How does Shopify work?

1. Hosted platform

Shopify is a cloud-based, hosted platform, meaning Shopify users don’t need to worry about managing servers, software updates, or security patches. 

The platform offers:

• Unlimited bandwidth to handle high traffic without performance issues.
• Automatic updates to maintain and improve security without manual effort.
• Multi-device access for easy store management from desktop or mobile.
• PCI compliance for secure transactions and customer data protection.

Unlike self-hosted platforms like WooCommerce for WordPress or Magento, Shopify’s fully managed infrastructure lets merchants focus on business growth instead of technical maintenance.

2. Store management

Shopify’s Admin Panel offers a user-friendly dashboard where merchants can control every aspect of their store:

• Product management – Add, edit, and organize product listings.
• Inventory tracking – Set and monitor supply levels with automatic low-stock alerts.
• Order processing – View, fulfill, and track orders from a single interface.
• Customer profiles – Check order history, contact details, and purchasing behavior.
• Sales analytics – Track revenue, conversion rates, and customer behavior trends.
• Bulk editing and listing imports – Update multiple products at once for faster management.
• Custom order management – Modify, track, and fulfill orders with flexible controls.
• Staff account permissions – Assign access levels for different team members.

3. Payment processing

Shopify supports more than 100 payment gateways, including major options like PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and even cryptocurrency.

The platform’s own system, Shopify Payments, offers an integrated and more cost-effective solution by eliminating third-party fees. It’s often considered one of the highest-converting secure checkout systems because of its ease of use. 

Shopify Payments lets you:

• Accept payments from credit and debit cards without third-party transaction fees.
• Offer multi-currency checkout, making it easier to sell internationally.
• Reduce fraud risk with built-in security features and chargeback protection.

Take time to explore all the payment processing options to find one that your customers prefer while keeping costs low for you.

4. Order fulfillment and shipping

When a customer orders, Shopify automatically notifies merchants so they can manage it through the Orders dashboard:

• Process new orders – See customer details, payment statuses, and shipping information.
• Print invoices and packing slips – Generate order summaries for efficient fulfillment.
• Send shipping confirmations – Automatically email customers detailed tracking information. 
• Handle refunds and returns – Process refunds and update order statuses.

5. Built-in tools for marketing and sales

Shopify has comprehensive marketing and sales tools to turn browsers into buyers.

Search engine optimization (SEO) and content marketing

Want better visibility? Shopify’s built-in SEO tools let merchants edit product descriptions, meta tags, and URLs to rank higher in search results, while its blogging features help attract organic traffic.

Email and automated marketing

The platform’s email marketing tools let merchants send automated personalized offers. Encourage customers to check out their abandoned carts and promote sales with targeted discounts.

Sales and promotions

Shopify makes setting up discount codes, bundle deals, and flash sales easy. Upselling and cross-selling features urge customers to purchase multiple items, while referral and loyalty apps help drive repeat buyers.

6. Apps for additional features

Shopify’s App Store offers thousands of extensions to enhance your store’s functionality. 

From pop-up widgets, marketing, and SEO to inventory management and customer support, merchants frequently use apps to:

• Customize storefronts with drag-and-drop design tools, theme editors, and landing page builders.
• Automate marketing through dynamic ads and timed social media posts.
• Speed up fulfillment with inventory tracking, bulk editing, and third-party solutions.
• Enhance customer support using live chat, AI chatbots, and loyalty programs.

7. Multichannel selling

Go from your first sale to full-scale success with multichannel commerce. 

Market your brand and expand your reach to multiple sales channels:

• Social media stores – Sell directly on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest, syncing inventory and processing orders seamlessly.
• Online marketplaces – List products on Amazon, eBay, and Etsy, reaching millions of potential buyers.
• In-person sales – Use the Shopify POS (Point of Sale) system in retail stores, pop-up shops, and events while keeping your inventory up-to-date.
• Search engines and other sites – Showcase products on Google Shopping or add Buy Buttons to external websites and blogs for direct purchases.

8. Growth and scalability

Shopify supports businesses at every stage, from startups to global brands. Whether you’re selling a few products or managing a large catalog, this eCommerce platform can scale seamlessly.

Beyond its flexible integrations, Shopify also has AI-powered customer support and content automation tools with Shopify Magic to ease marketing and customer engagement.

1. Create a Shopify account

Head to the Shopify website, click Start free trial, and complete the set-up process. Explore Shopify’s features and benefits before committing to a subscription plan.

2. Customize your store

Browse Shopify’s themes, pick your favorite, and use the drag-and-drop editor to adjust the layout, branding, fonts, and colors. Add store pages like About, Contact, and FAQ, and organize the homepage sections to feature your products and promotions.

Make sure the photos you upload follow Shopify’s image size requirements. Your product display should be cohesive and clear to encourage website visitors to explore your catalog.

3. Add your products

Now it’s time to add products and start selling. Do this manually or use print-on-demand services like Printify to automate inventory and fulfillment.

Shopify’s product management system makes it simple for merchants. Follow these steps to add and organize listings and start selling with Shopify:

1. Go to Shopify Admin >  Products > Add Product.
2. Enter a product title and description, highlighting the key benefits.
3. Upload high-quality images to showcase different angles and product details.
4. Set the price and inventory levels for stock tracking.
5. Enable variant selection for different sizes, colors, or materials.
6. Assign the product to collections to improve navigation.

4. Set up payments and checkout

Enable Shopify Payments or connect a third-party gateway to accept payments. 

To activate Shopify Payments:

1. Go to Shopify Admin > Settings > Payments.
2. Choose Shopify Payments and connect your bank account.
3. Enable additional payment methods if needed.

5. Manage orders and inventory

Once your store is live, view and manage customer purchases using Shopify’s Orders dashboard. It sorts orders into four categories – Pending, Fulfilled, Canceled, and Drafts.

1. Go to Shopify Admin > Products > Inventory.
2. Adjust stock levels manually or set up automated inventory tracking.
3. Enable low-stock notifications to prevent overselling.

Don’t want to worry about inventory? Use Printify for Shopify to leverage print-on-demand fulfillment. Our Print Providers will proceed with an order onlyafter a customer purchases, eliminating the need to track stock manually.

Using Shopify apps to improve performance

Use the Shopify App Store search bar to discover thousands of solutions for email marketing, analytics, and automation.

• Email marketing – Klaviyo and Omnisend automate campaigns to re-engage customers. Send personalized emails through subscriptions and order notifications.
• Analytics and reporting – Lifetimely and Polar Analytics provide insights into sales trends, customer behavior, and profitability.
• Automation – Zapier and Shopify Flow ease order management, abandoned cart recovery, and inventory updates.
• On-demand fulfillment – Printify automates production and shipping, helping sellers offer custom merchandise without managing inventory.

Expanding with Shopify POS for retail stores

For businesses that sell both online and in person, Shopify POS enables seamless integration between eCommerce and brick-and-mortar sales. 

Sync inventory, orders, and customer data between your online store and physical locations. Sell at pop-up shops, markets, or permanent retail locations while managing everything from one dashboard.

It accepts various payment methods, including Shopify Payments, tap-to-pay, and QR codes, and allows for local pickup and delivery.

Sign up

Create a Printify account for free to access our seamless print-on-demand services.

Select and design your products

Explore our Catalog and choose custom-print products that fit your design idea. Use the Product Creator to upload your designs, adjust placement, and preview high-quality mockups.

Integrate with Shopify

Install Printify on your store, link your products from the Printify dashboard, then finalize the Shopify listings before publishing them online.

Focus on growing your online business

Once purchases roll in, Printify’s network will fulfill customer orders automatically – so you can focus on growing your brand.