So you’re an esthetician thinking about a Shopify site. If you already have a website, you might be asking yourself when or if you should switch. Or maybe you’re thinking about creating your first site and are overwhelmed with the platform options. What are the pros and cons of Shopify? Is Shopify hard to learn? Find out our thoughts below and our advice.

TL;DR If you're an esthetician starting out, prioritize a service-based website to showcase your personality and services. Transition to a powerful eComm platform like Shopify when your clientele grows, ensuring your online presence aligns with the evolving needs of your esthetics business. Strategic timing is key for a seamless transition.

Service-Based Website vs eComm Platform: What’s the difference?

A service-based website is more of a digital showcase. Its purpose is to inform and engage potential clients with detailed service descriptions, galleries, and a glimpse of your personality. On the flip side, an eComm platform like Shopify is geared towards businesses ready to dive into online product sales, emphasizing seamless transactions, product listings, and a user-friendly shopping experience.

Pros of Shopify for Estheticians

User-Friendly Interface

One of the standout features of Shopify is its user-friendly interface. As an esthetician, you want to focus on enhancing your clients' beauty, not struggling with complicated website setups. Shopify's intuitive design and online store make it easy to navigate, even if you don’t have extensive technical expertise. And if you do hit a snag, there are many Shopify resources online.

Extensive Theme Store

The Shopify Theme Store includes over 100 free and premium professionally designed eCommerce website templates that you can use for your own online store. You can find Shopify theme’s ranging from free to $500. If you’re wanting to sell products and have a website that feels like an eComm store and less like a service based website, Shopify is a great choice.

Built For eComm

Shopify is an eComm platform built to increase product sales with strategic design and intuitive interfaces. If you’re at a point in your business that you want to start growing online product sales, the eComm platform you choose matters. There’s a reason Shopify is trusted by Kylie Cosmetics, Heinz, Fitbit, and Tesla. Whether you are selling $1,500/mo in products or $50,000, Shopify can handle it. 

Cons of Shopify for Estheticians

Customization Limitations

While Shopify's customization options are extensive, it does come with limitations. If you're an esthetician with a unique brand aesthetic in mind, you might find some constraints within the website builder. Since Shopify is built predominately as an eComm platform, you might run into some problems setting up unique pages like services, memberships, or reviews.

So Should You Switch? Our Advice

If you're a growing esthetician seeking to establish authority and build your clientele, the initial focus should be on creating a website that reflects your personality and expertise—a service-based website. This approach allows potential clients to get to know you, understand your services, and connect with your unique aesthetic.

While Shopify excels as an eComm platform, providing a robust foundation for product sales, diving straight into it may not be the ideal starting point for everyone. Instead, prioritize a website designed to showcase your services, allowing your personality to shine through. As you gain momentum, and product sales become more frequent, consider transitioning to a more eComm-oriented platform like Shopify to enhance the overall buying experience.

The key is to strategically time the transition, ensuring it aligns with the growth and evolving needs of your esthetics business. By starting with a service-based website, you create a solid foundation for building meaningful connections with your audience before delving into the world of e-commerce.

Get in touch with us today to chat about whether or not Shopify is right for you!