15 Best Shopify Stores of 2022 to Take Inspiration in 2023

There has never been so much opportunity in the e-commerce industry, nor so much competition. The slope of the return on advertising spend is a driving force to prioritise customer lifetime value and promote brand loyalty.

Trust is the key to the future of e-commerce. Brands should be clear, which is easy to reach their customers, especially where online shoppers spend more time: on social media. Social e-commerce trends are at the centre of online shopping for tomorrow’s consumers, and brands are investing in video and live marketing.

Digital marketing companies (DTCs) are also investing in online communities to improve their reputation, increase customer loyalty and overcome rising advertising costs. Succeeding in this new e-commerce space will require a unique vision and behaviour.

We’ve conducted extensive research with hundreds of DTC brands and thousands of consumers to identify the most important e-commerce trends for 2023, and the strategies that your business needs to stay ahead of the game ahead of competition.

According to recent industry reports, e-commerce will account for 20.4% of the global retail market by the end of 2022, from just 10% five years ago. In other words, the e-commerce space is expanding.

The rapid growth of e-commerce can be attributed to many factors – Covid-19 is one of the main ones. In times of uncertainty, virus fears and containment policies have led to changes in consumer behaviour, leading to more offline and online stores. A large number of e-commerce businesses are emerging as time demands.

The Shopify eCommerce Platform

Shopify is an easy-to-use e-commerce platform that helps small businesses build an online store and sell online from a dashboard. Shopify customers can build a modern online store and sell on social media sites, reseller marketplaces, blogs and other websites, as well as via email, text and chat. Selling yourself is also hot air with Shopify, as well as point-of-sale (POS) for retail stores, pop-up stores, retail sales, and more.

Simply put, the Shopify shops platform is a subscription-based software-as-a-service (SaaS). It offers four standard e-commerce store subscription plans, starting at a fee of $29 per month. All standard plans support branded online stores with in-person apps and full online shopping.

There is also a “Lite” plan for just $9 per month. It doesn’t include an online store but supports mobile POS sales and buy-sell buttons on websites, blogs, and emails.

All plans offer comprehensive business management tools. Essentials like product sourcing, sales and inventory tracking, payment processing, shipping, accounts receivable, marketing, and reporting are built into every Shopify plan. Plus, you can easily expand your Shopify app with hundreds of Shopify apps.

Shopify works by organizing your product, customer and operational data into one system that seamlessly connects to all of your sales channels. Once the basics are in place, the e-commerce hopping platform makes it easy to explore and expand into new product lines and channels.

It’s as simple as counting to two…

1. Sign up for a free 14-day trial of Shopify

You can try Shopify risk-free for two weeks. Shopify does not ask for your credit card upfront.

2. Connect your marketing channels

The Account Setup Wizard connects your initial marketing channels, which you can change and expand at any time.

The Latest Shopify Editions

Shopify Edition is the company’s semi-annual showcase of what’s new in products and features. The Summer 2022 release includes many exciting new developments. We thought it would be useful to pick out the things we liked the most, explain what they can mean for your business, and what else you can do to get the most out of Shopify.

1. B2B on Shopify

This offers a new kind of groundwork so that you can manage your entire business from a single branded store, or choose an expansion store built for business.

2. Shopify Markets

Shopify continues to add more features to make selling internationally easier and more powerful for customers.

Consider the effort required for translation. If your site and catalogue are simple, Shopify Markets may be an easy choice. However, if you need custom images, product descriptions, live content, marketing campaigns, equity, etc., for any market, and you don’t have native speakers on your team for fast translation, you may incur delays and other charges. It is important to consider all the different needs unique to your business.

3. Shopify Fulfilment Network + Shop Promise + Deliverr acquisition + Carbon neutral + Shop Cash

Shopify now offers a combination of services to help customers compete in the customer experience when it comes to shipping and returns. Shopify Fulfilment Network provides a warehouse for product storage, order fulfilment, and managing processing and tracking returns. A “Store Guarantee” sign at checkout helps remind your customers that your store guarantees two-day delivery.

Deliverr’s availability supports customer inventory management and early fulfilment tools (such as inventory tracking, packaging, and labelling to prepare for requirements). Another badge, Shopify Planet, tells customers that your brand cares about the environment by offering carbon-neutral shipping.

Shop Cash is a new rewards program for shop staff – customers can earn 1% shop cash on all checkout purchases and redeem them on shop equipment.

4. Discount Combinations

Shopify now allows customers to collect multiple discount amounts in one process.

5. Headless: Hydrogen + Oxygen

Shopify now offers developers a set of tools (Hydrogen) to make building a barebones store easier, faster, and more affordable. Oxygen offers hosting services, so customers don’t have to worry about infrastructure and server maintenance.

6. Built for Shopify

Developer tools and guides help us easily build and configure apps that work like native apps.

7. Audience

Shopify is looking to fill the void that is Facebook advertising. Merchants can then use the Merchant Network to identify “like” merchants and export audience lists to social media platforms.

Shopify Business Categories

With so many products and brands to choose from, how do you narrow down your search and find the best niche to focus on when it comes to Shopify e-commerce? What types of products have the most or least competition? Maximum profit margin? The best opportunity to grow your product offering? How do you join the rankings of the best and most successful Shopify stores?

Of course, there is no limit to the number of articles you can have, Shopify does not have categories, but for the products you have, you can create different “collections” as Shopify itself claims.

We have done a thorough analysis of these products and tried to organise the variety like the best Shopify websites would.

When you sell on Shopify or any e-commerce platform, it’s important to know where and what your customers and clients are buying. You sure don’t want to open a muscle car dealership next to a crowded food court, do you? The same goes for Shopify as well as the other e-commerce platforms available.

If you have or create a product in a niche or category that few people buy, you may not get the desired results. We’ve done some research, and we’re going to look at the most popular models for selling as a Shopify store:

1. Clothing (27.7%)
2. Jewellery and watches (12.5%)
3. House and garden (12.4%)
4. Fashion accessories (5.5%)
5. Health & Beauty (4.5%)
6. Tools (3.7%)
7. Children’s games, toys and hobbies (3.4%)
8. Shoes (2.9%)
9. Books (2.8%)
10. Food and drinks (2.3%)
11. Other (22.3%)

Don’t forget to look at the types of products, and the number of products in each of these types and see if this type of product is very competitive or is eligible for a profit before choosing your niche.

What Does Shopify Do?

Shopify is a leading commerce platform that helps over a million users manage and sell products online, in-store, and on-the-go. The platform is quick, easy to set up, and offers brands manageable features like design themes, 24/7 support, Shopify web designers, a range of payment gateways, compatibility with POS system, a blogging platform, a domain name, an app store for additional functions to add to your site, and so much more.

Shopify continuously finds ways to ensure running an eCommerce site is made easy; companies that aren’t well versed in the technical or marketing sides can instead focus on their growth. They’re also always updating; their latest update is Shopify email, an email marketing tool designed for brands to create and run email campaigns, track analytics, and build firmer relationships with your customers. They’ve even partnered up with advertising platforms like Google and Facebook to create a variety of different campaigns to capture users.

It’s no wonder Shopify is a popular commerce platform to use for a wide variety of businesses (and why there are so Shopify success stories), but it’s always good to research the benefits a platform has for you. So, what are the most successful Shopify stores? Here’s 15 of the best Shopify stores 2022 to take Shopify store inspiration from.

Best Clothing And Fashion Shopify Stores Examples

1. Allbirds

Allbirds is a great example of an engaging website and one of the top Shopify trending stores. As a retailer specialising in sustainable footwear, Allbirds uses a variety of natural materials like merino wool, eucalyptus tree fibres, and sugarcane to create their products. With a focus on materials, sustainability, and quality, it’s no wonder Allbirds just keeps growing; it was valued at $1.4 billion after just two years. This is definitely a brand to watch.

What do we love about this Shopify store?

Their well-designed products are expertly advertised in a user-friendly layout and theme that showcase the brand and Allbirds’ sustainable story. Their homepage is seasonal and compliments products with an autumnal and winter colour palette, has cosy imagery, and inviting taglines like “make your mistletoes merry” to incite imagination and encourage sales. Nothing on this site is left untouched; even the Christmas extended refund policy and gift card option is paired with quirky illustrations and enticing words.

2. JooSee Vienna

Representing modern Viennese chic, JooSee Vienna creates clothing for fashion conscious women for day and evening wear and is another one of our favourite Shopify website examples. We worked alongside the brand’s creative director to find an eCommerce solution that reflected the unique style, culture and innovation of the company. We asked ourselves, which eCommerce platform is best for fashion business? For JooSee Vienna, it was Shopify.

What do we love about this Shopify store?

On the home page, the user can experience a video featuring some signature clothing from JooSee’s latest collection. The media shows a woman dancing in some products, showcasing the easy movement, cut and flattering shapes of each design; it’s engaging, almost mesmerising to watch, keeping user attention and enticing them to click “shop now” to browse the seasonal styles.

3. Gymshark

Gymshark is one of the fastest growing brands in fitness apparel and accessories, and one of the biggest Shopify stores with customers in 131 countries. They’ve built an online community, including 3.7 million followers on Instagram, and pride themselves on creating a Gymshark family under a unified brand vision.

What do we love about this Shopify store?

Gymshark have optimised their user experience by creating seamless interactions with products, using roll over images and the option to add your size to your cart, all without viewing products in a new window. This feature is great to capture sales from users that know their size, know what they want, and don’t want to click through multiple pages.

4. Canada Icons

Canada Icons showcases Canadian products, or “icons,” such as canoes, parka jackets, and snowshoes. While there aren’t many items for sale, this site incorporates the rich history of Canada, creating a story behind the passion of producing these products and the country surrounding them.

What do we love about this Shopify store?

Their homepage layout flows seamlessly, incorporating greyscale images reminiscing history, and links “learn,” “shop,” or “donate” alongside some categories. Showing information, product, and charity support together reinforces customer security, reliability, and trust in the company, as well as ethics and charitable cause to donate to.

5. Sunglass Hut

Sunglass Hut is an internationally renowned retailer of stylish sunglasses and sunglass accessories. First set up in Miami, this international company prides itself on selling high quality and designer brands to users online and in over 3,000 stores worldwide.

What do we love about this Shopify store?

Sunglass Hut has a clear emphasis on designer, premium brands, and creates a list of top designers alongside “new arrivals,” “best sellers,” and “essentials.” Giving users the option to choose specific brands also enhances retention rates by removing unnecessary browsing; users still have the option to browse if they’re looking for something different.

6. The Virtú

The Virtú produces unique fashions of unparalleled quality with a focus on refined luxury details. They develop their fashion using tattoo artists while creating clothing that reflects the modern art of rock and roll. The Virtú collection reflects the passion and diversity of its London-based designer who is passionate about art and tattooing.

What do we love about this Shopify store?

Their store is functional, modern and offers a great user experience. The graphics are key because of the unique nature of Virtú designs and products

7. Amy Henley

Amy Henley designs seasonal collections for women who appreciate fashion at the highest level. Designed in London and carefully crafted by artisans in Italy, the Amy Henley collection supports the importance of sustainability, tradition, and style.

What do we love about this Shopify store?

The design of the store takes the user on a journey through Amy Henley’s timeless collection, incorporating a series of traditional designs and modern fashion.

Best Food and Beverage Shopify Stores Examples

8. Craft & Mason

As speciality coffee roasters, Craft & Mason produce a small range of carefully selected blends for coffee lovers. They believe in knowing exactly where coffee has been sourced, and quality is key; they’ve even been recognised nationally for it by receiving a National Good Food Award in 2017.

What do we love about this Shopify store?

Craft & Mason’s website is divided well with a range of different grid layouts; this clear and concise approach allows users to navigate easily between product and information. The Craft & Mason Instagram feed is featured, directly linking the social site to create an instant access to mobile apps. After all, social media is a great tool to feature on your website that allows your brand to make personal connections and create a space to easily update your customers.

9. Pipcorn Snacks

Made from heirloom corn, Pipcorn Snacks create environmentally stable, nutritious products, from popcorn to cheese balls. This company has grown in a niche market and taken the healthy snack world by storm, and takes in an estimated $5.1 million revenue annually.

What do we love about this Shopify store?

Upon entering the site, you’re immediately approached with an entry pop-up to sign up for their email list in exchange for a discount. Using this strategy is great if you want to grow your audience fast, and also comes with the added bonus of driving traffic directly to your product.

Their site is also visually stimulating, with animated visuals creating a story around the brand. A simple chat option is featured that will either answer on the page or via an email, which allows users to get an answer to questions after leaving the site and encourages return traffic once an answer is received.

Best Home Décor and Furniture Shopify Store Example

10. Haus

Operating both in-store and online, Haus offers contemporary furniture lighting and homeware. Each product is sourced from small independent designers to leading European designer brands; there’s something for everyone who has an eye for contemporary homewares.

What do we love about this Shopify store?

The Haus website features a clean interface with hero images to scroll down through, and unlike previous websites, a side navigation bar. It doesn’t scroll with the rest of the page, has a clear font, and easily navigable categories. This feature epitomises the contemporary feel of the whole site and looks visually appealing.

To make shopping even simpler, Haus also features a top navigation bar, giving users the option to use simple logos to reach their contact or returning customer page. They also have an option to change currency, making users from Europe and the Americas more comfortable shopping with prices they can relate to.

Best Beauty and Health Shopify Store Examples

11. KKW Beauty

Created by Kim Kardashian-West in 2017, KKW Beauty sells beauty products and accessories. The company works to give users the opportunity to achieve the same look as Kim K, creating a community around style and makeup. In the first product launch, KKW Beauty earned an estimated $14.4 million sales.

What do we love about this Shopify store?

To keep users engaged with the site, KKW Beauty incorporates launch dates and live countdowns to new collections, a “back in stock” scroll product bar, and “get the look” features. These Shopify features, select colour palette and images to match product lines, creates a seamless look across the entire site. Matching colour makes the site memorable, associating it with the reality star and playing on celebrity influence.

12. Amarte

Amarte is a Korean skincare brand that prides itself on its ingredients. Their legacy combines ancient Eastern skincare philosophies with Western dermatology innovation. In collaboration with the Bio-Organic Institute in Korea, the brand offers the purest, best ingredients to create the best products possible.

What do we love about this Shopify store?

The e-commerce store showcases luxury products and brands. The user is taken on a wonderful journey to explore the brand philosophy. An easy-to-navigate website with a subscription service, allowing the user to order products quickly.

Best Electronics and Gadget Shopify Store Example

13. Leather Head Sports

Leather Head Sports first started as a passion for making heirloom quality sports goods, such as balls and accessories. They aspire to get people to disconnect from electronic devices and reconnect with loved ones through sports and their products.

What do we love about this Shopify store?

Their unique feature is not just a passion they have for creating quality leather goods, it’s that you can design your own ball and customise it. With a built-in FAQ area, Leather Head makes it easy to customise, showcasing gift ideas and types of engravings you can make use of. They’re also constantly suggesting “order now,” using buttons and repeating commands to ensure customers will click through, even if it’s just to see what’s customisable.

Best Jewellery and Accessories Shopify Store Example

14. Veins Paris

Veins Paris is a brand with the clear aim of creating fine jewellery for fashion-conscious consumers. The brand showcases its lasting heritage in all its work and considers it as one of the core values of its brand.

What do we love about this Shopify store?

A beautiful e-commerce site that takes the user on a journey through the backstory of Vein Paris, breaking traditional design trends against refreshing gold. The luxury jewellery is on display, designed to keep customers coming back for more.

Best Sustainable Apparel and Accessories Shopify Store Example

15: United by Blue

United By Blue removes one pound of waste from oceans and waterways for every product sold. The clothing and home company founded by Brian Linton incorporates sustainability into all aspects of its operations. United By Blue strives to end the use of single-use plastics such as polythene bags, bubble gloves, and plastic tape.

What do we love about this Shopify store?

Not only is the company eco-friendly, but their website is also easy to navigate. Their purpose is showcased front and centre, making it easy for the user to understand what makes the brand so unique.

Shopify Usage Across The Globe

It’s clear to see that Shopify e-commerce is a force to be reckoned with, but is it actually changing the world? Let’s take a look at the facts and figures related to Shopify usage worldwide to find out.

• Shopify stores operate businesses in 175 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Brazil, India, and New Zealand. Zeeland.
• The Shopify platform supports 20 languages.
• About two-thirds of Shopify stores are based in America, with 71.27% of domains using Shopify registered in the United States, followed by the United Kingdom and Australia.
• Europe accounts for 17% of Shopify’s sales. Shopify has a market share of 3.9% in Germany and 2.7% in Spain.
• 15% of online stores in Denmark use Shopify, 8% of online stores in the Netherlands, Norway, and Luxembourg, 5% in Sweden and 4% in the United Arab Emirates.
• The number of Shopify stores in the UK continues to grow, as seen with a 55% annual increase in the UK in 2021.
• The number of entrepreneurs starting an online business in the UK using Shopify increased by 106% last year.
• With an average transaction of $141.72, Japanese shoppers are the top spenders on Shopify stores, followed by Canadian shoppers at $100.66 per transaction.
• The country with the lowest Shopify trade value is France, which sees a trade value of $65.04.
• Shopify customers in Germany are the fastest buyers; on average, German customers take only 17.5 minutes to complete a purchase.
• Shopify has 2.1 million daily active users worldwide.
• Shopify’s only physical store is located in Los Angeles, California, United States.
• Shopify is one of the most popular e-commerce platforms in the world, with a 25% market share in the United States alone.
• In the UK, Shopify’s market share is 20%, behind WooCommerce.
• The majority of UK Shopify stores are based in England (22,107), with Scotland coming second (1,470) and Wales third (659).
• In 2021, Shopify is the largest name in the US e-commerce market, used by about 29% of websites that use e-commerce technology.

Takeaway

There’s a lot to gain from researching other websites, as you’ll often find features that will suit your site and which you’ve never seen before. Shopify is a great platform to cater for a variety of brand markets, create visually appealing and effective eCommerce platforms, and enhance every user experience to optimise conversions and keep customers returning. From the best Shopify stores of 2022 we’ve looked at, here are some ideas you can take from them:

• Feature social media and connect with your audience so you can keep them engaged and updated
• Get creative and showcase looks and gift ideas, and use upsell product pop-ups that complement other products
• Create specific gateways to minimise unnecessary browsing for customers that know what they’re looking for
• Use sign-in incentives and trade a discount for someone’s email to grow your audience
• Use Countdowns to keep users coming back to your site for reductions and new launches
• Make use of seasonal imagery and optimise key times of the year to compliment your brand and drive sales
• Create seamless interactions and use FAQs if your brand does customisation (Make it easy!)
• Feature stories, either with images or text that showcase the history of your product and your identity