over 90%, Singaporean consumers often shop on their devices. Shopify's mobile-optimized stores ensure your site looks great on any screen.
• Community and Support: Shopify offers 24/7 customer support and access to a global community of developers, merchants, and experts. You can also hire an agency to manage your webstore and take care of your requirements.

Shopify’s Reliability and Security

Shopify is a reliable and secure commerce platform that provides businesses with peace of mind. Shopify’s infrastructure is designed to handle high traffic and large sales events, making it a scalable solution for businesses of all sizes.

Shopify’s security features include SSL encryption, two-factor authentication, and regular security updates. Shopify’s payment processor is also PCI-compliant, ensuring that companies can accept payments securely and confidently.

Shopify’s uptime feature also provides businesses with a guarantee of 99.99% uptime, ensuring that their ecommerce store is always available. Shopify’s support team is also available 24/7 to provide businesses with assistance and support whenever they need it.

Leading Brands That Use Shopify and Shopify Plus

Shopify powers over one million businesses worldwide, including household names and niche brands. Here are a few standout examples:

• J&Co (Jewellery)
• Uratex (Home)
• Glossier (Beauty)
• In Good Company (Fashion)
• Allbirds (Fashion)
• ONE Championship (Apparel)

• Gymshark (Apparel)

Build your e-commerce empire with Shopify commerce platform

Whether you're just starting to join millions of merchants or scaling your business, Shopify in Singapore offers the tools and flexibility to make your e-commerce store successful. From its intuitive interface to powerful integrations like Shopify Plus for enterprise growth, it's the ultimate solution for modern businesses.

If you're ready to take your e-commerce dream to the next level, consider Shopify as your go-to platform. It's time to shift your focus from challenges to opportunities—and Shopify is here to help. Start your Shopify store today and join a global community of innovative entrepreneurs and businesses.