Shopify Agency : How to choose the right one ?

Looking for a Shopify agency based in France? Then let me introduce you to Pikka, my 100% Shopify agency based in France in Paris and Bordeaux !

why a shopify agency ?

As you know, Shopify is one of the most popular e-commerce solutions in France and worldwide.

It is estimated that there are between 800,000 and 1,000,000 active Shopify sites on the five continents.
After spending years on Prestashop, Magento, Hybris, Mirakl, Salesforce commerce cloud and on the advice of a friend e-merchant in Japan, I decided a few years ago to test Shopify.
And that was the revelation! Simple to install, easy to use, very pleasant to use with a crazy ergonomy, I immediately wanted to build an e-commerce website with Shopify.
You can read my complete review of Shopify to get a better idea of what I think of this solution for creating online shops.
Thanks to the themes and applications available on Shopify, I was able to quickly create the site of my dreams.

At that time, I had already created an e-commerce consulting agency, Skeelbox, which I decided to resell to my partner to convert and create Pikka, the e-commerce agency dedicated to Shopify. Since then, Pikka has grown a lot and has been able to create beautiful websites for many customers. Unfortunately, it is not possible to show them all because some clients prefer to remain discreet and we have created some white label sites at the beginning for other agencies.
Today this is no longer the case because Pikka has a good visibility in the Shopify ecosystem in France but also with international projects.
You can see the updated references on the agency's official website in Shopify client references here.
Of course, we still have some work to do before we become the best Shopify agency in France, and why not in the world, but at least we're in the running.

Shopify agency in France

Born in Bordeaux, Pikka is an agency that can offer to any retailer, VSE, SME or e-commerce merchant in France its e-commerce website creation services under Shopify.
Our Bordeaux offices are located at 4 cours de l'intendance, in the heart of Bordeaux and can welcome you for a working meeting on Shopify with our teams.
This is the ideal place to help you define and create your Shopify project in the presence of experts.
Even if we are present every day in our offices, it is strongly recommended to make an appointment on the agency's website in order to receive an adapted welcome.
Indeed, we take care to receive all our clients and prospects in good conditions and this obviously requires human availability.

Shopify paris agency

In order to be as close as possible to our clients, we have also opened an office of our agency Shopify in Paris, in the 12 arrondissement next to the Place de la Nation.
Our Parisian offices are located at 13 rue de Charenton, 75012 Paris.
Please note that our offices are open by appointment only! Make an appointment on the agency's website to get an advice and analysis session of your Shopify project.

Why only shopify?

One of the questions I am often asked is "why did I choose to do only Shopify sites?
It's true, I could have created a multi-platform agency and thus target more customers. With more than 10 years of experience on Prestashop and Magento sites, we would have had what it takes.
But it's not my choice. I sincerely believe that Shopify is clearly a platform for e-commerce and dropshipping that is 10 years ahead of its competitors.
Shopify is a solution that our customers love and everyone we test Shopify with asks for more. I don't know of a single one of our customers who would go back.
Choosing to specialize in Shopify may seem risky from the outside, but it's also a way to reassure our customers and prospects that we have confidence in the Shopify solution and its future.

There are still relatively few Shopify agencies and we have a great place to be in order to make Pikka the reference agency everywhere in France for the creation of Shopify e-commerce sites. This is my goal and I know we will reach it.

When do you have to go through a shopify agency?

But you may be wondering: if Shopify is so simple and efficient, why go through an e-commerce agency specialising in Shopify and not develop the site yourself?

Well, you should know that it's quite possible and that some of our Shopify customers have started out this way.
However, it's an approach that can have several limitations, the first one being the skills in html integration and ruby on rails (or its "light" version at Shopify called "Liquid").
But let's look at the advantages and the reasons to go through a Shopify agency like Pikka

Create an e-commerce website with shopify

If you want to create an e-commerce site with Shopify then it is generally advisable to go through an agency.
Of course, you can create a nice shop yourself on Shopify but it might take you some time and convert less than a shop made by a professional.

In addition, creating a Shopify shop still requires many skills that can take time to master. Going through a Shopify expert agency means you will benefit from professional support, skills and methodology that will make your shop fit your customers and your business. For example, it means avoiding that the natural referencing of your Shopify shop is not deficient.

Modify a shopify theme

If you want to modify a free Shopify theme or a paid theme, again, it's best to use an integration agency that has Shopify at its fingertips.
Why should I use one?
Because Shopify doesn't just use html and css for its themes. You also need to master many aspects of the "Liquid" language, a variant of ruby on rails, to create powerful and powerful themes.
As always with programming languages, it is possible to learn, but unless you want to become a developer, I don't recommend it. A business owner who starts in e-commerce has already enough work as it is.

Develop specific applications

Another good reason to go through an agency and have a specific application developed for your business.
Do you need a specific connection with your logistician? With an external service? Or any other idea unique to your business?
Then you need to go through a Shopify technical agency who will master the development API and build your custom application.

Save time on the launch of your shopify project

Finally, perhaps one of the best reasons to go through a certified shopify partner agency is simply to save time and money on your project.
Do you want a professional website that sells quickly developed and fits your needs? Then only a shopify agency can bring you that.
Developing your first Shopify site is indeed a time-consuming journey, with many misconceptions about Shopify and many pitfalls to fall into that will cost you money and/or time.
A Shopify agency like Pikka, who has developed many e-commerce sites over the last 10 years and who masters Shopify, will be able to avoid these pitfalls and keep a project schedule.

Get quality and a guarantee

Going through a shopify partner agency is also a guarantee and quality. Quality in the development of the code, in the rigour of the tests and in the training of its developers.
It also means having the guarantee to keep schedules and a budget, which is much more difficult to do when developing in-house.
By working with a team of experts, you will avoid most of the commom erros on Shopify makes by new mechants
Well, with Shopify there is no need for maintenance or bug fixes. Developing a shopify site in-house makes little sense because the skills you acquire will not be useful to you on a daily basis.

How to choose a Shopify agency?

So, how do you choose the right Shopify agency for your e-commerce project? Obviously, I recommend you to contact Pikka, my agency 100% dedicated to Shopify.
We are here to offer you the best quality/price ratio and top-of-the-line service for your online shop projects.

A detailed quote

A good Shopify agency should be able to provide you with a detailed quote for its services so that you can compare with other agencies or other e-commerce solutions.
However, in order to provide a detailed quote, it is necessary to provide a set of specifications or an expression of needs.
If you receive a quote for Shopify e-commerce site creation when you have not explained your project, run away!
Every online store is different and it is necessary to spend some time to understand your project.
Obviously, with experience, it is possible for an Shopify expert agency to give a price range according to your needs.
Speaking of quotes, it is not always a good idea to go with the cheapest agency. The goal for you is not to pay as little as possible, in my opinion, but to find the agency that has understood your need.
An agency that is much cheaper than others can simply show that they don't know Shopify or that they have forgotten part of your project. Believe me, this happens more often than you might think.

Available but not too soon

Having an estimate is good, but if you want the project to start in a year's time, it may not be worth it.
Having a close availability is important so that you can enjoy your site quickly.
Watch out for agencies that can start tomorrow morning. This is not necessarily a good sign.
Organizing an agency usually takes a few days to start a new project, or a few weeks if the developers are already busy.
A priori, today, a Shopify agency in France has at least a few weeks of work ahead of schedule.
On the planning side, also think about asking what happens if deadlines get out of hand.
Good planning is a key skill in a modern, professional Shopify agency.

A common feeling

Without getting into good feelings, outside of the budget and planning and of course the understanding of your project, a fundamental element remains human nature.
You can't get along with the salesperson or the project manager? The creation of the Shopify site can be long and complicated, even if the agency is performing well.
For my part, I take care of creating all the quotes and I make it my duty to warn clients and prospects that we are going to live a human adventure over several weeks or months.
It is therefore essential to be able to create a bond and to feel committed to the project.
My last piece of advice should therefore be the first: choose an agency that believes in your project and that will invest as much as you do to make it a success in all respects.

conclusion

Here you have a presentation of my Shopify agency and you have all the cards in hand to choose the best Shopify e-commerce agency for you!
I sincerely hope that you will find the agency best suited to your project and that you don't hesitate to ask Pikka for a quote to get an idea of our services and the quality of our services.