Shopify Ireland
Shopify Expertise in Ireland — Design, Build & Grow
We help Irish businesses launch, migrate and scale on Shopify with clean design, fast performance and conversion‑first UX.
From payments and VAT to shipping and SEO, we set everything up for the Irish market and your next stage of growth.
Our Shopify Services
Start a Store (Design & Build)
We’ll help you choose a fast, conversion‑ready theme, shape your brand UI, and launch with the pages, policies and analytics every Irish store needs.
We configure payments, VAT, shipping, and essential apps (email, reviews, analytics) and train your team so you can run day‑to‑day confidently.
Includes: theme setup or custom sections, products/collections, legal pages, analytics, training, performance pass, SEO fundamentals (metadata, collections, schema), accessibility checks.
Why Shopify for Ireland?
Shopify is a reliable platform for Irish SMEs because it handles the essentials out of the box: secure checkout, product/catalogue management, and a hosted infrastructure that scales without server admin.
It works seamlessly with Stripe/Shopify Payments (available to eligible Irish businesses) so you can accept major cards and digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.
You also gain access to Shopify Markets, making it straightforward to show the right prices, duties and shipping options as you expand into the UK and EU.
Operating in Ireland means complying with GDPR, EU consumer rights (including a 14‑day right of withdrawal for most online purchases) and Irish VAT rules (standard rate currently 23%).
We configure your store to reflect these requirements and we’ll coordinate with your accountant on any edge cases or reduced rates relevant to your products.
For fulfilment, we integrate with An Post and leading couriers (DPD, UPS, DHL, GLS) and set up sensible delivery zones for IE, NI, UK and EU. If you ship internationally, we’ll help with HS codes, IOSS/UK VAT considerations, and clear messaging at checkout so customers aren’t surprised by duties.
Trust is the cornerstone of successful online relationships. Visitors must feel confident in the credibility and reliability of the website and the brand it represents. Our designs are meticulously crafted to instill trust from the moment a visitor lands on the homepage.
Irish‑Specific Guidance
Payments & Gateways: We set up Shopify Payments/Stripe for eligible Irish businesses and add alternative payment methods where appropriate.
We also enable Apple Pay/Google Pay and fraud‑prevention settings, and ensure statement descriptors and payouts are correct for Irish banking.
VAT & Invoicing: We configure the 23% standard VAT and any reduced rates your products qualify for, add your VAT number to invoices, and ensure prices display correctly (tax included vs excluded).
For UK sales post‑Brexit, we’ll advise on the implications (e.g., UK VAT registration thresholds) and coordinate with your accountant.
Shipping & Rates: We create clear rules for Ireland, Northern Ireland, Great Britain and EU zones, integrate with An Post and preferred couriers, and add click‑and‑collect if you have a physical location.
GDPR & Compliance: Cookie consent, privacy/cookie policies, data‑request workflow and analytics consent modes are set up to reflect EU/Irish expectations.
.ie Domains & Trust: We help secure a .ie domain (and redirect any .com/.co.uk variants) and add trust badges, reviews and returns info that match Irish consumer norms.
Timeline & Process
Discovery & Plan (Week 1): We map goals, constraints and integrations, then share a written scope, timeline and responsibilities.
Design System & Theme (Weeks 1–2): Component library, typography, colour and section layouts aligned to your brand.
Build & Integrations (Weeks 2–4): Sections, apps, payments, VAT, shipping, and any custom logic. Performance tested as we go.
Content & Data (Weeks 3–5): Products/collections, pages, redirects and any migration data. Accessibility checks.
QA & Launch (Week 5): Cross‑device testing, SEO parity, legal/policy review, backup and rollback plan. Go‑live support.
Aftercare (Days 1–30): Training, loom videos, minor fixes and a growth plan with your next three quick wins.
Shopify store setup in Ireland
We’re Shopify set-up experts in Ireland. A correct Irish set-up covers payments, tax, shipping, domains, compliance and analytics.
Eligible businesses can use Shopify Payments (Stripe) for cards and digital wallets; alternatives are supported. VAT should reflect Irish rules (standard rate 23%, with reduced rates where applicable) and invoices must include accurate company and VAT details.
Shipping is usually zoned for Ireland, Northern Ireland, Great Britain and the EU, often using An Post plus couriers (DPD, UPS, DHL, GLS). A .ie domain, SSL, clear legal pages (privacy, cookies, delivery, returns) and a GDPR-compliant cookie banner/data-request process are standard.
Core analytics include GA4 and Search Console, with essential structured data and sitemap submission; Shopify Markets can be enabled for UK/EU expansion.
Builds start in a Partner development store with a non-published staging theme, version control, test-mode payments, password protection and noindex.
We run UAT (devices, performance, tax/shipping, emails, order flows, analytics), then cut over with backups, 301 redirects for migrations, Search Console verification and a defined rollback, transfer the store, go live and monitor.
Store Set Up - FAQs
Why build in a Partner development store instead of a live, paid store?
A Partner development store lets the site be built and tested without subscription charges. It supports password protection, noindex, test-mode payments, and versioned theme work. The store is transferred and billing starts only when you pick a plan.
What access does a Shopify Partner receive, and how is ownership handled at launch?
Partners request collaborator access with specific permissions (e.g., Themes, Apps, Settings). Your business remains the store owner. At launch, the dev store is transferred to your account; you can then restrict or revoke collaborator access.
Who owns the store, theme and code after launch—and how are backups handled?
The merchant owns the Shopify store and content. Paid theme licences are tied to the store; custom code can be assigned to the merchant. Backups typically use theme duplicates/versions, a Git repo for code, periodic data exports (products, customers, orders), and optional backup apps for extra coverage.
Do I need a .ie domain or is .com fine?
Both work for SEO. A .ie can signal local presence and trust for Irish customers; a .com suits broader markets. If both are owned, pick one as primary and 301-redirect the other. Ensure consistent branding and backlinks to the primary domain.
Shopify SEO in Ireland
Our Shopify SEO service is designed to make your store visible in Irish search results and to ensure products, collections, and content rank for the queries that matter.
We focus on technical SEO, on-page optimisation, structured data, and content strategy specific to Shopify.
What we cover
Product SEO – Each product is optimised with unique descriptions, structured data (Product schema), EUR/VAT pricing, and delivery details for Ireland, Northern Ireland, UK, and EU customers. We ensure clean URLs, correct canonicals, alt-tagged imagery, and internal links from relevant collections and guides.
Collection SEO – Category and collection pages are written to target Irish search terms with clear intro copy, ItemList schema, and internal linking. We optimise pagination, filters, and canonical tags so that Google indexes the right URLs without duplicate or thin pages.
Article/Blog SEO – Informational content such as guides and FAQs is structured to capture search demand and support product/collection pages. Articles include clear headings, schema (Article, Blog Posting, or FAQ Page), author details, and contextual internal links.
Technical SEO – Crawl/index management, structured data implementation, Core Web Vitals optimisation, and robots.txt adjustments to keep filters and duplicate parameters out of Google’s index.
Local & International – Local Business schema and Google Business Profile optimisation for Irish searches; Shopify Markets and hreflang where stores expand to the UK and EU.
Measurement & Reporting – We connect GA4, Search Console, and Merchant Center to monitor performance across products, collections, and content. Reports focus on traffic, CTR, and conversion impact.
SEO For Shopify - FAQs
What does Shopify SEO include for an Irish store?
Technical fixes (crawl/indexation, speed, structured data), on-page optimisation for products, collections and articles, internal linking, LocalBusiness signals, and measurement via GA4/Search Console.
How long does SEO take to show results?
Technical fixes can have near-term impact; broader ranking gains typically emerge over 8–12 weeks, depending on competition, content quality and crawl frequency.
Do you optimise products, collections and blogs differently?
Yes. Products get unique copy, media alt text, Product schema and EUR/VAT clarity; collections get targeted intro copy, ItemList handling and canonical rules; articles follow a problem-solution structure with Article/FAQ schema and contextual links.
Do you support local SEO for Ireland?
Yes. We optimise Google Business Profile, implement LocalBusiness schema, and ensure NAP details are consistent. For multi-location brands, we use location pages with clear internal linking.
Shopify Developers in Ireland
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Practical, technical support for new builds and established stores. Work is delivered in a Partner development store with version control, test-mode payments, password protection and a clear UAT checklist before go-live.
Migration support
Data audit and mapping, import of products/customers/orders (where exportable), URL mapping with 301 redirects, SEO parity checks, and configuration of Irish VAT, payments and shipping. Post-launch monitoring in Search Console.
Theme development
Online Store 2.0 themes with custom sections and JSON templates. Emphasis on performance (Core Web Vitals), accessibility (semantic headings, contrast, focus states) and maintainability. Documentation and rollback plan included.
SEO foundations
Clean architecture and canonicals, Product/ItemList/Breadcrumb schema, structured metadata, image alt text, and internal linking between collections and products. GA4 and Search Console connected; lightweight code to protect page speed.
App integration
Selection and configuration of essential apps only—reviews, subscriptions, search, ERP/accounting, 3PL, CRM and marketing tools. Integration is tested for data accuracy and impact on performance; unnecessary apps are avoided.
Shopify Developer - FAQs
What data is migrated when moving to Shopify—and what usually can’t be moved?
Products (variants, images), customers and order history (where the source platform exports these) are imported. URLs are mapped with 301 redirects to protect SEO. Items that typically can’t be migrated include customer passwords, some discount rules, certain app data and payment tokens. We reconcile any gaps and document workarounds before launch.
How do you integrate third-party apps without slowing the store?
Apps are chosen against clear criteria (needed features, vendor support, GDPR/DPA, performance impact). They’re installed in the development store, given least-privilege scopes, and tested for data accuracy, webhooks and theme asset bloat. Overlapping apps are avoided; any unused scripts/snippets are removed before launch.
Do you serve clients nationwide?
Yes, we work with businesses across Ireland, both onsite and remotely. Our team supports merchants in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, Wexford, Kildare, Meath, Louth, Kerry and throughout the country.
Shopify Design
Our Shopify process starts by tuning into your brand’s voice and values, then capturing the look-and-feel with mood boards that everyone can get behind.
Before we design a single page, we lock the look and feel with mood boards.
These curated visuals—colour, typography, imagery, UI patterns and tone—align everyone’s taste early, so decisions are quicker and rework is rare. The approved direction then guides theme selection, page layouts and content, giving your Shopify shopfront a consistent, on-brand finish.
Every strong Shopify build starts with a shared picture of the brand.
Our mood boards turn gut feeling into something you can see—palette, type, photography style and interface elements—so your team can say “that’s it” with confidence. From there, design moves fast and stays consistent from homepage to checkout.
Shopify Design - FAQs
What data is migrated when moving to Shopify—and what usually can’t be moved?
Products (variants, images), customers and order history (where the source platform exports these) are imported. URLs are mapped with 301 redirects to protect SEO. Items that typically can’t be migrated include customer passwords, some discount rules, certain app data and payment tokens. We reconcile any gaps and document workarounds before launch.
How do you integrate third-party apps without slowing the store?
Apps are chosen against clear criteria (needed features, vendor support, GDPR/DPA, performance impact). They’re installed in the development store, given least-privilege scopes, and tested for data accuracy, webhooks and theme asset bloat. Overlapping apps are avoided; any unused scripts/snippets are removed before launch.
Do you serve clients nationwide?
Yes, we work with businesses across Ireland, both onsite and remotely. Our team supports merchants in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, Wexford, Kildare, Meath, Louth, Kerry and throughout the country.
Shopify Developers in Ireland
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Practical, technical support for new builds and established stores. Work is delivered in a Partner development store with version control, test-mode payments, password protection and a clear UAT checklist before go-live.
Migration support
Data audit and mapping, import of products/customers/orders (where exportable), URL mapping with 301 redirects, SEO parity checks, and configuration of Irish VAT, payments and shipping. Post-launch monitoring in Search Console.
Theme development
Online Store 2.0 themes with custom sections and JSON templates. Emphasis on performance (Core Web Vitals), accessibility (semantic headings, contrast, focus states) and maintainability. Documentation and rollback plan included.
SEO foundations
Clean architecture and canonicals, Product/ItemList/Breadcrumb schema, structured metadata, image alt text, and internal linking between collections and products. GA4 and Search Console connected; lightweight code to protect page speed.
App integration
Selection and configuration of essential apps only—reviews, subscriptions, search, ERP/accounting, 3PL, CRM and marketing tools. Integration is tested for data accuracy and impact on performance; unnecessary apps are avoided.
Client Feedback
Design Web Studio has played a crucial role in the development of Smyth Knives. True to their word, Design Web Studio has delivered exceptional results. The team has made the entire process seamless, breaking down technical jargon into understandable terms. As our website and business continue to evolve, so will our partnership with Design Web Studio.
Paddy Smyth – Smyth Knives – www.smythknives.com
