If you’re an eCommerce merchant considering a move from BigCommerce to Shopify, you’re not alone. As two of the most prominent platforms in the eCommerce space, BigCommerce and Shopify each have their strengths, and understanding the differences can help you determine if Shopify is the better fit for your business. Let’s explore how these platforms compare, the pros and cons of making the switch, and how Your Store Wizards can make your migration seamless.
BigCommerce vs. Shopify: What’s the Difference?
BigCommerce and Shopify cater to online sellers but approach eCommerce from slightly different angles.
- BigCommerce prides itself on being an all-in-one solution, offering a feature-packed platform out of the box with fewer apps required to enhance functionality. It’s great for merchants who want more built-in tools and don’t want to rely heavily on third-party integrations.
- Shopify, on the other hand, is the king of simplicity and scalability. Shopify’s app ecosystem is huge, allowing you to customize your store as your business grows. Its intuitive interface and large third-party developer community make it a favorite among small to mid-sized businesses looking for flexibility.
Shopify’s Marketplace Position vs. BigCommerce
Shopify has carved out a massive slice of the eCommerce pie, thanks in part to its user-friendly design and extensive marketing. Shopify’s brand recognition and market dominance are hard to beat, making it the go-to platform for new as well existing merchants looking to migrate.
BigCommerce, while smaller in market share, appeals to businesses that need advanced features like multi-storefront management or want to avoid transaction fees, which Shopify applies unless you use their payment gateway.
Top 5 Reasons to Move from BigCommerce to Shopify
- Ease of Use: Shopify’s dashboard is designed to be simple, making it perfect for merchants, or staff, without technical expertise.
- Huge (Literally!) App Store: Shopify’s app store has tens of thousands of apps to enhance your store’s functionality, a substantial number more than BigCommerce.
- Scalability: As your business grows, Shopify grows with you, offering features like Shopify Plus for enterprise-level needs.
- Design Flexibility: A wide range of pre-built professional, mobile-responsive themes designed to allow you to open a store quickly. Or, you can give your store a completely unique look with a custom design from a Shopify developers such as Your Store Wizards.
- Strong Support Community: With extensive documentation and an active merchant community, help is always just a click away or a post on Facebook away.
Considerations When Planning Your Move
Migrating your store is a significant undertaking. Here are some key things to consider when planning out your move:
- Data Migration: Ensure your products, customers, and order history transfer correctly. By using a trusted Shopify developer partner, like Your Store Wizards, you can be assured your data will be migrated successfully.
- Design: Decide if you want to replicate your BigCommerce store’s look, or if you want refresh your branding by using a pre-built theme, or a fully custom design.
- Functionality: Audit your BigCommerce store for essential features and find Shopify apps to replace them. With Shopify’s large app ecosystem, chances are you’ll have more than enough replacements to meet your needs. In fact, you are more than likely to find the same app available for Shopify!
- SEO Impact: Plan for URL redirects to maintain search engine rankings.
- Budget: Factor in Shopify’s subscription fees, app costs, and any development work.
How Your Store Wizards Can Help
Migrating to Shopify doesn’t have to be overwhelming. At Your Store Wizards, we specialize in making your transition as smooth as possible. Here’s how we can help:
- Full Data Transfer Service: Simply put, we are the masters of store data! Our team ensures that all your product data, customer information, and order history make it to Shopify without a hitch. No missing SKUs, no lost customer details—just a seamless migration.
- Custom Store Design or Theme Implementation: Whether you want a custom-designed Shopify store that reflects your unique brand or need help implementing a pre-designed theme, we’ve got you covered. Our design experts work with you to ensure your store not only looks great but also delivers an excellent user experience.
- Free Shopify Trial Store: Not ready to commit? No problem! We can set you up with a free Shopify trial store. This lets you test the waters, play around with the platform, and see if it’s right for you. You won’t have to pay a cent until you’re ready to take your store live.
- Ongoing Support: After your store goes live, we’re still here to help. From troubleshooting issues to optimizing your store’s performance, we’re your go-to Shopify experts.
Ready to Make the Move?
Switching platforms is a big decision, but with the right partner, it doesn’t have to be stressful. Shopify’s scalability, flexibility, and user-friendly design make it an excellent choice for many ecommerce merchants. And with Your Store Wizards by your side, you’ll have the expertise and support you need to succeed.
Let’s get started on your Shopify journey today. Contact us at support@yourstorewizards.com to learn more about our migration services, custom designs, and free trial store setup.
Scott Sanfilippo began his eCommerce journey in 1994 by co-founding one of the Internet’s first online retailers, TheFerretStore.com, which was acquired by PetCo in 2006. In 2001, he co-founded the eCommerce design and marketing firm Solid Cactus, which was acquired by web.com in 2009. Today, Scott is the General Manager of Your Store Wizards and lives in Delray Beach, FL. Scott can be contacted at scott@yourstorewizards.com.