Shopify Web Design vs Square (Up) for Handmade Ecommerce
2nd Vie is a treasure trove of handmade gifts and homewares, and were ready to invest in web design and ecommerce support after moving to Shopify from their previous platform, Square (Up). From magnetic bookmarks, lavender sachets and gift bags, to reversible totes that can fold up into itself, 2nd Vie’s sustainable product range is practical, without costing the Earth.
Square’s site speed was limiting for creating and managing products, as well as limited web design and custom coding ability too. Square also has had increasing subscription costs with reduced functions over time. This was becoming too frustrating for 2nd Vie and many other Square users to continue with this ecommerce platform in 2025.
Shopify Solutions for Handmade Ecommerce, Markets & Events
Shopify POS for Markets & Events
2nd Vie also regularly attends local markets in their Mount Kuring-gai community, as well as interstate events like Le Festivale – Brisbane French Festival. By using their Shopify POS system for their in-person sales, they can keep product inventory and management synchronised and running smoothly across their site and markets.
They’ve also benefited from the mass product editing and management capability with Shopify for their handmade brand, as well as the included email marketing and automations with Shopify Email and Flow.
Stop motion GIF of 2nd Vie’s Avocado Beeswax Wrap being used for homemade breakfast wrap
Handmade Branding & Shopify Web Design
Cue our Shopify web design package, where 2nd Vie also invested in our Branding service to recreate their logo in a scalable formats across their strategised lush colour palette, with brand icons and guidelines to keep their online presence consistent across their platforms while still matching their product sew-in tags already used on their handmade goods.
Over 60% of site traffic was visiting from a hand-held mobile device, so mobile-first and responsive design for this website was essential. As a Shopify Partner, we can be added securely to your website without compromising your login or password, making it easy to work with clients and build into a new theme while your current site is still live and running for your sales.
Using Shopify for Handmade Ecommerce in 2025
Because 2nd Vie’s products are made using unique remnant and sometimes deadstock fabrics, their products on their new Shopify store would be repetitive, but in different fabrics.
This means organising by type of product and use, rather than fabric prints, would be easier to manage in bulk over time. Then as they learnt to use Shopify’s internal product tagging and collection automations from our personalised website manual for their Shopify website, organising new collections by fabric prints and colours would be possible in the future for furthering their customers’ experience on their site to search or explore by different types of categorisation or filtering.
Shopify Ecommerce for Handmade Small Businesses
2nd Vie’s Web Design Solutions:
- Ecommerce optimisations – so shopping and adding to cart is super easy, logical and responsive for customers, no matter which screen size they use
- Strengthening 2nd Vie’s unique selling point with copywriting and copyediting to highlight sustainability, practical products and supporting local lavender businesses
- Real customer feedback and detailed photos for building more authenticity and trust with new customers
- Installing Judge.me app for easy UGC and review acquisition from customers – user friendly and easy on the budget too
- Market page for 2nd Vie to list their next markets and pop up events to connect with their local community
- Branded customer login area for checking their orders and updates
- Free postage promo for orders over $50 and the option for locals to pick up orders from markets and events too
Is Shopify the Platform For Your Ecommerce?
When considering Shopify for your ecommerce platform, keep in mind the needs of your business as you grow and scale in the future.
If your brand is product-based ecommerce as well as practical or online workshops requiring ticket and attendance reminders – I recommend looking at our custom WordPress builds instead of Shopify, as a robust system for product and ticket service management.
For bulk product and order management, mass inventory editing with products across multiple collections, Shopify is your match for high-converting ecommerce that is highly supported for clients to use and update over time.
Work With a Shopify Partner For Your Brand’s Ecommerce Site
Let’s discuss your Shopify website design project on a free Discovery Session.
Brisbane Creative Web Studio is your Brisbane Shopify Partner, getting creatives, women in business and heart-centred brands online and in front of your target audience without paid advertising.