Custom Shopify design & development
A bespoke store build tailored to your brand. Theme customization, unique UX, and a store that doesn't look like every other Shopify template on the internet.
Shopify Experts Melbourne
We help Melbourne brands grow on Shopify.
We design, build and grow Shopify and Shopify Plus stores that turn browsers into buyers. 450+ brands since 2008.
Who are we
Melbourne's Shopify Experts
We're The Hope Factory — a Shopify agency that's been building ecommerce stores since 2008. Fashion labels, wine brands, coffee roasters, homewares companies, sports retailers, shoe brands. If you're selling something online and you give a damn about how it looks and performs, we're probably a good fit for your business.
We've worked with some big brands — Sennheiser, Jo Mercer, Patagonia — and hundreds of Melbourne businesses you won't find on a "Top 50" list but whose stores quietly convert like clockwork. From independent retailers just off Smith Street to high-growth brands shipping nationally, we've seen the full spectrum.
We're a Shopify Premier Partner — one tier below Platinum in Shopify's partner program, and one of a small number of Australian agencies at this level. What that means for your build: a direct line to Shopify's partner team for escalations, and access to Shopify's solutions engineers when a build needs deeper input than a normal agency can get.
The Pitch
What you get when you hire The Hope Factory.
A small Australian Shopify developer team, all senior, that's been on the platform since 2013 — well before half the modern tooling existed. Our work covers the full Shopify stack.
Migrations & replatforming
Moving from Neto, WooCommerce, Magento, or BigCommerce? Our certified Shopify migration developers handle the full store migration — products, customers, SEO redirects, and data integrity — so nothing breaks in the move.
Shopify Plus builds
For high-volume merchants doing $1M+ who need a Melbourne Shopify Plus designers and developers performing advanced checkout customisation, automation, wholesale channels, and multi-store management.
Store redesigns & performance optimisation
Already setup on Shopify but not converting? We audit, redesign, and optimise existing stores to improve page speed, conversion rate, and average order value.
Seamless integrations
Connecting your store to the tools you already use — Klaviyo, Recharge, Wine Hub, loyalty programs, ERPs, and shipping platforms. Custom app builds when off-the-shelf won't cut it.
Ongoing support
After launch, development blocks instead of open-ended retainers. Use the hours when you actually need them: bug fixes, new features, audits, integrations, strategic advice.
Featured Projects
- Robert Gordon
Robert Gordon
↑ 233% Online Revenue
↑ 175% Online Orders
↑ 23% Average Order ValueLearn more - Coco & Lola
Coco & Lola
UX Design, Development & Complex Integrations.
Visit the site - Write To Me
Write To Me
↑ 233% Product View Sessions
↑ 175% Return Customers
↑ 23% ConversionsFind out more - Veneziano Coffee Roasters
Veneziano Coffee Roasters
"Working with the Hope Factory to migrate onto Shopify has been a game changer for our online business that has delivered a very quick ROI."
Find out more
What you'll pay
Indicative pricing for new engagements.
- Theme customisation store build
- $5,000 – $15,000
- Custom Shopify build
- $15,000 – $50,000
- Shopify Plus enterprise build
- $50,000+
- Development blocks (ongoing, after launch)
- $1,760 inc GST / 10 hrs
Monthly commitment on dev blocks drops the rate 10%. Quarterly, 5%. Hours don't expire for 12 months. No retainers, no use-it-or-lose-it. Get free quotes from a Melbourne specialist.
"The Hope Factory take the time to learn about your business and collaborate with you to provide customised solutions. I came to them with a brief to create a new website and I'm absolutely thrilled with the result.
The team went above and beyond to make key suggestions and recommendations on software that has been beneficial to the daily operations of our business. They have saved me countless hours whilst simultaneously increasing our sales..."
- Hangatu Wyld, The Salty Fox
Our Clients
As Shopify Experts Melbourne we've built 400+ stores and worked with some of Australia's favourite brands.
FAQs
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It depends on what you need. A simple theme customisation might run $2,000–$7,500, while a full custom Shopify build with integrations typically ranges from $15,000–$100,000+. We quote on scope, not guesswork — you'll get a fixed price after we understand your project, not a vague range.
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If your store is generating revenue or you're serious about launching, yes. The gap between a DIY Shopify build and a professionally built one shows up in conversion rates, page speed, and how much time you burn troubleshooting things that should just work. We've built stores for fashion labels, homewares brands, sports retailers, and coffee companies across Melbourne — getting it right the first time is cheaper than fixing it later.
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Yes. We offer ongoing Shopify development support — new features, updates, troubleshooting, performance work. It's like having a dev team on call without hiring in-house. Most of our Melbourne clients start with a build and stay on a retainer because things keep evolving.
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Actual Shopify builds in their portfolio, not just marketing sites. Check if they're a Shopify Partner, whether they've worked with businesses in your industry, and whether they handle both design and development. Avoid agencies that list Shopify as one of twenty platforms — you want someone who lives in the ecosystem.
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A straightforward Shopify store with an existing theme takes 4–6 weeks. A custom-designed store with integrations, migration from another platform, and bespoke functionality typically takes 10–12 weeks. We'll give you a realistic timeline upfront — not an optimistic one we blow past.
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Most businesses under $1M in annual revenue don't need Plus. Standard Shopify with the right theme, apps, and custom development handles the vast majority of use cases. Shopify Plus is for high-volume merchants who need advanced checkout customisation, automation, and multi-store setups. We work across both and will tell you which one you actually need — not which one costs more.