Shopify development & fractional tech partnership
You need Shopify expertise on demand—not another generic agency retainer. We build and maintain storefronts, connect the apps your operations depend on, and stay available as your fractional Technical Partner.
Who this is for
This is Shopify implementation help for product brands. It is not a content-marketing retainer or a ranking-guarantee package.
This is a fit
- Established product brands—physical goods or digital downloads—already selling online
- Teams that have outgrown a DIY theme and need a store that matches how customers actually shop, including product options and variants
- Owners who want a fast, clean, easy-to-run Shopify store without hiring a full-time developer
This is not a fit
- Pure service businesses trying to force Shopify into a model it is not built for
- Companies looking for blog production, social content, or paid-ads management
- Projects that need ranking guarantees or unpublished performance claims
Shopify engineering without the overhead
Wheelbarrow Digital works with growing brands that have outgrown DIY themes but are not ready for a full-time Shopify team. We deliver custom theme development, integration work, and steady retainers so merchandising, marketing, and ops can keep moving.
What clients hire us for
- Custom Shopify themes that reflect how you merchandise—not a stock template with your logo
- Reliable integrations with ERP, 3PL, subscription, and email platforms
- A technical partner who can join planning calls and ship the follow-up work
- Clear documentation so you are not locked into opaque customizations
Development modules
Pick a project scope or retainer block. These are the capabilities we combine most often for Shopify clients.
Custom theme development
Online Store 2.0 sections, performance-conscious Liquid, and admin-friendly content structures your marketing team can edit. “Theme” here means the design and layout of the store.
Theme customization
Targeted upgrades to an existing theme—checkout UX, collection filters, product detail modules, and brand refreshes.
Apps & integrations
Shopify app configuration, custom app proxies, and API work to keep inventory, fulfillment, and CRM data in sync. Typical setup includes Shop, Instagram/Facebook, and email as needed.
Ops automations
Workflow automation around orders, tags, and customer segments so repetitive admin work stays off your plate.
Fractional retainer
Ongoing hours for fixes, small features, and technical guidance—like an embedded Shopify engineer on a schedule that fits.
Technical SEO add-on
Structured data, redirect strategy, and Core Web Vitals work layered onto theme projects or migrations.
How we partner
- 01
Discovery
We learn your catalog, integrations, and internal workflows to recommend project vs. retainer fit.
- 02
Plan & prototype
Milestones, theme wireframes or integration diagrams, and a shared backlog with clear owners.
- 03
Build & review
Iterative development with staging previews and structured feedback from your merchandising and ops teams.
- 04
Launch & support
Go-live support, documentation, and optional retainer hours for the work that follows launch.
Proof on file
Detailed Shopify case studies are being prepared. Until those are published, this is the public work we can point to without inventing results.
Common questions
01What does a Shopify “theme” actually mean?
The theme is the design and layout of the store: how collections, product pages, and checkout feel. We can start from a custom build or heavily customize an existing theme so it matches your brand and the way customers shop.
02How do you price a store build?
Scope is based on pages, products/variants, and required integrations. Simple builds typically land around $2,000–$4,000. More complex design, variants, and apps are usually $4,000–$8,000+. We confirm that after seeing the current store.
03Do you also write blogs, run ads, or manage social?
No. This is technical Shopify work: theme, apps, integrations, migrations, and ongoing engineering help. Content production and media buying are outside this service.
04Can you migrate from WooCommerce?
Yes. WooCommerce-to-Shopify migration is a core offer. If that is the main job, start on the migration page so we can talk about catalog, customers, orders, and existing links.
05What happens after launch?
You get a documented handoff. If you want ongoing help, we can switch to a monthly technical-partner retainer for fixes, small features, and store health.
Need a Shopify Technical Partner?
Tell us what you are selling, what is broken or slow today, and whether you need a project or ongoing support. We will respond with next steps—not a boilerplate proposal.
> Book Shopify discovery