What is Shopify?
Shopify is a cloud-based software that runs on a monthly subscription model; it gives small business owners access to the admin panel where they can enter store details, add products, and process orders. The software is easy to use and has an easy learning curve so you can get your online store up and running quickly.
Since Shopify is easy to use, if you're comfortable navigating the setup process yourself, you most likely won't have any problems.
You can choose from a rich assortment of free and paid design templates. These themes are clean and modern, and Shopify provides a variety of editing tools that you can use to make your chosen theme fit your brand.
What's more, a Shopify subscription includes secure and reliable hosting for your website. You don't have to worry about your site crashing during peak traffic or hackers intercepting your transactions. With 99.98% uptime and a free SSL certificate, Shopify takes care of you. Of course, you will need to choose your subscription plans between basic, Shopify, and advanced plans (you can read more about them in our blog post here).
Besides these 3 main Shopify subscription plans, there are 2 separate Shopify platforms called Shopify Lite and Shopify Plus. Let’s see how these 2 can help you build your webshop.
What is Shopify Lite?
Designed for entrepreneurs who don't want or need a full-fledged webshop, Shopify Lite is an eCommerce tool that adds a selling element to any webpage. This includes social media posts on websites like Facebook, as well as your blog or another existing website. For $9/month, Shopify Lite users can add a "Buy” button or embeddable product card and checkout. It's easy to use Shopify Lite to monetize your Instagram posts.
But that's not all you get from a Shopify Lite account. You will also be able to accept credit card payments or create invoices for bulk, phone, or custom orders. You can even use the Shopify Point of Sale (POS) app to accept payments in person using your iOS or Android device.
What is Shopify Plus?
Large businesses, those with sales that exceed $500,000/year, may want to build their online shops with Shopify Plus. This is an enterprise-grade Shopify plan that is priced at $2,000/month, or 0.25% of qualifying transactions per month.
Like all Shopify versions, Shopify Plus is simple and easy to use, although this top-tier version is packed with impressive features like unlimited sales opportunities and dedicated tools, like Shopify Flow for automation. It is dedicated to wholesales and global sales and offers guaranteed priority customer service.
What can I sell on Shopify?
Shopify supports many different types of eCommerce businesses. Shopify users can sell physical products, digital products, dropshipping products, etc. Shopify sellers usually use this platform to sell a wide range of products, such as:
- handmade goods
- cosmetic accessories
- household products
- equipment for outdoor activities
- clothing and apparel
- digital goods
- online courses
- Software solutions
- gift cards
- e-books
And so much more!
According to a recent study, the most popular Shopify products for 2021 are doormats, household storage containers, dishcloths, bike saddles, handheld accessories, toy kitchens, and play food. If your business is tied to one of these categories, Shopify would be a particularly good choice.
When it comes to selling products on Shopify, almost anything can be done. The only rule is that you cannot sell anything illegal, also the following items are prohibited: alcohol, tobacco and e-cigarettes, fireworks, drugs, currency or video game credits, firearms, and weapons.
What are the pros and cons of Shopify?
As you might expect, while Shopify is a great option for many sellers, it isn't for everyone. Here's a shortlist of reasons why sellers choose Shopify, along with a list of common customer complaints:
Pros of Shopify
Ease of use: This is by far the biggest reason sellers love Shopify. Shopify is built for casual users, not experienced developers. It is very easy to add products, create discounts, and process orders. The web design is user-friendly and even simple with Shopify's drag-and-drop editing tool.
Low initial cost: Shopify's relatively low monthly fee makes the setup affordable. How much does Shopify cost? - one will ask. The basic plan is $29 per month, the Shopify plan is $79 per month, and the advanced plan is $299/month. You can read every detail in our blog post about Shopify pricing here.
Beautiful themes: Subscribers can choose from a variety of free themes that are responsive to mobile devices. Paid premium themes are also available for entrepreneurs looking for more options.
Suitable for dropshipping: Shopify is the platform of choice for many dropshippers. Shopify's integrations with top brands such as Spocket and Oberlo make the dropshipping process from the Shopify admin panel much easier.
Lots of support options: You can access technical support 24/7 by phone, chat, and email. Self-help options are also available. Customers love that Shopify support is available outside of business hours.
Cons of Shopify
Expensive add-ons: While Shopify offers almost all of the basic features a startup business needs in order to build a webshop, the platform lacks many of the advanced features. You will have to look for these features in the form of add-ons that usually are not free. The cost of adding just three add-ons can double your monthly fee.
Transaction fees: While most platforms let go of the transaction fees for shopping carts entirely, Shopify has kept their fees between 0.5% and 2% (depending on the hosting plan). You have the option to exempt Shopify from these fees if you accept your order’s payments through Shopify Payments. Shopify Payments has its fair share of complaints, however, and it might not be the best payment processor for everyone.
And this was today’s topic on what to sell on Shopify. We hope you got more information about Shopify subscription plans, Shopify Lite, and Shopify Plus, and are ready to create your own online shop using one of them. Just make sure you dive in and research all of the needed information, get lots of tips and tricks on how to get the most out of Shopify to run a successful online store.
If you’re an entrepreneur running your own webshop and want to reach the top of its results by automating its workflow - don’t hesitate and get in touch with us. Wedoio is a global team that develops automation and integration solutions for businesses of every need.
You can read more about our integration solutions here or click the button below to open our integrations webpage.
