Your site visitors usually form an opinion about your site in under a second, and you only have one chance to make an excellent first impression. If you are in eCommerce, you know this all very well.
The platform you use can certainly help enhance said first experience. While Shopify, one of the leading eCommerce platforms, has its own advantages and drawbacks, it can help you create a memorable first impression with some sleek and eye-catching design ideas concepts.
Let’s explore some of the top Shopify website design ideas.
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Shopify Website Design Ideas To Help Your Shop Stand Out
Compelling and strong branding is a crucial element in making a website stand out. While products and prices may be comparable across various platforms, specialized Shopify website development agencies will help any eCommerce platform establish itself effectively.
Shopify can be a highly customizable platform, which, in the right hands, can transform any run-of-the-mill site into a customer-attracting online shop powerhouse. We’ve gathered a handful of the best Shopify website design ideas you can leverage to create something truly exceptional.
Minimalism: Establish Authority With a Clean Design
Design minimalism isn’t just a style concept that has been around for a few years. It’s also a philosophy that can greatly enhance user experience — it improves readability, usability, and user focus. Moreover, navigation becomes simpler, while maintaining design consistency also becomes a straightforward feat.
A clean and minimalist design can also improve loading speed and translate into better mobile responsiveness. It can contribute to cultivating a sophisticated brand identity, too, exemplified by brands like Everlane.
Grab Attention With High-Quality Images
Large, high-quality images with a color palette that matches your branding can deliver a powerful visual message, drawing attention from afar. Before you start thinking about neon-bright colors and tacky images, pause your train of thought for a second and take a look at FreshCap‘s colorful yet harmonious and balanced design.
Branding a product's colors goes hand in hand with creating a visually pleasing online display and a seriously cohesive brand message that’s exciting, fun, and playful.
Keep it Steady: Consistent Branding
Both Everlane and FreshCap are great Shopify website examples of consistent branding that seamlessly blends UX/UI, branding, web design, and development.
Another great example is Couplet Coffee, which gives the term “cartoonish” a whole new meaning. The design isn’t as clear and minimalistic as Everlane’s, and there's an abundance of different colors. Still, it’s a fine example of strong and recognizable branding.
If you think the colors may be too vibrant for today’s cavalcade of minimalistic and pastel designs, don’t forget the enduring success of McDonald’s and its bold yellow and red branding, which continues to thrive, boasting a total brand value of $196.53 billion in 2022.
Mobile-First: Responsive Design & Easy Navigation
Last year, 43.3% of all eCommerce purchases were made via mobile devices, and mobile-only sales are forecasted to reach $534.18 billion in 2024. Such impressive figures mandate that every worthwhile Shopify website design idea should also be responsive, i.e., load on every screen size and device perfectly.
A great example of a responsive, great-looking, and functional design would be the one on S&R Jeweller’s site, where navigation on an average-sized mobile screen is just as smooth and intuitive as on a laptop or desktop.
While the latter display version may feel cluttered to those who prefer ultra-clean designs, the site is still intuitive enough to let users know exactly where they are on the page, whether they are just casually scrolling or thoroughly researching.
Product Categories: The Bread and Butter of eCommerce
High-quality product descriptions and easy-to-scan product categories are musts for Shopify businesses, regardless of whether they’re small vendors or massive marketplaces.
Well-crafted descriptions and comprehensive product categorization can help inform, influence, captivate, and drive sales. With a well-thought-out concept, your product descriptions can also be a game-changing assets that can help with your SEO and UX efforts as well.
This is the case with the brand Who Gives a Crap, which sells eco-friendly toilet paper. Take a serious problem, infuse it with a taboo-ish everyday necessity, and sprinkle it with a sense of humor. Lastly, top it off with easily scannable product categories and detailed descriptions. This is a clear win in every marketing book.
Building Social Proof: Reviews and Testimonials
Statistics suggest that a whopping 95% of consumers read reviews before making a purchase, and 67% want to see many five-star reviews if a product has a high rating. Additionally, 30% of buyers conduct thorough research before purchasing a product.
Reviews, just like consistent branding, help build trust and create social proof on the internet. They are almost a prerequisite if you want to sell your goods on the web, as 92% of buyers are hesitant to make a purchase from a site with no reviews.
Skincare brand Duradry has set a great example for implementing reviews into its design. In addition to short user videos, it also features written testimonials, along with video content of dermatologists praising the products.
The Bare Necessities: Newsletter Signups and About Us
Distinguished brands need to solidify their presence and establish their authority with every available resource at their disposal. Newsletter signups and About Us pages are two powerful tools that companies often overlook.
A strong About Us page fosters trust and helps your audience better understand your brand. It’s also a perfect place to humanize your business through storytelling and clearly convey your message without distractions.
A newsletter and several signup buttons on your site can help you build and continue nurturing the bond between your audiences and your business. It’s also a more personal space and an excellent opportunity to showcase your expertise in your niche and possibly gain more brand loyalists.
ClearCover’s About Us page is a great example of how to reach your audience.
Best Shopify Website Examples
Now that we’ve listed all those design features that can help you stand out from the crowd and turn your online store into a hit, let’s take a closer look at a few of the websites we’ve discussed to see all the features that really make them resonate with their visitors.
Duradry
Duradry does a swell job with expert reviews and client testimonials. Still, it’s also a great example of clear and elegant eCommerce design, with imagery that matches the colors of the website.
The GIF-based, closed-caption product demonstrations are more engaging than static images, while the large hero image leaves enough space for CTA buttons and text. The brand excels at displaying its sales perks, such as free shipping and money-back guarantees, further bolstering its social proof.
Everlane
Everlane nails it by skillfully employing custom graphics to spotlight social proof and unique selling propositions (USPs). Plus, its sticky website header ensures smooth navigation, regardless of how far you scroll.
What's more, the intentional use of white space prevents any clutter, keeping the webpage clean and visually appealing. This, paired with mini-icons seamlessly blended with standard text, showcases the brand's dedication to minimalistic yet impactful design principles, perfectly aligning with its clothing style and transparent brand ethos.
FreshCap
FreshCap makes good use of imagery and brand colors while educating its customers about the products they offer. In addition to its inviting and engaging design, the site intuitively demonstrates to potential customers how the mushroom extract supplements can benefit them.
The fun graphics effectively communicate the benefits of the supplements, and once more, the use of GIFs surpasses static images in showcasing the products.
Start Selling With These Shopify Design Ideas
With the right approach and a creative mindset, there’s no obstacle that can stand in your way to establish yourself as a reputable and popular retailer on the internet. Shopify (along with other eCommerce platforms) offers a plethora of features to create a truly unique identity for your brand.
And, if you are wondering about the costs of Shopify development, you can always reach out to seasoned development agencies that can always give you an estimate or quote.
FAQs
How Do I Make a Cool Shopify Website?
In our book, a cool website is a platform that reflects a brand’s personality on every page. Also, a cool design stands out, dares to experiment, and creates a perfect balance between bold new elements, and traditional best practices that help customers make their journey through the sales funnel.
What Kind of Websites Can You Build on Shopify?
Shopify is generally considered an eCommerce platform, allowing you to sell goods online. However, you can also launch an auction website with it, a crowdfunding platform, a booking website, a multivendor marketplace, a digital product store, and more.
What Are the Benefits of Using Shopify?
The platform is very easy to use. It supports a wide range of businesses, comes with a free trial period, and continues with a monthly subscription fee which will vary based on your plan. SSL web hosting is standard, support is capable, the platform offers plenty of customization options, and above all, it’s a safe place for both you and your shoppers to do business.
