Shopify is an e-commerce website creation service founded in Canada in 2004.
It boasts the No. 1 global market share and is used in over 1 million stores in 175 countries (as of January 14, 2020).
A Japanese subsidiary was established in 2017, and the number of companies adopting the service is rapidly increasing domestically.
It has a reputation for being able to create functional, stylishly designed e-commerce sites that are easy to operate, even if you have no knowledge or skills.
There are probably many online store managers out there who are gathering information about Shopify and are unsure whether to implement it or not, comparing it with other services.
So in this article,
"I want to introduce Shopify, but what is its reputation?"
"I want to introduce Shopify, but is it better than other services?"
"I want to introduce Shopify, but how much does it cost?"
For those who have concerns such as the above, we will introduce the advantages and disadvantages of introducing Shopify and compare it with other services.
Benefits of using Shopify
Shopify is known for its relatively low cost of building an e-commerce site, its simple and easy-to-use operation, and its wide range of apps for expanding its functions. It is also highly rated for its wide range of payment methods and large number of design templates.
Advantage 1: Low cost of building an EC site
The basic plan costs $29, which is about 3,194 yen (calculated at 1 dollar = 110.14 yen) as of January 14, 2020. The monthly fee is the same as paid ASP carts in Japan, and the key point is that there is no initial fee.
Another big advantage of Shopify is that all plans include unlimited storage for the number of products and image files. Compared to domestic ASP carts where storage capacity is determined by the plan, you can use it without worrying about costs.
To start, enter your email address, password, etc. on the page below, then fill in the questionnaire and personal information to start using the service. What's more, you can use it for free for 14 days.
Build your online store with Shopify
When you consider not only the price but also the time and effort involved in using it, Shopify is a very cost-effective service.
Especially in the online shopping industry where speed is required, it is important to start an e-commerce site and gradually develop it while observing customer reactions and sales.
Shopify is easy to get started with, and you can build your ideal e-commerce site by adding the features you need.
Advantage 2: Simple and easy to use
Shopify makes it easy to build and operate an e-commerce site.
Even if you don't have knowledge of system development, you can build and design an EC site just by selecting a template and replacing images and text. A server is also provided, so opening a shop is easy.
The fact that there is no need for server contracts or management is a major point. Furthermore, Shopify's servers have a reputation for being hard to crash, so you can rest assured even when there is a sudden increase in orders or a large amount of traffic.
The management screen is also simply configured and intuitive to operate. There is also a mobile app, so you can easily check access status, order status, and inventory from your smartphone.
Advantage 3: Extensive app
You can start an e-commerce site using only the original features, but Shopify also has "apps," which are extensions similar to plugins in WordPress.
There are more than 2,000 apps available, which is probably the largest number among all e-commerce website creation services. There are free and paid apps available in various categories, such as "External tool integration," "Email and search measures," "SNS marketing," "Inventory management," "Shipping arrangements," and "Cover page printing," so you can choose the features that suit your company's homepage. By combining various apps, you can operate your shop more efficiently.
We also introduce some recommended apps in the article below.
12 apps recommended by Shopify Experts (list included)
What are the disadvantages of using Shopify?
The disadvantages of Shopify used to be that some parts were written in English, knowledge of HTML was required to create designs, and telephone support was not very advanced. However, updates have been made and it is now much easier to use.
Disadvantage 1: Some parts require use in English
Previously, the admin screen had pages in English, which made it difficult to use, but a Japanese admin screen has now been introduced, and daily tasks such as creating, managing, and operating your shop can be carried out in Japanese without any problems.
Some of the additional apps that can be installed are explained in English, but most are intuitive to use, so you can rest assured. In addition, the number of apps made in Japan is increasing, making the environment easier to use.
In addition, previously, when entering customer information on the admin screen, you had to enter the first and last name backwards, but this has now been corrected, making it easier to enter information.
Disadvantage 2: Requires specialized knowledge for design
Shopify's admin screen is simple and intuitive to use, so you can create and operate a website even if you have no knowledge of HTML or design.
However, if you want to make fine adjustments such as changing the product placement or text size or color, you may need specialized knowledge of HTML or Liquid.
Liquid is a programming language specific to Shopify. If you want to do detailed customization, you will need to learn this language.
On the other hand, another advantage of Shopify is that if you want to get more particular about the design, you can create it in an infinite number of ways. In addition to free templates, there is also a design market that sells templates created by professional designers around the world. There is also a wide selection of high-quality image materials and fonts that can be used for free.
One of Shopify's unique charms is that it caters to a wide range of needs, from those who want to easily create a functional and stylish e-commerce site, to those who want to be extremely particular and create the ideal site.
Disadvantages #3: Support is not solid
When creating and operating an EC site, you may have questions and want to call someone to inquire. Shopify does not currently offer telephone support in Japanese.
However, you can rest assured that inquiries in Japanese are accepted 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and the support system is expected to be further strengthened in the future.
Also, if you have any questions about operation, there is a community where Shopify staff and users can connect, so you can often find the answer by asking questions there or by reading Japanese blogs that introduce operational know-how.
Wondering what Shopify costs?
Shopify also offers a Lite plan for $9 per month, but as this plan is aimed at individuals who want to sell products on social media rather than for an e-commerce site, we won't go into details here. Instead, we'll explain the three plans available: Basic, Standard, and Premium.
Shopify charges are in USD.
As of January 14, 2020, the basic plan is $29 = 3,194 yen, the standard plan is $79 = 8,698 yen, and the premium plan is $299 = 32,919 yen (calculated at 1 dollar = 110.14 yen).
Each plan has different credit card fees, transaction fees, etc. The monthly fee is discounted when the billing cycle changes to 1, 2, or 3 years.
If you use a third-party payment provider to accept payments from your customers, then your transaction fee includes the fee applied to each transaction plus an integration fee for your third-party payment provider.
If you use a credit card in Japan, there is not much difference between plans, but if you use a payment method other than credit card payment through Shopify Payments, a transaction fee of 0.5% to 2% will be charged.
There are no sales fees. Other online store creation tools have high sales and transfer fees, so this is another advantage of Shopify.
Basic plan fees and features
The basic plan includes the following features:
- Online Shop
- Unlimited product registrations
- Unlimited bandwidth and online storage
- Shopify POS
- Online Sales Channels
- Fraud Analysis
- Manually creating an order
- Coupon Code
- 2 staff accounts
- Dashboard overview
- Financial Reporting
- Customer Support
- Prevent abandoned carts
- SSL Certificates
- Other reports
There is no limit to the number of files and photos you can upload. In domestic shopping carts, the capacity is often determined by the plan, but with Shopify you can use it to your heart's content without worrying about the cost.
In addition to financial reports, you can also view traffic and marketing reports, which you can analyze to help grow your store.
Up to two staff members can share an account. 24-hour Japanese email support is also available. The light plan is suitable for startup e-commerce sites.
Standard plan fees and features
The Standard Plan includes all the features included in the Basic Plan, plus:
- Gift Cards
- Professional Report
You can use the functions.
The gift card function can be used as a gift certificate, like an Amazon gift card. You can set the price freely, so you can use it as a gift for anniversaries and events, or you can issue it to your EC customers for free.
Not only can you stimulate existing customers' desire to purchase, but you can also help recipients of gift cards become aware of your products and brand. Gift cards can also be used effectively as rewards for campaigns and events.
Professional reports allow you to analyze your store's sales trends in detail and use them to improve your e-commerce site. For example, you can check the sales status of specific products, organize product pages according to users' purchasing habits, and plan new campaigns by understanding the trends of repeat and first-time customers.
If you have a large e-commerce site run by multiple staff members, we recommend this standard plan.
Premium plan fees and features
In addition to the features of the Standard Plan, the Premium Plan includes
- Custom Reports
- Advanced Customer Reporting
- Automatic shipping calculation by shipping company
functions are available.
Custom reports are a feature that allows you to customize default reports and create your own original reports.
Advanced customer reports allow you to check reports on at-risk and loyal customers. You can also create reports to track product sales for each inflow service, such as Google Ads. This is extremely useful for developing marketing strategies.
In addition, automatic calculation of shipping carrier charges will allow integration with external delivery services to provide accurate shipping charges at the time of ordering. Users will also be able to select from a variety of delivery options, including standard delivery and same-day delivery, further enhancing usability in terms of delivery.
Our premium plan allows you to share your account with up to 15 team members and offers the lowest transaction and credit card fees.
The Premium Plan is recommended for e-commerce sites that want to focus more on marketing in the future or e-commerce sites with large sales.
Free Trial
If you're not sure which pricing plan to choose, sign up for a 14-day free trial to see how it works. Just fill in the required information on the screen below and you're ready to go.
You can upgrade or downgrade your plan at any time. For example, if you have a small shop with less than two staff members, you can start with the Basic plan and then move to the Standard plan as your sales grow.
What e-commerce site building services should we compare with Shopify?
For those who understand the details of Shopify but want to know more about how it differs from other services, we compared the pricing, design, features, and more with domestic and international e-commerce website construction services.
| Service Name | Shopify | Color Me Shop | BASE | STORES | Welcart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of registered products | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited (Free plan is 5 points) |
not clear |
| CSV bulk registration | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Subscriptions | Customize with the app | Yes | Yes | Possible with plugin | |
| External Cart Function | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Possible with plugin |
| Initial cost | free | 3,000 yen (excluding tax) (Regular plan) | free | free | Free (separate domain and server preparation required) |
| Monthly cost | $29 | 3,000 yen (excluding tax) | free | 1,980 yen + tax (free plan also available) | free |
| Payment fee | 3.25–3.9% | 4-5% (Color Me Payment has a minimum monthly fee) | 3.6% + 40 yen | 3.6% (5% for free plan) | 3.5% (If using WelcartPay, an additional initial fee of 3,000 yen is required) |
| Sales Commission | 0 yen | 0 yen | 3% (service fee) | 0 yen | 0 yen |
| Bank transfer fee | 0 yen | 0 yen | 250 yen (separate withdrawal fee of 500 yen, free for amounts over 20,000 yen) | 275 yen | 0 yen |
Color Me Shop
Color Me Shop is popular and has the largest number of participating stores in Japan, with over 45,000 stores nationwide. It has a wide range of functions and external collaborations, and is known for being able to operate a full-fledged EC site.
What it has in common with Shopify is that it has a wide range of design templates, so even beginners can easily create a shop, and it can be customized using HTML and CSS. By adding apps, it can be equipped with functions necessary for operation, such as overseas sales, online customer service, and drop-off prevention.
The initial cost is 3,000 yen, but there is no sales commission. There is also an economy plan for monthly fees of 834 yen, but there are restrictions on the design templates and free pages that can be used, so if you want to seriously grow your EC site, we recommend the regular plan for 3,000 yen per month.
The transaction fee varies depending on the payment processing company. For example, Color Me Payment charges 4-5%. In addition, each credit card company has a minimum monthly fee set at 1,000-2,500 yen, and if the monthly transaction fee falls below this amount, you will have to pay this amount.
In addition, even with the basic plan on Shopify, there are features that allow you to check financial reports as well as customer acquisition and marketing reports, but Color Me Shop's analytical data is only sales data.
Base
BASE is popular for being able to set up an online store in just 30 seconds, free of charge, and has been introduced to over 800,000 stores.
What it has in common with Shopify is that even beginners can easily create a shop by using design templates. It is also customizable using HTML. Apps can also add a variety of functions such as delivery date settings, original domains, and category management.
Both sites offer both free and paid design themes, but Shopify has a much larger selection of themes.
Shopify has over 2,000 apps, allowing for a wider range of customization options, while BASE has around 50 apps in a compact format, making it as easy to use as possible.
BASE has no initial or monthly fees, but a service fee of 3% is charged for the total amount of one order (including shipping). If you want to expand your sales, Shopify has the advantage of not charging fees for orders if you use Shopify Payments for payments. Credit card payment fees are not that different, starting at 3.25% for Shopify and 3% + 40 yen for BASE.
Regarding payments, Shopify covers credit card payments, convenience store payments, cash on delivery, online payments such as PayPal and Amazon payments, and even virtual currencies. BASE supports five payment methods: credit card payments, convenience store payments/Pay-easy, bank transfers, deferred payments, and carrier payments.
STORES
STORES is known as an instant e-commerce service that allows you to set up and sell on an online store in as little as two minutes. More than 10,000 online stores are opened every month.
The common point with Shopify is that even beginners can easily create a shop by using design templates. Both can be customized with HTML, but while Shopify can be customized freely, STORES has limited editing options. If you want to create a more ideal EC site, Shopify is recommended.
There are no sales commission fees. STORES has a plan with no initial fee and no monthly fee, but the free plan has a high credit card payment fee of 5%. If you use the paid plan for 1,980 yen per month, the fee can be reduced to 3.6%, so this is recommended if you want to expand your sales. Shopify's credit card payment fee starts from 3.25%.
In addition, there is no transfer fee for Shopify, but it costs 250 yen for STORES.
Both services cover credit cards, convenience store payments, and carrier payments, but Shopify offers a wider range of payment methods, including the latest payment methods such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, as well as the ability to pay with cryptocurrency.
Welcart
Welcart is a shopping cart system that can be installed on WordPress. By simply adding it to your WordPress site, you can start an online store for free and easily. It has a proven track record as the No. 1 EC plugin in Japan.
Compared to Shopify and the three ASP carts mentioned above, it is implemented using WordPress, so a certain level of knowledge is required. However, since the login and admin screen are the same as WordPress, it is recommended for those who are familiar with WordPress.
You can also add your favorite designs and functions using dedicated themes and extension plugins.
To start an e-commerce site using Welcart, you will need to sign up for a server, install WordPress, and obtain a domain that will serve as the URL for your shop.
There are no initial or monthly fees. Credit card transaction fees are 3.5%, which is not much different from Shopify's 3.25% and up, so costs can be kept relatively low.
[Summary] Let's create a successful e-commerce site using Shopify
・There are other e-commerce site building services besides Shopify, but Shopify is simply easier to use.
It's simple and highly functional. In addition to being able to easily build and operate an e-commerce site, it also has a full range of functions to increase sales, such as linking with SNS and a free abandoned cart function, in addition to the benefits we've introduced so far.
There are no initial costs or sales commissions, so initial and running costs can be kept low, and it doesn't take much time or effort to set up and operate, making it a very cost-effective service overall.
- It has a wide range of plugins and themes, making it a great fit for cross-border e-commerce.
By introducing over 2,000 apps in various categories, such as "integration with external tools," "email and search optimization," "social media marketing," "inventory management," "delivery arrangements," and "cover page printing," you can equip your e-commerce site with functions that suit your needs.
There is also a wide variety of design themes, making it possible to build an easy-to-read, functional website that matches the image of your product and brand. It is recommended not only for companies that are only considering the domestic market, but also for those considering selling overseas in the future, as it supports overseas payments and a wide range of languages. It is also cheaper than other services that can create a global e-commerce site.
・It's best to try it out with a free trial first.
If you want to run an e-commerce site easily while keeping costs as low as possible, we recommend you sign up for Shopify's 14-day free trial and see how it works.
