Today, we took the initiative, and we are happy to announce the first-ever Best Shopify Stores Olympics!
Before we take a look at our Shopify contestants, let’s talk eCommerce for just a sec.
Ecommerce has constantly been growing since the birth of the Internet. Today eCommerce marketing is responsible for more than 13% of the global annual sales.
This isn’t surprising, though, since online retail has become easier and more accessible both for sellers and buyers.
A couple of decades ago, having a website was a big deal. Today it’s a must. Fortunately, the existence of eCommerce platforms like Shopify has made the process easier than ever.
Now that we got that out of the way let’s see some of the best online stores out there.
What are our criteria?
As I said before, today, we’ll try to discover the best Shopify stores existing out there.
Each of these stores will be unique as they all have different goals to achieve and/or different audiences to reach.
To be fair and objective, we’ll break them down into categories and judge them according to their:
- Structure
- Design
- Content
- Strategy
With that in mind, let the Shopify Store Games begin!
Best Food & Beverage Shopify Stores
1. Pipcorn Heirloom Snacks
Pipcorn Heirloom has one of the most eye-catching website designs out there.
What’s interesting about this store is that it was once featured on ABC’s Shark Tank, where the owners got a deal that marked the beginning of their success.
As a small family business, Pipsnacks has turned into a fast-growing Shopify store that knows how to satisfy its customers’ need for tasty snacks.
Why We Like It
Pipsnacks has a beautiful eCommerce website design that gives users a unique customer experience.
The discreet animations and the visitors’ ability to interact with the products on the homepage are also a big plus for the store.
Consistency plays a major role in having the best Shopify store out there. For Pipsnacks, having a solid Shopify theme and product pages that complement their homepage is key.
When it comes to tabs, the store opts for simplicity by including four, two for the product and brand story, and another two for the blog and store locator.
What’s more, I loved that at the bottom of the page you can sign up for their newsletter through a simple newsletter signup form.
The Verdict
Gold Medal both for creativity, innovation, and user-friendliness. Pipsnacks sure knows how to make a great first impression and boost its sales.
Bonus Points
Pipsnacks is totally worthy of the gold medal. But that’s not all!
The Shopify store also earns extra points for its brilliant email marketing!
When you sign up for their newsletter, you’ll get well-crafted email campaigns promoting their natural products and vegan snacks.
Here’s a drip campaign I got when I became part of their list:
Pro Tip: If you want to make your store successful and boost your conversion rate, make sure to invest in an eCommerce-friendly email marketing service.
For instance, you can sign up for a free Moosend account to get access to responsive email newsletter templates, advanced eCommerce AI and marketing automation tools!
2. The Great Cookie
The Great Cookie is a business that couldn’t be missing from our best Shopify stores list.
It carries a success story and is dedicated to selling cookies and cakes. How crazy?
Goodies in different designs and flavors are displayed all over the page, and frankly, this design made me drool.
And a bit more about the design: It is attractive and playful, making it the perfect fit for the products.
There are also two tabs you can select if you sort the products by category or occasion. This is why it has earned a place on our list.
Why We Like It
It seems that timing is a core part of this website’s business.
That’s why they have created a dedicated tab where they suggest cookies for each specific occasion.
There is also a big CTA just in the middle of the page that you can use to instantly order a cake as a gift.
The fact that it is customizable is a big bonus as well. As you can see, by clicking on the “cross” symbol, you can start customizing your own cookie cake as simple as that.
The Verdict
Silver Medal because of the super-smart “Occasion” and the authentic design.
3. LazyFruits
LazyFruits is an online shop that sells… well, you guessed it, fruits!
This is another cool example of a Shopify store that will make the sales process easier.
On their homepage, you will find all kinds of fruit that you can just drop in your cart.
While the design consists of a white background, the products displayed on it create a colorful scene, which is a pretty clever and unique design, in my opinion.
Why We like It
This Shopify store simulates a walk into the grocery store. This experience made me feel like I’ve always been shopping for fruit online while I’ve never done that before.
I also liked the little yellow “Did you know” tab on the bottom left and the quick buy function, which makes the process of filling your basket even faster.
The clean and user-friendly design is this store’s best suit.
Nevertheless, some of the visuals are a little blurry, which is a big minus if you ask me.
The Verdict
Bronze Medal because no email forms or exit-intent popups exist, which is a must-have for every eCommerce website.
Best Shopify Stores by Influencers
1. Tsuki Market
Tsuki Market is the eCommerce business child of famous influencers and gamers Felix (a.k.a Pewdiepie) and Marzia Kjellberg.
Now let’s take a moment to appreciate the eye-catching design of this collaborative effort.
Tsuki is a very user-friendly website, as it favors minimalistic website design. As you can see, there are only three buttons on the main menu.
It’s worth mentioning that the couple promotes the store through Instagram and Youtube, and they also model for the clothes exclusively.
Every post they make perfectly complements their store, increasing their audience’s desire to check it out and make a purchase.
Why We Like It
While this Shopify store is still new, the color palette, visuals, and feel perfectly embody Felix and Marzia’s love for playful, elegant, and practical designs.
Also, to make it even more unique, the couple has also included kanji translations of their buttons. Something that perfectly reflects the brand’s personality.
After all, according to the owners, the name Tsuki is the Japanese word for Moon.
Finally, both the store design and friendly welcome message from the co-founders also add personality to the eCommerce business.
The Verdict
Gold Medal because Tsuki’s enchanting elements, minimal feel, and personality give visitors an almost transcending experience.
2. CR7
Apart from being a popular football player, Cristiano Ronaldo is also the second most-followed account on Instagram with 238M followers.
As a popular influencer, Cristiano couldn’t miss the chance to create his own personal brand and Shopify store called CR7.
The store relies heavily on the footballer’s image to promote his collections.
An impressive tactic, especially when you are one of the most influential people on the planet.
Why We Like It
What makes CR7 one of the best Shopify stores on our list is the high-quality images and the clear store structure.
Visitors can instantly click on each collection and find the relevant product pages.
What’s more, the Shopify store’s color palette adds playfulness, while the purple calls-to-action catch the eye.
CR7 also includes product images of discounted and popular products, which potential shoppers can buy with a single click.
The Verdict
Silver Medal because Cristiano Ronaldo’s Shopify store has a simple and playful Shopify theme to attract customers’ attention.
3. Ninja
Ninja is another famous gamer and influencer with one of the biggest channels on Twitch, with thousands of viewers.
The online store has gone through major changes since its opening, and, as you can see, the homepage now features a short video with Ninja’s merchandise.
The webpage is simple and doesn’t include many pages or a lot of buttons.
This simplicity helps you browse almost all of his products straight from the homepage.
Why We Like It
Ninja’s Shopify store serves a clear purpose: sell his merch to his fans.
Most of them are redirected to the store after clicking the links on his Youtube or Twitch channels.
Listing only a few items that are featured on the homepage makes the purchase process seamless for those who want to support his Gaming streaming efforts.
And along with the short video featuring his collection, Ninja creates a beautiful Shopify design to increase his sales.
The Verdict
Bronze Medal because while this is a snappy and well-structured online store, it misses proof that this is Ninja’s merch without a picture of him.
Best Shopify Stores by Fashion Designers
1. Jane Motorcycles
Jane Motorcycles is a fashion Shopify store example that uses bold photography on its primary page.
Scrolling down, you will find the website’s products showcased in their natural environment.
A close-up of a leg wearing a leather shoe while riding a motorbike or a man wheeling his machine are just a couple of them.
Aside from the website’s ease-of-use, the overall look-and-feel really intrigued me.
Why We Like It
On top of the page, you will find the “Shop” tab where you can explore the store’s product pages.
What I really liked about it, though, is that when I hovered over it, I found the listings segmented in two different columns.
The first one sorts the products by category and the second one sorts them by brand.
Really clever and extremely practical.
Also, it’s worth mentioning that the Shopify store is equally snappy and responsive.
It turned my whole experience into a joyful ride, so it has rightfully earned first place in our top Shopify Stores list!
The Verdict
Gold Medal because this drop-down menu is one of the best and most practical I’ve ever seen.
2. 8 and 9
8 and 9 is a streetwear brand and arguably one of the best Shopify stores I’ve seen.
Your first contact with the website will be a big photo that speaks in street style terms and changes dynamically.
Scrolling down, I was impressed by the way these guys chose to direct their visitors.
Nine big tabs, clearly stating-visually and verbally-where they are leading to. That’s it!
Fortunately, they also managed to squeeze in an email form to the bottom of the page, which is not ideal but better than nothing.
Why We Like It
The brand has done a great job, convincing the visitor that they have a great sense of style at first glance.
Their product pages system is straightforward, with big product images and good segmentation.
Items on sale are also easy to spot, which makes the buying experience super easy.
(I actually couldn’t resist that 50% discount on their T-Shirts, so I bought one without hesitation!)
The Verdict
Silver Medal because this is a great eCommerce store designed with the user in mind but with the email form placed in a really odd part of the site.
3. Skinny Dip
I didn’t really know what Skinny Dip was until I visited the website.
And I didn’t need more than a couple of milliseconds to figure out what this Shopify store is about.
This is really what a great online store should absolutely do!
The soothing tones, visuals, and the overall feminine design, energetically imply that this is a women’s fashion Shopify store.
Why We Like It
Skinnydip is one of these stores that manage a lot of different tabs and sections without cluttering the content.
Nevertheless, I caught myself navigating through the site with ease, which, in my opinion, is a requirement if you want to be included in a list with the best Shopify stores.
What’s more, the tabs are wisely picked out to demonstrate what each one of them represents with the “Sale” one being in bright red color.
It also doesn’t lack CTA buttons or subscription forms on its landing pages, which are essential converting mechanisms.
The Verdict
Bronze Medal because it is a tidy and responsive website with a legit design but without any innovative ideas.
Honorable mentions
Let’s be honest. The fashion industry has so many Shopify store examples that it’s impossible to include everything in a single list!
While I had to pick three, here are a few more stores that stole my design-loving heart:
Allbirds
Allbirds is a shoe brand famous for its sustainable and natural products.
The brand’s Shopify store is elegant, and, as was the case with many other examples, the product is present throughout the homepage.
Simple, elegant, and with the product in mind, Allbirds has an amazing store to increase sales and promote its brand identity.
Taylor Stitch
Taylor Stitch is a classic men’s clothing brand famous for its workshops.
As with other examples in this list, Taylor Stitch uses photography to reinforce the “classic” element of its products and boost their sales.
This Shopify store is a great example of how elegant website design, short copy, and clear CTAs can work in tandem.
Bombas
Last but not least, we got Bombas, a comfort-focused sock and apparel brand that also helps those in need.
The Shopify store differentiates itself through its vibrant color palette and product display.
Playful and youthful, Bombas has the right design elements and CTAs to attract its audience, boost conversions, and promote its good cause.
Best Shopify Stores by Cosmetics Brands
1. Kylie Cosmetics
No introductions are needed here.
Kylie Cosmetics is one of the top 500 Shopify stores in the world owned by world-famous influencer and fashion icon Kylie Jenner.
You will figure out what you should expect regarding the content and the products of the website right off the bat, even if you are not familiar with Kylie’s brand.
The background color is a soft pink that follows the rules of a website in the cosmetics industry, and at the same time, it doesn’t distract.
Why We Like It
Kylie’s strong point is her lips. However, according to her, this was not the case from the start.
The influencer’s insecurity led her to create her own makeup brand, whose starting point was none other than her signature lip kits.
As you can see, when you combine your personal story with your online business, you will end up with a powerful conversion machine that everyone loves.
I really liked the way this is pointed out with close-up, high-quality images of lips covered in Kylie’s products.
Design-wise, Kylie’s store reflects her younger target audience. Soft pink and red tones make the perfect combo to promote her beauty products in the most effective way.
The Verdict
Gold Medal because it is a well-known website of a well-known brand that knows its target audience and its buying habits.
2. KKW Beauty
Kylie Jenner’s equally popular sister, Kim Kardashian, is also in our top Shopify stores list with her own KKW Beauty store.
While she is an expert when it comes to Instagram Influencer marketing, she also maintains one of the top Shopify stores globally.
Her Shopify store has a neutral design with a natural look that doesn’t confuse the visitor.
Kim’s store also has a simple structure that makes it easier to navigate.
User experience is pretty straightforward, as well. Nevertheless, the store has dropped the drop-down menu and has separate buttons for each product page, which can be a little overwhelming.
Why We Like It
KKW Beauty has a solid concept, even after scrolling further down the page.
By that, I mean that it is effectively driving visitors to purchase the products while reminding them that this is Kim Kardashian’s beauty brand.
This is extremely important for an eCommerce website whose monthly sales are based on promoting the brand through social media.
What’s more, KWW Beauty also leverages one of the most sophisticated eCommerce tactics of all time: social proof.
By displaying star ratings underneath the product images, the store instantly becomes more credible, which will lead to a better conversion rate.
The Verdict
Silver Medal for this beautiful eCommerce store that supports Kim’s personal brand and drives sales.
3. Carbon Beauty
At Carbon Beauty, you will find cosmetic and beauty products like shampoos, fragrances, and makeup.
It has an intuitive and playful design with lots of colors that highlight its youthful spirit.
The minimalist design allows you to explore the products through the homepage.
Otherwise, you can click on the menu located on the top left corner and choose a category.
Why We Like It
The interactive nature and the countless animations of this Shopify store make it a very fun ride.
While this was not the most conversion-optimized choice, and it may confuse some people, I liked the creativity they implemented to design this diverse and cool user experience.
Overall, Carbon Beauty’s design innovation and interactivity are what make it worthy of a place in our top Shopify stores list.
The Verdict
Bronze Medal because it offers a unique and magical experience that may confuse inexperienced internet users.
BONUS: Check our Fashion Marketing Tips guide!
Honorable Mention
Happiness Abscissa has a peculiar website design that I couldn’t leave out of this list.
Its creativity and structure make this Shopify store unique. Nevertheless, this peculiarity might frustrate visitors a little bit.
The store is probably one of the best examples of breaking free from the conventional website design that most stores adopt.
So, I thought you should check it out for some inspiration!
Best Sports Shopify Stores
1. Gymshark
Gymshark was created in 2012 by a group of teenagers.
Since then, it has managed to evolve into one of the most successful Shopify stores of fitness apparel.
Why? Because it utilizes a minimalist design with a lot of photography featuring the products and CTAs.
Why We Like It
I just can’t resist some simple user experience that won’t make me try too hard.
Gymshark contains only three main drop-down buttons on the top of the page where you should only be bothered by one of them, depending on your gender.
The bold “Explore” CTA button makes sure to stand out and, in case you are not really sure what you are looking for, help you find the best product for you.
My favorite part is the Instagram feed at the bottom of the page where you can shop the look on the photo.
This is actually one of the best Shopify stores I’ve ever seen since it conveniently drives the potential customer to the shopping cart.
The Verdict
Gold Medal because it simply checks every mark of a store that is able to convert most of its visitors with crazy fast loading speeds and ease-of-use.
2. Dryrobe
Dryrobe is a case of a brand that created a very specific and unique product and stayed focused on it, instead of expanding its collection.
Their main page consists of an action-packed, fast-paced clip showing people wearing the Dryrobe.
The brand cleverly incorporates user reviews and testimonials to increase its on-page SEO and push its skeptical buyers towards conversion.
Why We Like It
When it comes to design, the first tab will take you to a page where you can see every variation of their robe accompanied by big visuals and clear copy.
The last two tabs include a “How to choose” section, which is essentially a guide, and a “Featured Activities” section, which presents you with visual content of people using the Dryrobe in different activities.
The fact that this brand has to sell only one product with variations, gave them plenty of space to promote it the right way.
This way, their website will always bring up the value of the product by marketing it in many different ways and highlighting its benefits.
Originally, Dryrobe was third on our list. Nevertheless, the changes it has made have allowed it to become something more special for its customers.
The Verdict
Silver Medal because the user will instantly find what he is looking for, and the Shopify store has re-evaluated its design.
3. Ventana Supplies
Ventana is a success story amongst Shopify store owners, featuring products that target the surfers’ community.
Brown is the leading shade here, matching the colors in most of the brand’s products.
A carousel of high-quality photographs covers the majority of the screen, displaying every important part of a surfboard’s life, from the moment it is crafted to the moment it is ridden.
The three windows that pop up with each hover to describe the brand’s philosophy are a nice touch as well.
Why We Like It
While this is not one of the best-structured (user-experience wise) Shopify stores that I came across during my research, it triggered some feelings that I don’t usually get behind a screen.
The product photos are so good, and the light is so natural that I could almost feel the breeze and smell the sea.
In my opinion, that’s exactly what a store selling surfer equipment wants to achieve!
The Verdict
Bronze Medal because the design is accurate on what it is trying to represent, but the brown tones at the bottom of the store may be a little old-fashioned.
Best Lead Generating & Converting Shopify Stores
1. Miracle by Aloft
Miracle by Aloft is a brand that offers sheets, towels, and pillowcases using antimicrobial silver.
This is one more minimalistic eCommerce store that eliminates unnecessary content and pages.
And that’s mainly the reason why it’s among our best Shopify stores list.
The store leverages soft shades of blue to create a sense of relaxation and bring up the feeling of snoozing among your fresh sheets.
Why We Like It
When I scrolled and clicked through the Shopify shop, I found out that it was ridiculously conversion-optimized.
From the beginning, you will notice the “Shop Now” button that is accompanied by the brand’s tagline. (Which is really well-written by the way)
Scrolling further down, you will come across more Shop Now buttons, a showcase of the product’s benefits along with their USP’s and a 100% refund promise.
In order to make sure that you won’t leave the store without taking action, a popup appears asking for your email address in exchange for a 10% discount.
And, of course, an exit-intent popup comes up to remind you of your free return prerogative and provide you with a $15 discount.
It’s also worth mentioning that every CTA will take you to a new page specifically designed for the product you have selected.
There, you can find product reviews and testimonials. And you know well that adding those will give your on-page SEO a huge boost!
If I had to guess, I’d say that these guys also have a great eCommerce email marketing strategy in place to drive their acquired leads deeper into their sales funnel.
The Verdict
Gold Medal because, without any exaggeration, this Shopify store is one of the best conversion-optimized websites I’ve ever seen.
2. Beardbrand
Beardbrand is a brand that grew rapidly when the beard trend came about.
These guys did an excellent job leveraging content marketing to build their audience, which they later integrated with their Shopify store.
Unlike all previous stores, Beardbrand doesn’t use its homepage to sell products, but rather strengthen their brand image even more.
Why We Like It
Facial hair grooming can be a pain if you are inexperienced.
Beardbrand knows that, and they want to help.
Their homepage has only one CTA, which asks the visitor to take a quiz to personalize your visitors’ experience.
What makes its strategy unique is the online form Beardbrand asks you to fill in at the end of the quiz.
This way, they are able to create a strong first impression by recommending you some facial hairstyles based on your answers while you subscribe to their email list for some future “nurturing.”
This is a great example of a conversion rate optimized website that is not about making sales in the first place.
The Verdict
Silver Medal because the quiz to help you find your style in exchange for an email address is just genius.
3. Death Wish Coffee
Death Wish Coffee is a coffee brand that claims to have the strongest coffee on earth.
The website does not have a lot of pages, and most of its content is displayed in big and clear text.
In general, the design agrees with the brand’s bold character, a fact that convinces you about the product.
There is also a line of red text that warns potential buyers about how addictive the product is to back up the brand’s claims.
Why We Like It
Since you probably are on their website to buy their coffee, there is no reason for you to take unnecessary steps to reach the checkout page.
And you won’t have to, since the Shopify store gives you a “Buy Now” button from the moment you set foot on the page.
If you check the box, you will also be able to receive a new pack of coffee every week, which is great to boost your recurring purchases.
The Verdict
Bronze Medal because while this is a great example of a well-converting website, it just isn’t better than the previous two.
Takeaway
As you may have noticed, the recipe for creating a successful Shopify store is not a fixed process.
There are numerous different ways to design your store, depending on your niche.
During our digital best Shopify Stores Olympics, we saw numerous examples and ideas. However, if you want to succeed, you shouldn’t copy them randomly.
What works for someone else is not guaranteed to work for you.
Use your innovative spirit, creativity, and instinct to understand the psychology and intent of your users and deliver the experience they’re looking for.
With this in mind, it’s time to let your imagination run wild and create the best Shopify store out there!
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