If you're looking to upgrade your online store, getting a new theme is a great place to start. Whether you're just starting out or are an established brand, upgrading to a new theme can be beneficial. However, before you start looking for a new Shopify theme, there are a few things you should know to ensure a successful purchase.
What is a Shopify theme
A Shopify theme is essentially a pre-designed template for your online store. It determines the layout, color scheme, and overall appearance of your store. There are both free and paid themes available on the Shopify theme store. Free themes are a great option for those just starting out or on a tight budget, while paid themes often have more advanced features and customization options.
Where to find trusted themes
The Shopify Theme Store is the ideal starting point when searching for a theme. Each theme available on the store undergoes a thorough review process by the Shopify team to ensure they meet high-quality standards. This means you can trust that the themes on the store are reliable and well-designed. Additionally, listed themes are required to release updates to fix bugs, common issues, and support new features.
At the end of the day, the best themes on the market are sold through the official Shopify Theme Store. The review process and standards are top-notch. Theme partners are also informed about new features before the public, giving them a head start when integrating new features. This is great for merchants seeking to take advantage of the latest Shopify features.
Make a wishlist of features
Before beginning the theme selection process, it's helpful to create a list of the features you would like your store to have. Take a look at other stores in your industry to get some inspiration, and consider what your customers might want from your store.
If you are an existing brand, this process might even involve your customers. Talk to some of your loyal customers to get their feedback and see what they like about your current store and what you could improve on.
Once you have a list of ideal features, you can filter the available themes based on these requirements to narrow down your options.
Define your brand
When selecting a theme, it is important to consider the specific elements or styles that define your brand. You want to ensure that the theme you choose is capable of achieving the look and feel you desire for your store. This may include particular color schemes, fonts, or layout styles. If your brand has an extremely minimal and clean visual identity, you should start with a theme that follows a similar direction.
Pick your top 5
Once you have reviewed themes that have the desired features and visual direction, it is time to install trials of your top 5 choices. Spend approximately 30 minutes customizing each theme to get a better sense of which one will work best for your store. This will allow you to see how the theme looks with your own products and branding in place. By doing this, you will start to notice which themes you prefer and which ones are not among your top picks.
Contact the theme makers
If you still have questions or need more information about a particular theme, consider reaching out to the developers. Most are happy to help and can provide valuable insights into the features and capabilities of their themes.
Talk to your developers
If you frequently work with a development agency or freelancer, it's a great idea to speak with them. Often, developers will have their own input to share and can help shed some light on your theme selection. This way, you can ensure that the theme you end up with is something your developers are comfortable working with.
What do you think? What do you look for when choosing a new Shopify theme?
— thomas (@itstomkim) March 8, 2023
Founder, Brickspace Lab Thomas is the founder of Brickspace Lab, a Canadian-based digital agency that specializes in the design and development of Shopify themes. Thomas has worked with hundreds of Shopify clients and has spent many years in the depths of ecommerce.
