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Shopify is a leading e-commerce platform where brands can build and manage their online stores. With Shopify, you get a complete solution for product management, payment processing, shipping, and marketing -- without having to worry about the technical infrastructure. The platform is especially well-suited for brands that want to launch quickly while still having access to professional commerce functionality. With Shopify OS 2.0 (modern JavaScript architecture), we can now build even highly complex, custom-tailored stores.

That depends on your requirements. Standard themes from the Shopify Theme Store are affordable and quick to implement -- perfect for B2C brands with a typical product catalog and standard checkout. Custom themes are necessary when you need a distinctive brand experience, complex B2B logic, specialized product configurations, or integrated third-party applications. At smplx., we specialize in Foundation packages with OS 2.0 themes and Architecture+ solutions, where we develop a fully custom theme from scratch. We're happy to help you evaluate which path makes sense for your brand.

Both are strong e-commerce platforms, but with different philosophies. Shopware is self-hosted (you need your own server) and gives you more technical control, but also requires more infrastructure management on your end. Shopify is SaaS -- you pay monthly, and Shopify handles hosting, security, and updates. Shopify has the world's largest app ecosystem and is significantly stronger internationally. For brands looking to scale quickly, Shopify is often the better choice -- especially when you work with smplx. as a technical partner to take your store to the next level.

Shopify Plus is designed for enterprise brands -- you need it if you're doing over 4 million euros in annual revenue or have very specific requirements (e.g., B2B portals with custom pricing, multilingual global operations, or specialized API needs). For most growing brands, the standard Shopify plan is more than enough. With our Architecture+ projects, we can build complex, scalable solutions on standard Shopify as well -- often more cost-effective and flexible than Plus.

Shopify OS 2.0 is the latest theme architecture featuring modern JavaScript and new developer tools like Section Groups, liquid-ajax-cart, and improved performance. It's a major leap from older themes -- faster, more maintainable, and future-proof. At smplx., we build Foundation packages directly on OS 2.0 because it provides the best foundation for long-term growth. If you're still on an older theme, migrating to OS 2.0 is often an investment that pays for itself through better performance and easier maintenance.

We are a technical Shopify Partner helping brands build and optimize their e-commerce stores. We specialize in Foundation (complete store setup), Architecture+ (complex custom development), Scale (ongoing partnership), SEO (technical search engine optimization), and Sections (individual custom components). Our focus is technical excellence -- we write clean code, optimize for performance, and build stores that are maintainable and scalable in the long run.

That depends on the service. For Foundation and Architecture+, we start with a detailed requirements analysis, create a technical architecture plan, and give you a firm timeline. We work iteratively, present progress regularly, and gather your feedback along the way. For Scale, we work continuously in sprints -- you have a dedicated technical partner who keeps developing your store. All projects run transparently -- we document everything, use Git for version control, and hold regular syncs.

Foundation (from 6,000€) is for brands that need a new store -- we get you up and running with an OS 2.0 theme, basic customization, and commerce setup. It's the right choice if you want to go live quickly and your business model is relatively straightforward. Architecture+ (from 10,000€) is for brands with more complex requirements -- custom themes built from scratch, metaobjects, complex business logic, multi-language support, and API integrations. This is the path when your brand is unique and your infrastructure needs to be too.

Foundation projects typically take 6-10 weeks, depending on how much customization is needed. Architecture+ projects that require complex features take 12-20 weeks or longer. The exact timeline depends on the scope definition -- that's why we always invest time in a detailed requirements analysis upfront. We give you a firm timeline and stick to it. If you need to go live sooner, we can also work more agilely with phased releases.

Scale (from 1,500€/month) is our model for brands that need a continuous technical partner. This isn't 'support on demand' -- it's a proactive partnership: we continuously develop new features, optimize performance, help with marketing campaigns, and keep your store up to date. Scale is perfect for brands that are growing and whose requirements change month to month -- your smplx. developers become a permanent part of your team.

Core Web Vitals are Google-defined metrics for user experience on your website: Largest Contentful Paint (LCP -- loading speed), First Input Delay (FID -- responsiveness), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS -- visual stability). Google uses these as a ranking factor -- stores with good Core Web Vitals rank higher. At smplx., we systematically optimize all of these metrics: lazy loading for images, code splitting, Liquid optimization, and CSS minification. A Shopify store with poor Vitals loses rankings and conversions -- that's a direct revenue impact.

The Lighthouse Score in Google PageSpeed Insights is a composite score covering Performance, Accessibility, Best Practices, and SEO. Most Shopify stores struggle with performance -- usually because of unoptimized images, too many apps, or Liquid overhead. Our optimization process: (1) Bundle analysis -- which apps and third-party scripts do you actually need? (2) Image optimization -- WebP format, lazy loading, responsive sizes, (3) Liquid refactoring -- code efficiency, (4) Caching strategies. With the smplx. SEO service, we can take your score from a typical 30-50 up to 80-95.

A blog only helps if you use it strategically -- that means: keyword research, high-quality content, and building internal links. A blog with random posts does more harm than good. If your brand needs to rank for niche keywords (e.g., 'sustainable menswear' rather than just 'menswear') or you want to build thought leadership, a blog is valuable. At smplx., we help with SEO strategy and set up the technical side of how your blog integrates with your store (e.g., via Strapi Headless CMS). Without a strategy, you don't need a blog.

Yes, but Core Web Vitals are just one factor -- alongside content quality, backlinks, and relevance. A page with poor Vitals and great content will rank higher than one with great Vitals and irrelevant content. The biggest traffic impact comes from SEO strategy (keywords, content, backlinks), not from technical optimization alone. But: when two stores have the same content and backlinks, the one with better Vitals wins. With the smplx. SEO service, we combine both -- strategic SEO and technical optimization.

We're based in Coesfeld, North Rhine-Westphalia -- in the heart of digital innovation in NRW. Coesfeld is ideally located between major tech hubs (not far from Munster, Dusseldorf, Cologne). Our founder Claudio Gerlich started smplx. in 2020, and the company has since grown into a recognized Shopify Technical Partner. Our NRW base is important to us -- we're accessible for local meetings and understand the needs of German and European brands.

We work hybrid -- our team is based in Coesfeld, but we're fully remote-compatible. That means all our communication runs through tools like Slack, video calls, and documented processes. Most projects are handled entirely remotely -- we have clients across Europe. For larger projects, we also offer on-site meetings when it makes sense. Remote-first means for us: better documentation, asynchronous communication, and full transparency for everyone on the team (and every client).

Support is part of our service, not an add-on. For Foundation and Architecture+, support is included for the project duration. For Scale, we have an SLA (Service Level Agreement) -- typically 24 hours for critical issues and 48 hours for standard requests. We use a ticket system for full traceability. Important: we distinguish between support (bug fixes, server issues) and feature development (new functionality) -- both are clearly defined. With Scale, you're essentially an internal team member -- support is always there when you need it.

Yes, that's one of our most common use cases. Many design agencies need a technical partner for implementation -- and that's exactly what we're here for. We've had successful collaborations with agencies like SOLIT and Wedeon (e.g., on the Tramontina project). Our role is clear: we implement what the design agency designs and handle all the technical aspects (performance, security, code quality, Shopify best practices). This works best when there are clear communication channels and documented requirements.

That depends on the project type and your preference. For Foundation projects, typically: a kickoff meeting, then weekly or bi-weekly status calls (30-60 min), and we post daily updates in the project Slack. For Architecture+ with more complexity: more touchpoints, because we need more feedback. For Scale: you're in contact almost daily, since we're actively working on your store. The key is transparency -- you can always see the current status via Git, deployed features, and open issues.

Foundation starts at 6,000€ and is designed for a new Shopify store with standard requirements. Architecture+ starts at 10,000€ and is for more complex needs -- this can include a custom theme built from scratch, complex metaobjects, multi-language setup, API integrations, and much more. The difference isn't just price, it's scope: Foundation is 'Shopify standard setup', Architecture+ is 'your business model is unique and deserves technical architecture that reflects that'. The exact price is determined together with you, depending on how much custom work is needed.

Scale (from 1,500€/month) is an ongoing partnership with you. It includes: continuous feature development (we build planned features monthly), bug fixes and support, regular performance audits and optimizations, help with marketing campaigns (e.g., with Liquid or apps), and keeping your store aligned with current Shopify best practices. You get access to your dedicated developer team, weekly syncs, and prioritized handling of requests. It's like having an in-house Technical Lead -- without the full cost of an employee.

No, transparency in pricing is a core principle at smplx. Our packages are clearly defined: Foundation, Architecture+, Scale, SEO, and Sections all have fixed or clearly communicated price ranges. Everything else -- such as third-party apps, Shopify plan upgrades, additional domains -- those aren't smplx. costs, they're your Shopify costs, and we always make that transparent. For Scale projects, it's clearly defined what's included in the monthly rate (development, support) and what counts as additional (e.g., specialized consulting outside your agreed scope). We only work on the basis of clear agreements.

Our SEO service starts at 1,350€/month and is specialized in technical Shopify SEO. It includes: comprehensive technical SEO audits, Core Web Vitals optimization (Lighthouse Score), structured data implementation, meta tag optimization, internal linking strategy, monitoring, and reports. If you need additional strategy work (keyword research, content planning), we bill that separately. The SEO package works great as an extension to Foundation/Architecture+ or as a standalone service for clients who already have a store.

Yes, our Sections are pre-built, high-quality Shopify sections that you can purchase individually -- starting at 19€. They're perfect if you have an existing store and want to upgrade individual components (e.g., a better hero section, a custom product recommendations section). These sections are professionally built, fully responsive, and documented. You can install them right away. This isn't open-source standard -- these are purpose-built sections by smplx. for specific use cases.