10 Inspiring Shopify Success Stories For New Entrepreneurs

Shopify has asserted itself as a dominant force in the e-commerce landscape with over 5.2 million e-commerce websites built on its platform. Businesses of all sizes, from new startups to well-known brands, use Shopify’s powerful tools to create thriving online stores.

Think Shopify business might be a waste of time? Not a chance! We’re going to show you real-life examples of stores that took off and the strategies they used to win. Get ready for a major boost of inspiration from 10 entrepreneurs who killed it on Shopify.

Our top 10 Shopify success stories, from well-known businesses and top Shopify stores, have been shared widely, sparkling motivation for anyone aspiring to build their venture. They’re living proof that your online business dream can become a reality.

Let’s explore the list!

1. Fashion Nova

Revenue: $900M+

Fashion Nova is one of the most successful Shopify stores and also a leading fast-fashion brand renowned for rapidly introducing new apparel and lifestyle products. Its dominance in the market is evident in its 2018 accolade as the most-searched fashion brand on Google.

Launched online in 2013 and headquartered in Los Angeles, Fashion Nova has expanded to include five physical stores in Southern California. The brand’s digital footprint is substantial, boasting over 150,000 website followers in 2021 and a combined social media following of more than 25 million over the past decade.

What makes Fashion Nova successful?

The brand boosts engagement by sourcing content from its users on social media. This approach enables the brand to connect with its intended audience across various social platforms. Moreover, by tailoring content to resonate with its target demographic, the brand increases its potential to attract new customers.

Additionally, Fashion Nova incorporates customer images to showcase its products, creating more engaging and practical content that is easily accessible to users. This practice also highlights the fashion products in authentic settings, demonstrating their inclusivity across various body types.

Key takeaways:

• User-Generated Content: Leverage user-generated content to boost engagement and connect with your audience across various platforms.
• Authentic Customer Showcases: Use photos of customers wearing their products to create more engaging and relatable content that highlights inclusivity and diversity.

2. Gymshark

Revenue: $500M+

We can’t miss Gymshark, a prominent player in the fitness apparel industry. Founded in 2012 by Ben Francis, Gymshark began as a small screen-printing operation in a garage. The brand quickly gained popularity by leveraging social media and influencer partnerships, particularly within the fitness community.

What makes Gymshark successful?

Gymshark’s success can be attributed to its strategic use of social media marketing and influencer collaborations. By partnering with fitness influencers and athletes who embody the brand’s values, Gymshark has been able to build a strong community around its products. The brand also focuses on creating high-quality, stylish, and functional athletic wear, which resonates with its target audience.

Key takeaways:

• Influencer Marketing: Leverage influencer partnerships to reach a broader audience and build a strong community around your brand.
• Social Media Engagement: Use social media platforms effectively to engage with your audience and create a loyal customer base.

If you are planning to open a Shopify fashion store, check out our top 17 Shopify Clothing Store examples and they will definitely give you some ideas on your own business.

3. Allbirds

Revenue: $200M+

The third inspiring brand that we want to mention is Allbirds, which is renowned for its comfortable and eco-friendly sneakers crafted from natural materials like wool and eucalyptus. The company’s founders, engineer Zoey Zwillinger and footballer Tim Brown, embarked on a mission to create a comfortable running shoe that minimized its environmental impact.

Allbirds officially debuted in March 2016 as a direct-to-consumer brand. Almost immediately, it garnered a strong online reputation for its high-quality products, backed by overwhelmingly positive customer feedback. By 2018, the company had secured a $50 million investment led by T. Rowe Price, valuing the business at an impressive $1.4 billion.

What makes Allbirds successful?

Allbirds disrupted the footwear market by introducing a unique product: comfortable, stylish shoes made from sustainable materials. This novel approach set them apart from competitors. From its inception as a crowd-funded venture, sustainability was a core principle, differentiating Allbirds from the outset.

By collaborating with influencers who shared their eco-conscious values, Allbirds generated significant buzz on social media, podcasts, and in popular publications. This strategic approach rapidly expanded their customer base and solidified their position as a major player in the footwear industry.

Key takeaways:

• Unique and Sustainable: Stand out with a unique product that blends style and sustainability. This sets you apart and appeals to eco-conscious consumers.

• Influencer Marketing: Partner with influencers who share your brand’s values to reach a wider audience and boost brand awareness.

4. Rothy’s

Revenue: $140M+

Rothy’s is a footwear company known for its eco-friendly and stylish shoes made from recycled materials, including plastic water bottles. Founded in 2016 by Stephen Hawthornthwaite and Roth Martin, Rothy’s has rapidly built a strong reputation for its commitment to sustainability and its comfortable, stylish shoes.

Rothy’s website has a minimalist and impressive design with a clean white background and ample white space. The homepage features high-quality images and video banners showcasing products in natural settings.

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What makes Rothy’s successful?

Rothy’s stands out in the market by offering a unique product that combines sustainability with style. The company’s commitment to environmental responsibility, coupled with its innovative use of recycled materials, has resonated with eco-conscious consumers.

Additionally, Rothy’s has effectively used social media and word-of-mouth marketing to build a loyal customer base.

Key takeaways:

• Sustainability: Focus on sustainability and eco-friendly practices to appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.
• Innovative Materials: Use innovative materials and manufacturing processes to create unique products that stand out in the market.

5. Chubbies

Revenue: $30M+

Among many shopify success stories, Chubbies is widely recognized as one of the most innovative menswear companies in the market today. Chubbies, a high-quality clothing brand, launched with a clear mission: to make men love short shorts again. Inspired by their own chilled-out youthful weekends, the founders wanted to sell more than clothes, they wanted to sell a carefree way of life.

In 2011, Chubbies burst onto the scene with their eye-catching take on men’s shorts. These weren’t your average pair – they were shorter, bolder, and splashed with fun designs. The unique style caught on fast, even with celebrities. Chubbies went from a startup to processing thousands of orders daily, all while shaking up the world of casual wear.

What makes Chubbies successful?

Their social media strategy is a key ingredient for their success. They keep it fun and interactive with quirky campaigns that encourage fans to participate by creating their own content. This playful approach resonates perfectly with their target audience: laid-back college guys.

This upbeat, cheerful, and youthful atmosphere extends beyond social media. It’s brilliantly reflected on their website, creating a welcoming atmosphere for their target market. The brand even fosters a sense of community by giving their followers nicknames like “Chubsters” and referring to them as the “Chubster Nation.” These playful touches make customers feel like they’re part of something special, further solidifying Chubbies’ position as a successful brand on Shopify.

Key takeaways:

• Engaging Social Media: Build a strong social media presence! Just like Chubbies, create a fun and interactive strategy with quirky campaigns that encourage user-generated content.
• Community Building Across Platforms: Let your brand personality shine not just on social media, but across all platforms. Take a cue from Chubbies and extend their playful vibe to their website design and even use nicknames to foster a sense of community.

6. Pipcorn

Revenue: $10M+

Pipcorn stands out in the often-opaque snack industry. Founded in 2012 by Jen and Jim Martin, the brand prioritizes transparency in its ingredients. While popcorn is their flagship product, the brand has expanded its range to include crunchy crackers and flavorful cheese balls, providing customers with a variety of delicious and wholesome snack options.

Pipcorn’s Shopify store is a visual delight. With its captivating design and compelling brand story, it’s considered one of the best Shopify stores. The website’s vibrant aesthetic perfectly complements the brand’s focus on delicious and wholesome snacks.

What makes Pipcorn successful?

Pipcorn’s Shopify store is a vibrant reflection of the brand. The website’s engaging design, featuring lively animations, colorful illustrations, and lifestyle photography, immerses visitors in the Pipcorn experience. This visual storytelling effectively showcases the brand’s personality and highlights the value of its products.

Pipcorn effectively conveys its brand story and values. The “About Us” page highlights the family’s passion for sharing joy through food. Additionally, the consistent use of a well-chosen Shopify template reinforces the brand’s identity across all website pages.

Key takeaways:

• Storytelling Through Design: Go beyond product descriptions! Use engaging visuals like animations, illustrations, and lifestyle photography to tell your brand story and immerse visitors in your world.
• Cohesive Brand Identity: Maintain consistency across your website. Choose a well-designed Shopify template and ensure all pages reflect your brand’s story and values.

7. Partake Foods

Revenue: $10M+

Driven by a mother’s love, Denise Woodard founded Partake Foods . Faced with limited allergy-friendly options for her daughter’s multiple food allergies, Denise took matters into her own hands. Inspired by the lack of healthy snacks for her child, she embarked on a mission to create delicious and inclusive treats – thus, Partake Foods was born.

Here’s an interesting fact: Woodard faced rejection 86 times from investors before finally securing startup funds from an investment firm owned by Jay-Z. Since then, her company has experienced significant growth, and she was even featured on CNN’s Business Edition.

What makes Partake Foods successful?

At the core of her success lies a commitment to creating a high-quality product. Partake cookies are not just allergy-friendly, they’re delicious. This focus on quality ensures customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Woodard initially underestimated the power of email marketing. However, she now recognizes it as a crucial tool for sustained growth. Building and maintaining an email list allows Partake Foods to educate customers about their products and foster a long-term relationship with them. This strategy goes beyond one-time sales and cultivates a loyal customer base.

Key takeaways:

• Prioritize Quality First: Don’t compromise on quality! Just like Partake cookies, ensure your product is not only functional but also exceptional.
• Email Marketing Matters: Learn from Woodard’s experience. Leverage email marketing to educate customers, nurture long-term connections, and cultivate a loyal customer base.

8. WP Standard

Revenue: $5M

In 2009, Ryan Barr launched WP Standard with a modest initial investment, securing his first sale via a $20 advertisement on a guitar forum. Initially focusing on leather guitar straps and wallets, WP Standard has since expanded its offerings to include a diverse array of leather goods, including totes, messengers, backpacks, belts, and other accessories.

Today, WP Standard has grown into a thriving ecommerce enterprise, achieving seven-figure revenues, employing several staff members, and cultivating a loyal customer base that values its premium leather products.

What makes WP Standard successful?

WP Standard maintains full control over its operations. By handling design, production, and distribution in-house, the company ensures product quality and efficiency throughout the entire process.

Ryan emphasizes the importance of building an email list early on for online store success. He believes that cultivating a subscriber base from the beginning is crucial for long-term growth. Ryan recommends using Klaviyo to start building an email list immediately. “Email is the only channel you really own. Facebook, Instagram, and Google search are all very fickle and those companies will make you pay for access to the people on those platforms.” - Ryan Barr

Key takeaways:

• In-House Control: Manage design, production, and distribution internally to ensure product quality and operational efficiency. This maintains high standards and streamlines the production process.
• Early Email List Building: Email marketing is crucial for online store growth. Start building an email list from the outset for long-term online store success.

9. Asphalte

Revenue: $3M+

When talking about shopify success stories, Asphalte is a must-mentioned. Asphalte adopted an innovative approach when it launched in 2016. Instead of traditional production methods, the brand opted for a pre-order model. Asphalte uniquely decided to produce clothing exclusively based on customer preferences, without requiring upfront payment.

What makes Asphalte successful?

Asphalte emphasizes quality and sustainability by collaborating directly with manufacturers, bypassing intermediaries to ensure high-caliber products and lessen environmental impact. Their durable clothing not only satisfies customers but also reduces their ecological footprint.

A distinguishing feature of Asphalte is its innovative pre-order system, which engages customers in the design phase through surveys prior to production. This method reduces waste since garments are manufactured only upon confirmed orders.

Asphalte’s online store stands out with its visually appealing and refined presentation. The brand effectively showcases its products with top-notch photography, establishing a cohesive and luxurious visual style. This sophisticated design complements the product imagery, enhancing the overall shopping experience.

If you are looking for some Shopify apps for your clothing stores, read our article about Top 10 Shopify Apps for Clothing Stores in 2024 .

Key takeaways:

• Focus on Desired Products: Just like Asphalte, prioritize delivering products that truly resonate with your customers, rather than solely chasing profits. Customer feedback is key to understanding their needs and desires.
• Visually Appealing Surveys: Make it easy and engaging for customers to provide feedback. Consider using attractive pop-up designs on your homepage and product pages to encourage participation in surveys and feedback mechanisms.

10. Bebemoss

Revenue: $1-$2M

Bebemoss is one of the best successful shopify success stories to inspire entrepreneurs. Bebemoss is a toy company founded by French-born Izabela Ersahin, a mother of three residing in Istanbul, Turkey. Bebemoss boasts unique, handcrafted toys designed by Ersahin, made with certified safe, organic cotton and hypoallergenic materials.

As a social entrepreneur, Ersahin employs stay-at-home mothers, primarily Syrian refugees, to produce the toys. This provides these women with an opportunity to rebuild their lives while contributing to the creation of lovingly handmade toys. The brand’s commitment to social responsibility and the unique quality of its products have made Bebemoss a favorite among mothers worldwide

What makes Bebemoss successful?

Bebemoss uses Shopify to implement a charitable initiative. With each customer purchase, a portion of the proceeds is directly allocated to supporting working mothers in Istanbul, enabling them to earn a living wage.

Visual appeal is a cornerstone of Bebemoss’s Shopify strategy. The website meticulously showcases their toys, employing high-quality imagery that vividly captures the vibrant colors and charming details, mirroring a child’s perspective.

To maintain customer engagement and maximize sales, Bebemoss relies on Shopify’s flexibility to implement dynamic pricing and promotions. The platform allows for frequent updates, ensuring accurate product pricing and timely communication of discounts, deals, and special offers.

Key takeaways:

• Social Impact through Ecommerce: Integrate a charitable initiative into your Shopify store to demonstrate social responsibility and appeal to conscious consumers.

• Optimizing Your Shopify Store: Many shopify apps offer powerful tools to enhance your online store. Utilize Shopify’s features to enhance your online store, including high-quality visuals and dynamic pricing strategies.

Conclusion

This journey through 10 Shopify success stories has shown you the diversity and immense potential of this platform. Each business carries valuable lessons on how to approach the market, build a brand, and connect with customers. Take these lessons to heart and apply them to your own entrepreneurial journey.

Hopefully these profitable Shopify stores serve as a wellspring of inspiration for anyone considering venturing into e-commerce. With millions of independent businesses thriving on the platform, there’s never been a better time to join the Shopify community and elevate your business.