Updated: Jun 10, 2025
Author: Vivienne Wang
As ecommerce continues to grow in New Zealand, more small businesses are exploring how to sell products online. Choosing the right platform can be overwhelming, especially for non-technical business owners. That’s where Shopify comes in.
Shopify is one of the most popular ecommerce platforms in the world, and for good reason: it’s beginner-friendly, cost-effective, and scalable. Whether you’re a boutique brand, a food producer, or a giftware store, Shopify makes it easier to get selling online – without needing to hire a developer.
This simple guide from Adhesion covers everything you need to know about Shopify to get started with growing your business online; key features, costs, and other important factors to keep in mind.
Shopify is a hosted ecommerce platform, which means it handles all the technical backend (like hosting and security) so you can focus on running your business. It offers a simple website builder, integrated checkout, inventory management, and payment processing, all in a user-friendly interface that’s easy to get started with.
It’s built for product-based businesses and offers a wide range of features to help you create a professional, smooth-running online store, even if you’ve never done it before.
In New Zealand, Shopify offers monthly and yearly plans, with yearly plans typically offering a 25% discount. Standard plan types include Basic, Grow, and Advanced; these will suit most online businesses, though Shopify also offers POS plans for physical retailers who only need a simple online presence.
For most NZ ecommerce businesses, the Basic plan is a good place to start; as you begin to scale, the Grow plan will support increased functionality and expansion. Shopify also offers a trial period for these plans at USD $1 / month for three months to get you up and running – this is a great opportunity to test out the platform to see if it works for you.
Shopify offers free and paid themes that you can customise with your logo, colours, and fonts. For businesses wanting more flexibility, you can edit the theme code or work with a Shopify Partner agency (like us!).
You can also connect your own custom domain or purchase one directly through Shopify for convenience.
If you’re a New Zealand business wanting to start selling online, Shopify is one of the most straightforward and scalable ways to do it. From small handmade goods to expansive product ranges, Shopify gives you the tools to build a professional ecommerce site that works.
Need help setting up your Shopify store or getting the most from your ecommerce strategy? Adhesion is a Shopify Partner agency that works with Kiwi businesses to grow online. Get in touch for help with setup, email marketing, ads, or ongoing optimisation.
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