13+ years building high-performing Shopify stores
Custom theme development — no off-the-shelf templates
CRO-focused design built to convert visitors into sales
SEO-structured from the ground up
Transparent pricing — $4,000–$25,000 AUD
30 days post-launch support included as standard
Direct access — you work with me, not an account manager
Shopify is one of the world's most powerful ecommerce platforms — and one of the most competitive to rank on. Getting a Shopify store live is straightforward. Getting it to load fast, rank well, convert visitors, and scale without breaking takes a developer who knows the platform inside out.
I'm Aaron Knight, a Sydney-based web designer and developer with over 13 years of experience building and optimising Shopify stores for Australian businesses. From custom theme development and new store builds through to migrations, app integrations, and ongoing optimisation — I deliver Shopify development that's built to perform from day one.
Custom Shopify Theme Development Off-the-shelf Shopify themes are a starting point, not a finished product. I design and build custom Shopify themes tailored to your brand — faster, more flexible, and better optimised for conversion than any template. Every theme I build is mobile-first, structured for SEO, and designed around how your customers actually shop. My technical expertise includes liquid templating and Shopify APIs, which support custom Shopify solutions for more complex storefront requirements.
New Shopify Store Builds Starting from scratch? I'll take your store from zero to live — setting up the shopify account for a first store or rebuilding an existing shopify website for an established brand, including domain setup, theme development, product catalogue structure, payment gateway integration, shipping configuration, and everything in between. You'll receive a fully functional, well-optimised store ready to start selling. Marketing setup and content management can be configured from launch so your online business is ready for selling online. Familiarity with australian payment gateways and shipping nuances also matters in local Shopify development.
Shopify Store Migrations Moving from WooCommerce, Magento, or another platform to Shopify? I handle the full migration — products, collections, customer data, customer records, order history, and SEO redirects — so nothing is lost in the transition, staged cutovers can minimise downtime, and your seo rankings are protected.
Shopify App Integration & Automation From email marketing platforms and loyalty programs to inventory management systems and third-party logistics providers — I integrate the apps and tools your store needs to operate efficiently. The shopify app store covers many standard tools and extensions. When off-the-shelf apps are not enough, I use custom development to deliver the right fit. If a custom integration is required, I can build it.
Shopify Speed & Performance Optimisation A slow Shopify store loses sales. I’ve seen a Shopify store with 43 apps return a PageSpeed score of 12. Page speed directly impacts both conversion rates and search rankings. I audit and optimise existing stores for load speed — compressing images, removing redundant apps, cleaning up theme code, and improving Core Web Vitals scores. Consolidating apps can improve PageSpeed scores by over 20 points and help keep the store running smoothly.
Shopify SEO Shopify has specific SEO considerations that many developers overlook — canonical URL issues, duplicate content from collection and product URL structures, pagination, and schema markup. I build SEO-compliant Shopify stores from the ground up and audit existing stores to fix the issues that are holding back rankings.
Conversion Rate Optimisation A beautiful store with a low conversion rate is a missed opportunity. I review store structure, product page design, checkout flows, and the seamless user experience — then implement changes designed to maximise conversions and increase average order value without requiring a full rebuild.
Digital Marketing for Shopify Stores A well-built store needs traffic. I offer SEO, Google Ads management, and email marketing services for Shopify store owners who want to actively grow their customer base. Every marketing engagement is built around your store's data — not generic campaigns. For more complex requirements, shopify plus supports headless commerce and advanced checkout customisation.
Ongoing Shopify Support & Maintenance Every project includes 30 days of post-launch support as standard. Ongoing support plans are available for stores that need regular updates, app management, performance monitoring, and seasonal campaign builds. Ongoing maintenance covers updates, monitoring, issue resolution, and new features so the Shopify site keeps running smoothly.
Shopify powers over two million stores worldwide and is one of the most popular ecommerce platforms for product-focused businesses that need a fast, reliable, scalable online store. It handles hosting, security, and platform updates automatically — removing the technical overhead of a self-hosted solution and letting you focus on running your business. For growing brands, it also remains one of the popular ecommerce platforms because it scales cleanly as requirements evolve.
Shopify is particularly well-suited to:
Businesses launching a new online store that needs to move quickly
Product-focused retailers with straightforward catalogue structures
Businesses that want a hosted solution without managing servers
Stores that need to scale reliably as order volumes grow
Brands that want a clean, performant front end with a simple backend
Key platform benefits include built-in SSL encryption and PCI compliance, support for all major payment gateways including PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, thousands of apps for extending functionality, and a backend that's genuinely easy to manage without technical knowledge. Built-in content management and order management are also practical strengths when running a Shopify website. Modern builds also benefit from Online Store 2.0, which gives more flexibility and scalability for successful Shopify stores.
It's worth being upfront: Shopify isn't the right fit for every business. Content-heavy brands that need deep WordPress integration are often better served by WooCommerce. Businesses with complex catalogue structures, advanced pricing rules, or multi-store requirements — and, for Australian businesses, local considerations such as GST compliance — may be better suited to Magento. I'll give you an honest recommendation during the initial conversation — the goal is always the right platform for your business.
AI tools are increasingly practical for Shopify store owners — automating the repetitive tasks that consume time and improving the customer experience at scale.
AI Chatbots & Automated Customer Service
A well-built AI chatbot integrated with your Shopify store handles routine customer enquiries around the clock — order status questions, product queries, returns and refunds, and product recommendations. For stores receiving high volumes of repetitive support requests, this dramatically reduces manual workload while improving response times for customers.
AI-Powered Automation & Workflow Tools
From automated abandoned cart sequences and post-purchase follow-ups to inventory alerts and reorder workflows — I build AI-powered automation tools that connect your Shopify store to your broader business platforms and handle routine tasks without manual intervention.
AI Integration & Consulting
Not sure where AI fits in your Shopify operation? I offer consulting to help store owners identify where automation and AI tools will deliver real value — whether that's customer service, marketing automation, inventory management, or personalisation.
A note on foundations
AI and automation tools work best when they're built on a well-structured Shopify store — fast load speeds, clean data, and a logical product architecture. I take an integrated approach: the stores I build are designed from the start to support automation layers where they make sense.
Shopify partner for long-term growth. I've built and optimised Shopify stores across a wide range of industries — from fashion and homewares to health, food, and industrial products. Every store is different, and I bring the platform knowledge to handle the specifics. As one of the local shopify experts, I focus on long-term performance, not just launch. When comparing providers, client reviews and live portfolios are the best way to verify a developer's track record, and reviewing portfolios matters when hiring. Certified Shopify Partner status indicates verified credentials, and freelancers can also be found through the Shopify Partners Directory when businesses are comparing options.
Direct access. You work with me throughout — no account managers, no handoffs, and a direct line for questions and support. Strategy, design, development, and ongoing support all come through one person.
Transparent pricing. Most Shopify projects fall in the $4,000–$25,000 range depending on scope. Custom builds, complex integrations, or large catalogue migrations sit higher. You'll get a clear, itemised quote after an initial conversation, with a fixed price once scope is defined.
SEO-first approach. Every Shopify store I build is structured for search from the ground up — URL structure, metadata, schema, page speed, and content hierarchy all considered from the start.
Post-launch support included. 30 days of post-launch support comes standard. Ongoing plans are available for stores that want active management long-term, with support packages starting from $500 per month from expert shopify developers.
Most projects fall in the $4,000–$25,000 AUD range. A straightforward store with a custom theme and standard product catalogue sits toward the lower end. Stores requiring complex integrations, custom app development, or large catalogue migrations sit higher. Shopify's own monthly subscription fees apply on top — plans currently start from around $56 AUD per month, and ongoing support packages start from $500 per month. I'll give you a clear, itemised quote after an initial conversation.
A standard Shopify store typically takes four to six weeks from briefing to launch. More complex builds — large catalogues, custom integrations, or platform migrations — take longer. Timeline is agreed upfront and I won't commit to a deadline I can't deliver on.
Yes — Shopify's backend is designed to be straightforward to manage without technical knowledge. Adding products, updating content, running discounts, and reviewing orders are all handled through Shopify's admin interface for content management and order management. I'll walk you through everything at handover.
Shopify has solid SEO foundations but comes with some known issues — duplicate content from collection and product URL structures, limited control over certain meta elements, and canonical tag handling that needs attention. I build Shopify stores with these issues addressed from the start, and can audit existing stores to identify and fix problems holding back rankings.
Shopify is one of the most popular ecommerce platforms for product-focused stores and is better for businesses that want a hosted, low-maintenance solution that scales reliably. WooCommerce is better for businesses that need deep content integration, extensive customisation, or already have a WordPress site. I'll give you an honest recommendation based on your specific requirements — see my WooCommerce development page for a full comparison.
Yes. I handle full platform migrations — products, collections, customer data, customer records, order history, SEO redirects, and staged cutovers to minimise downtime. A properly managed migration protects your existing search rankings and ensures nothing is lost in the transition.
Yes. Whether you need a performance audit, speed optimisation, SEO fixes, conversion rate improvements, or ongoing development support — I work with existing Shopify stores for existing customers and new clients alike, as well as new builds. Get in touch with a description of what you're trying to achieve and I'll let you know what's involved.
You don't pay for the store until you're happy with it. Every project includes revisions throughout the process — I won't consider the job done until we've arrived at something we're both proud of. Before any work begins, I take the time to understand your goals properly, whether that's over a call or a Zoom.
If you're looking for direct senior support rather than a larger shopify development agency, I'd like to hear about your project. I work with Sydney businesses on Shopify website projects and will give you a straight answer on what's involved, what it will cost, and what's realistic to achieve.
Call Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 on (02) 8317 3526,or send through an enquiry and I'll get back to you promptly.
Aaron Knight | Freelance Web Designer
Dover Heights, NSW 2030
Tel: 02 8317 3526
Email: me@aaronknight.com.au
© 2026 by Aaron Knight. All rights reserved.
