Are you an Etsy Seller or small business owner that is looking to expand your shop and have your own website? If so, I highly recommend Shopify as the platform for your website – and I can help!
I’ve been a seller on Etsy since 2011. In 2016, I opened my ThirdShift Vintage shop on Shopify and have been selling there, in addition to selling on Etsy. Click About Me for more information.
I enjoy the Shopify platform so much, I became a Shopify Partner and have been helping people get started there.
The 14-Day Free Trial or…
Most people that are new to Shopify use the 14-day free trial before opening their stores. That free trial is a great way to get started! But, what if you need more time to work on your shop? Or you aren’t sure you even want to commit to a store on Shopify? Or you are just curious to see what the Shopify platform is like? That’s where I can help! As a Shopify Partner, I can set you up with an UNLIMITED FREE TRIAL in my Partner development account. This way, you can work on your store until you’re ready to open your store – with no obligations!
What is Development Mode on Shopify?
Think of development mode as a “parking place” for your store. Instead of using a 14-day free trial, you set up your store in this parking place on Shopify. There is NO COST to you for getting started this way. There is NO time limit either – you can work on your store as long as you need while in development mode – it’s an unlimited free trial. There is also NO obligation to you. If you decide never to open your store, you don’t have to. Starting a store in development mode allows you to experience Shopify without commitment – there’s no risk to you, so there is nothing to lose!
How do I get started with a development store?
To get started with your store in development mode, all you have to do is fill out the form below and click SEND. I need the name that you want to call your Shopify store and your email address – that’s it. Once I set up your development account / unlimited free trial, you’ll receive an email invitation (from Shopify) to your store. You accept that invitation and you’re ready to go! You’ll also receive an email “Welcome” message from me with steps to take to get started. It’s very quick and easy! You can begin importing your products, customizing your theme, setting up informational pages, etc.
What happens next?
IF at some point, you decide to open your Shopify store for business, at that time you would choose a Shopify plan with Shopify, such as the $29 a month Basic Plan, and then publish your store “live” to start accepting orders. When your store opens for business, it’s no longer in development mode – it’s a live, open, running store.
What’s in it for me?
You might wonder what do I get for helping you do this? If you decide to open your store, Shopify pays me a referral for each development store that actually opens (you can read more about this at the Shopify Partner link). This referral is typically $5.80. It’s not a lot of money, but I’m really doing this to help other Etsy shop owners get started on Shopify – the referral is just a bonus to me, and it helps me to pay for the help group I host.
When I first started on Shopify, I wish I had known someone with a developer account so I would have had more time to work on my store before going “live” – that’s why I’m offering to help you – to give you the opportunity that I didn’t have.
But wait! There’s more!
Yeah, I know – but I couldn’t resist that heading. As a Shopify Partner, I also lead a group on Slack for the shops that are in development mode through my Partner account. For shops that already exist, or for people considering Shopify, I also lead a private Facebook Group to help shop owners. I’ve also recently started a custom help Forum right here on this website (private threads for shops I’m helping, along with public threads for everyone to use). The Slack forum and Facebook Group provides tips and resources to help shops succeed with their Shopify stores. There is no cost for any of this. How cool is that!? 🙂
Ready to get started?
If you are ready to get started with your unlimited free trial, please fill out the form below and I will get you set up immediately (usually within minutes). Make sure to take a look around this website for even more information and helpful articles for getting started.
Have more questions?
Please see the Frequently Asked Questions below. If you still have questions, please feel free to contact me.
Additional Information About Development Mode
- While in development mode, I don’t access your store (unless you want to give me access – which some people do when they need my help with something).
- When you are working on your store, it is hidden from the public, so no one can see what you’re working on. You can work on it completely on your own with a DIY approach, or you can contact me for assistance if you prefer.
- In development mode, there are two things you cannot do: You cannot add apps to your store that you have to pay for, and you cannot accept orders. The reason for these two things is that in development mode, you are not connected to your bank account. Therefore you cannot be charged for anything (apps you have to pay for), nor can you accept deposits from sales. ALL other functions of setting up your store in Shopify are available, including free apps!
- I have unlimited space in my Partner account for an unlimited number of development stores. If you need more than one development store, I can certainly help you with that.
Frequently Asked Questions
Once I receive your request for a development store, I'll create the development account for you, using the store name and email address you provided.
You'll receive an email from Shopify with the subject "Create Staff Account" . The email will show your shop name and then (Shopify) as the "from" heading. You'll need to open that email and click on the Create Staff Account button. This is how you access your new development account.
You'll receive an email from me (jd@thedrawingboard3.com) with the subject "Welcome to Shopify! Here's What To Do Next". This email guides you through how to access your new account and how to change the account holder information to your preference. It also gives you helpful links on how to get started working on your store.
You'll also receive an email from Etsy To Shopify Slack group as an invitation to join our private help group on Slack. When you click on that email and accept the invitation, you'll be able to start interacting with other members in that private group, search for information, and get assistance with your store.
If you do not receive these three emails, make sure to check your SPAM or JUNK folders.
No. Shopify has templates (“themes“) that you can use to start your store. Each theme can be customized using menus.
Of course, if you are familiar with HTML, CSS, Javascript and other code, you can customize your store even more, beyond the scope of the built-in menu options for customizing.
You can also hire a designer/developer to further customize your store if you desire.
No. Some Shopify Affiliates are able to offer a 20% discount for store fees. While I am a Shopify Partner, I am not an affiliate (affiliates are generally developers who have a business to develop stores on Shopify). Therefore, I am unable to offer any kind of a discount.
However, you CAN get a 10% discount from Shopify, if you pay for a year in advance, or a 20% discount if you pay for two years in advance – so there is that savings.
The other savings to you is not having to pay that monthly fee while you are still working on your shop. The difference between the 20% discount and the 10% discount is $34.80 over a year – which is pretty much equal to one month of fees on Shopify. So if you use the 20% discount, but don’t have your shop ready to go live within the 14-day free trial, you’re paying a monthly fee even before you open your shop.
Sometimes Shopify extends the 14-day free trial to 28-days, but usually not beyond that. So give these options some thought before signing up for a discount – you might be better off using the development option and save money on monthly fees before you open your store. Make sure to choose the best option for you.
This is the best part! Shopify has 24-hours a day, 7-days a week (including holidays) live phone support, live chat, and email support! And the Shopify Guru’s are awesome! You just give them a call or chat with them live, and they walk you through whatever issue you are having. They answer your questions and get you pointed in the right direction. They really are that good!
And, if you choose, you can also join the help forum that I lead for even more personalized help. There is no cost for any of this help – you’re covered!
Click here to see the Shopify Support.
Unfortunately, no. If you've recently signed up for Shopify through a 14-day free trial, you will not be able to transfer that store into a development store.
Shopify created development mode for people who do not already have a store or an account on Shopify. Only new customers to Shopify can be included in this program.
If you know you are going to need more time to work on your store, you could download your theme files that you have now, then upload them into a new development store and then close your original account.
The other option is to export your existing blog contents and import that file into the Shopify Blog that is part of your store. This works well for most blogging platforms, but keep in mind, it does not import images from your existing blog. So that could be an issue for you.
There are pros and cons for having your own stand-alone blog versus your blog as part of your Shopify store. To summarize here, having your blog as part of your Shopify store might be the best option for you as far as SEO. It keeps your Shopify website "fresh" and that helps boost your ranking in SEO.
Unfortunately, no. The way the Slack forum is set-up is for shops that are currently in development mode, or stores that have launched from development mode through my Partner account. HOWEVER, I have also created a help group on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/EtsyToShopify/ and would love to have you join us there! We also have a Facebook Page that has helpful articles and tips at https://www.facebook./com/TheDrawingBoard3 - and hope you will "like" and follow that page.
This website (TheDrawingBoard3.com) is also filled with helpful tips, tricks, and articles and each article includes a comment area where you can ask your questions. I hope you find the articles here helpful!
No. Getting started with Shopify through this unlimited free trial does not require a credit card or any other banking information.
The only time you need to enter a credit card or banking information is when your website is ready to launch and is open for business. At that point, it is no longer in development mode, and the website has been completely transferred over to you. A credit card and banking information is necessary at that time in order for you to pay the Shopify monthly charge and to receive deposits from your sales. That personal information is something I NEVER see.
Absolutely not! Sellers who sign up through my partner account do not pay me ANYTHING to get started with a development store, or when their store goes "live" and is open for business. Not a percentage of their sales, not a monthly fee - NOTHING.
Getting started with a development store only allows a seller unlimited time to get their store ready to launch. There are NO FEES for this. None. Not from me, not from Shopify.
When a seller opens their store, they start paying Shopify a monthly fee for the plan of their choice (which in most cases is the Basic Plan at $29 a month). This fee is paid directly to Shopify. Not to me, as a Shopify Partner. As I mentioned in the Getting Started post, Shopify does pay me a 20% referral fee of whatever plan you select. For example, if you use the Basic Plan with Shopify, Shopify pays me around $5.80 as a referral fee (20% of the $29 fee). This fee is COMPLETELY, 100% paid to me by Shopify as a referral. It is NOT paid by the merchant.
You can read more about the Shopify Partner program at Shopify Partner.
Just so you know - some sellers need additional help when setting up their stores in development mode. Maybe they are looking for special customizations, or they need someone to do some of the set up work for them. In cases like this, sellers have the OPTION to hire me to do the work for them, just like they have the option to hire ANY Shopify Partner or Shopify Expert. This is purely OPTIONAL. Any tasks a seller is hiring me to do - the fees are quoted upfront and a seller has a choice whether to hire me (or someone else) or not. MOST of the help I offer sellers - when getting started, when launching their store, and in the support I continue to provide after launch is without charge. Only the specialized, very time consuming tasks are things I need to charge someone for - but again - this is purely optional. In addition to my help, you can find Shopify Partners and Shopify Experts to hire directly on the Shopify website, if needed. If you have additional questions about this, please contact me - I am happy to help.
No. I am not a Shopify employee. I am a Shopify Partner. As a Shopify Partner, I work with Shopify to help people get started with their stores. Shopify provides resources to it’s Partners, and I use those resources to help you.
In addition to helping others start their stores on Shopify, my goal as a Partner is also to eventually develop themes, apps, and do development programming work.
I understand skepticism. Here's some information that will give you peace of mind.
Shopify teams up with Partners, like me, to help merchants get started on the Shopify platform. Shopify Partners not only set up development stores, they also work with those merchants to ensure a successful start. This website that you're on - TheDrawingBoard3 - is filled with resources to help you succeed. There is also a Slack help group you can join, and a Facebook Group for more support. I'm here to help!
You can read more about the Shopify Partner program at Shopify Partners.
For more information about development stores, please visit Everything You Need to Know About Development Stores.
If you want even more peace of mind, please feel free to call Shopify at 1-888-746-7439 and any Guru you talk to can explain the Shopify Partner program and confirm development stores for you. You can also ask them to verify that I am a verified Shopify Partner - my partner account is JayDee at TheDrawingBoard3 - jd@thedrawingboard3.com
Things to Consider
Fee: If you open a store on Shopify, your fee to Shopify is $29 a month (less if you prepay). This includes UNLIMITED listings that never expire. There are no final value fees (commissions) that you pay to Shopify. $29 is all you have to pay! AND… if you pay for a year in advance, Shopify will extend a 10% discount to you, so your monthly fee would be just $26.10! (If you pay for two years in advance, you can get a 20% discount from Shopify). NOTE: Payment processing fees apply to PayPal orders and to credit card orders.
Consider This: Look at what your monthly fees are with Etsy. Each month is probably a little different, depending on how much you sell, how many items you list or relist, and what your total sales were. For example, my monthly selling fees on Etsy are generally around $250-300 a month. That’s ONE MONTH! If I have those same sales on Shopify, my monthly Shopify fee is $29! That’s a HUGE difference in selling fees between the two platforms! The way I look at each month on Shopify is this: I have to sell at least $29 (or $26.10) a month to cover that month’s “rent” (fee). Any sale beyond that is money in my pocket. It’s not that hard to sell that much in a month, right?! For more details, check out the article “Etsy Versus Shopify – A Must-Read Comparison“.
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Traffic: Etsy is a marketplace made up of many individual shops. Because of this, Etsy does help generate some traffic to our shops. Shopify is not a marketplace like Etsy. Shopify is a platform for you to host your own website. Shopify does not direct traffic to your shop – that’s up to you.
Consider This: When you create your own website, you are in complete control. You decide what products customers will see when they land on your website – customers are not redirected to other shops and taken away from your storefront! Besides controlling the look and feel of your website, you also control how you market your website. Just like any other business, marketing plays a key role in your success. The old adage of “if you build it, they will come” doesn’t work with ecommerce websites. To have a successful website, you need to market and promote it. You can promote your website through your social media channels and through your blog, without having to spend any money. Of course, you could decide to have paid ads on social media, but you are still in control of setting your own budget. There are lots of ways to drive traffic to your website, and it doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg (or anything at all)! Yes, marketing your shop does take time and effort – but so does anything when you want it to succeed.
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Selling on Pinterest, Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram, and your Blog: When you create a store on Shopify, you have access to Buyable Pins on Pinterest, a Facebook Shop on your Facebook business page, Buy Buttons on Tumblr and on your own blog, and you can tag products on Instagram – all at no additional cost! This allows you to get sales to your store from all these social media platforms – it’s really slick!
Consider This: On Etsy, you can pin your products to Pinterest or post your products to Facebook, but when someone clicks on those links, they are directed away from your social media sites. With Shopify, your customers can complete their purchase directly from their favorite social media platforms! All orders are processed through your store, and the integration is seamless and easy. Having Buyable Pins on Pinterest gives you a huge advantage over regular pins from your Etsy shop.
