Choosing a UK Shopify agency
By Tom Carew and Tom Mucklow-Norell · Published 19 October 2026
How to choose a Shopify or Shopify Plus agency in the UK: what to check, the warning signs, and the questions to ask at the pitch. Superco is a Shopify Platinum Partner with a 33-person team in London, so we have set out how we measure up against each point.
The short answer
- Check the agency's Shopify Partner tier in Shopify's own directory, not just on its website.
- Ask who will do the work. An in-house UK team is easier to reach, works your hours and stays with the project.
- Ask to speak to two or three clients with stores like yours, and read the agency's independent reviews.
What to check
| Criterion | Why it matters | Superco |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify Partner tier | Shopify ranks partners on the volume and quality of their work | Platinum, the top tier |
| Who does the work | Subcontracted or offshore teams add hand-offs and time-zone gaps | 33 people, all in-house in London |
| Relevant work | Experience in your sector and set-up shortens every decision | UK brands including LSA International, Funkin Cocktails, Tileflair, New & Lingwood and Puresport |
| Migration and SEO process | Most replatforming risk sits in rankings, data and integrations | Written data and SEO plans before build; every URL mapped |
| Support after launch | Problems after launch need someone who knows the store | Dedicated account manager and a Slack channel; urgent replies within a couple of hours in the working week |
| Code ownership | You should be free to move agency | Clients own the code |
| Independent reviews | Case studies are written by the agency; reviews are not | 4.9 out of 5 from 58 Clutch reviews |
Red flags
- The agency will not say who will do the work, or the team changes after the pitch.
- No Shopify Partner listing, or a tier they cannot show you in Shopify's directory.
- No migration or SEO plan in writing before work starts.
- You will not own the code, or the theme is locked to the agency.
- Support after launch is vague, or only available through a ticket queue.
- Every case study is a big brand, but none are in your sector or size.
Questions to ask at the pitch
- Who exactly will work on our project, and are they employed by you or subcontracted?
- Which stores like ours have you built, and can we speak to those clients?
- Who owns the code and the theme when the project ends?
- How will you protect our search rankings if anything moves?
- What happens after launch: who do we contact, and how quickly do they reply?
- How do you work around UK trading peaks such as Black Friday and Christmas?
- 33
- People in our team, all employed by Superco and working from our London office
- 4.9/5
- Average rating from 58 verified Clutch reviews
- 6 weeks
- LSA International's move from Magento to Shopify, timed around its Christmas trading
- Platinum
- Our Shopify Partner tier, the highest Shopify awards
‘They really took the time to understand the complexities of the business.’
UK brands we work with
| Brand | What we did |
|---|---|
| LSA International | Magento to Shopify in six weeks, ahead of its old contract ending over Christmas |
| Funkin Cocktails | Magento to Shopify Plus for D2C and B2B, then trade and US sites |
| Tileflair | Customer research, Kerridge ERP integration and a Shopify Plus rebuild |
| New & Lingwood | Magento to Shopify Plus with a custom theme |
| Puresport | A complete Shopify Plus rebuild with a community section |
| Suki Tea | Magento to Shopify with a Sage integration, live for its November sale |
Why work with a UK agency
- Workshops in person, not only on video calls.
- The same working hours, holidays and trading calendar as your team.
- Knowledge of UK customers, payment habits and peak periods.
FAQs
How do I check an agency's Shopify Partner tier?
Search for the agency in Shopify's Partner Directory. Its profile shows the partner tier Shopify has awarded it. Superco is a Platinum Partner.
Should we choose a UK agency or an offshore one?
Offshore teams can cost less per day, but time-zone gaps, hand-offs and turnover often add time and risk. A UK in-house team is easier to work with day to day, especially during launches and peak trading.
Do you work with brands outside London?
Yes. We work with brands across the UK and abroad. We run workshops in person wherever possible and work remotely the rest of the time.
What is a technical audit?
A detailed review of your store's code, theme, apps, speed, SEO and integrations. You get a prioritized list of what to fix, whether or not you then work with us.
Keep reading
Book a technical audit
We review your store's code, apps, speed, SEO and integrations, and tell you what to fix first. Or tell us about your project and we will tell you how we would approach it.
