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Starting an online store can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re new to the world of e-commerce. When we launched Merch Monarch, an online retailer of original streetwear and collectibles, we faced many of the same challenges that new entrepreneurs encounter: how to design an engaging website, manage inventory, process payments, and market to the right customers. After considering various options, we chose Shopify as our e-commerce platform—and it turned out to be one of the best decisions we made.
In this guide, we’ll take you through the steps we followed to build our Shopify store, discuss why Shopify is an excellent choice for entrepreneurs, and share insights from our journey at Merch Monarch. Whether you're just starting out or looking for a reliable platform to scale your business, this guide will help you understand how Shopify can power your online store’s success.
Why We Chose Shopify
At the time of building Merch Monarch, we were searching for a platform that could simplify the setup process while offering scalability for future growth. Shopify checked all the boxes for us. One of the major reasons we chose Shopify was the free training resources they offered. This gave us the opportunity to explore the platform before committing, and it quickly became apparent that Shopify’s user-friendly design and extensive features made it the right choice for our business operations.
From day one, Shopify’s simple yet powerful interface allowed us to move quickly from concept to launch. We didn’t need to be tech experts to set up a fully functional online store. The platform is built for both beginners and experienced business owners, making what would normally be a daunting task enjoyable and straightforward.
While we eventually learned about other e-commerce platforms, we’ve never felt the need to switch. Shopify provided everything we needed to start and grow Merch Monarch.
The Setup Process: How We Built Merch Monarch with Shopify
Setting up our Shopify store was easier than expected. Here’s a step-by-step look at how we got started and how you can do the same:
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Choose a Shopify Plan: Shopify offers several pricing options, but we took advantage of the $1 for three months discount, which allowed us to focus on launching our store without worrying about high upfront costs. This was crucial for keeping our initial expenses low as we worked to make our first sale.
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Register a Domain Name: The next step was registering a domain for Merch Monarch. Having a custom domain gives your store a professional look and helps with branding. Shopify allows you to register a domain directly through their platform, making the process seamless.
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Select and Customize a Theme: Shopify’s customizable themes played a big role in shaping our website’s visual identity. Whether you choose a free or paid theme, Shopify’s theme library offers a wide variety of options that cater to different industries. We opted for a theme that matched the streetwear aesthetic of Merch Monarch, and it only took a few hours to get everything ready for publishing.
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Add Products and Inventory: Uploading product listings was straightforward. Shopify’s product management system allows you to easily add product descriptions, photos, and pricing, and track inventory across different sales channels.
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Set Up Payment Gateways: Shopify makes it easy to configure payment methods. Whether it’s Shopify Payments, PayPal, or a third-party gateway, the setup is intuitive, allowing customers to pay using their preferred methods.
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Launch and Market Your Store: Once everything was set up and tested, launching was a simple process. Shopify provides marketing tools to help you promote your store. We connected our social media channels and utilized Shopify’s integration with email marketing services like Mailchimp to reach our audience.
How Shopify Made Our Journey Easier
While setting up Merch Monarch was smooth, what truly set Shopify apart were the tools and features that helped us scale and grow our business. Here’s how Shopify supported our business growth:
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Customizable Themes and Design: Shopify’s themes allowed us to build a store that fully reflected our brand’s vision. We didn’t need to hire designers or developers to create a professional-looking website.
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App Integrations: One of the most powerful aspects of Shopify is its extensive app store, which offers integrations for virtually every business function. For example, Shopify connects to social media channels, allowing customers to shop directly from our Instagram page. The platform also integrates with print-on-demand (POD) services, which allowed us to offer more product variety without holding inventory, as well as drop-shipping apps that expanded our catalog even further.
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Marketing Tools: Shopify’s marketing integrations helped us reach our audience in a more targeted way. We used apps like Mailchimp for email marketing, which allowed us to build a subscriber list and nurture relationships with customers through personalized campaigns.
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Multi-Channel Sales: One of the biggest game-changers for us was Shopify’s ability to link our store to multiple sales channels. We sold products directly through social media and other platforms without having to send customers to our website, which boosted sales and made shopping more convenient for our audience.
Step-by-Step Guide to Building Your Shopify Store
If you’re ready to start your own store, here’s a quick guide to help you follow the same steps we took:
- Choose a Plan: Take advantage of Shopify’s discounted trial to minimize costs while you’re still in the setup phase.
- Register a Domain: Your domain is an essential part of building a recognizable brand.
- Select and Customize a Theme: Choose a theme that fits your brand and customize it to match your unique style.
- Upload Products: Make sure your product descriptions and images are clear and engaging.
- Set Up Payments: Shopify Payments is easy to set up, but you can also offer third-party payment options.
- Launch and Promote: Use Shopify’s built-in marketing tools and integrate social media to get the word out about your new store.
Why Shopify is Perfect for Business Owners
As Merch Monarch grew, Shopify scaled effortlessly with us. Its multi-channel sales feature, easy app integrations, and robust marketing tools allowed us to grow our customer base without having to manage a complex backend. Shopify’s low-cost, scalable pricing plans also made it an excellent choice for both starting and growing our business. We could focus on what mattered—building our brand and delivering high-quality streetwear to our customers—while Shopify handled the rest.
Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a seasoned entrepreneur looking to scale, Shopify’s flexible, user-friendly platform offers everything you need to succeed in the online retail space.
Ready to Start Your Own Store?
We’ve seen firsthand how Shopify helped us build and grow Merch Monarch. From streamlined setup to robust marketing tools, Shopify provides everything you need to create a successful online store with minimal effort. If you’re ready to follow in our footsteps and build your own e-commerce empire, try Shopify today and unlock the same benefits that helped us thrive.