My journey in ecommerce development started long before I founded Cartmade.
In the past 7 years, I’ve worked with people, startups, medium size businesses and brands generating millions of dollars. I have learned that creating a successful online business is not just about website design or development. It takes knowledge of customers, business, technology and future growth.
Cartmade is now able to assist businesses with Shopify store development, custom app development, mobile apps, platform migration, SEO, accessibility, conversion rate optimization and specialist automotive ecommerce solutions.
My Ecommerce Development Background
I graduated from the University of Central Lancashire in 2014 with a degree in Business Computing and Information Systems.
Before graduating, I represented Team Domain Nepal in a nationwide web development competition organised by the Computer Association of Nepal and Sastra Creations. We secured the first runner up position in April 2013.
My professional career began at Sofos Softwares Pvt. Ltd., where I worked as a web developer from 2013 to 2015. During this time, I completed projects using CodeIgniter, Joomla and Magento, eventually focusing more heavily on Magento development.
In 2015, I joined EB Pearls Pty. Ltd. as a Magento developer. As Shopify became more widely adopted, I gradually moved towards Shopify development. I later became the team lead for the ecommerce team, a position I held from 2018 until April 2019.
Working as both a developer and team lead gave me experience in software development, project delivery, technical planning, mentoring and client communication. It also helped me understand that successful ecommerce projects require much more than writing code.
Why I Created Cartmade?
While working with ecommerce businesses, I noticed that many companies could find freelancers for small development tasks, but they struggled to find a dependable long term technical partner.
An ecommerce store is rarely just a website. It may connect with inventory systems, fulfilment providers, accounting software, email marketing platforms, subscription apps, loyalty programmes and online marketplaces.
Businesses therefore need developers who understand how these systems work together, how one technical change can affect several business processes and how to build solutions that remain maintainable as the company grows.
I created Cartmade to provide businesses with a specialised ecommerce team that combines technical expertise with commercial understanding.
Through our Shopify development services, we support businesses with online store development, custom Shopify apps, mobile application development, data migration, SEO, conversion optimisation, accessibility and ongoing technical improvements.
The goal was never simply to complete development tickets. I wanted Cartmade to become an extension of each client’s business and help them make better longterm technology decisions.
Growing from Freelancer to Agency Founder
Developing into an agency was difficult. I would be able to be in charge of everything as a developer. But as the team and the number of clients increased this was no longer feasible.
I had to become a good delegator and had to learn to make sure that requirements were clearly expressed and that others on the team understood what to do.
Another significant difficulty was to keep up the quality. The level of work provided to a client should not vary from one developer to the other. The following processes and standards needed to be improved: development, testing, code reviews, project communication and handover.
In addition to the technical aspects I had to deal with recruitment, mentoring, planning, establishing relationships with clients and the day to day running of a business.No agency can rely solely on its founder. It requires qualified personnel, clear accountability and reliable systems.
Building an In House Development Team
At Cartmade, we have focused on building a Team rather than passing projects between external contractors.
While it is important to be technically competent, it’s not everything we are seeking. Communication and responsibility, along with their ability to think creatively and solve problems, are also useful skills.
Shopify developers are frequently asked to perform requests that seem straightforward, but can have multiple implications for a business. Product data, storefront design, collection filtering, internal administration and third party integrations are all potential aspects of adding a new product field.
Developers therefore need to understand why a feature is required, not only how to build it.
Shopify also changes continuously. New APIs, checkout extensions, customer account features, development frameworks and platform requirements are introduced regularly. Continuous learning is therefore an essential part of our development culture.
We encourage our team to understand both the technical requirements and the commercial purpose behind every project.
Managing Shopify Projects and Clients
One of the biggest lessons I have learned is that many project problems begin before development starts.A client may request a particular feature, but the agency must first understand the business objective behind it.
Is the goal to improve conversions, reduce manual work, connect another system, simplify internal operations or improve the customer experience?
Once the objective is clear, we can determine whether the best solution is an existing Shopify feature, a third-party application or custom Shopify app development.
Custom development is not always the right answer. In some cases, Shopify already provides the required functionality. In others, a reliable third-party app can solve the problem faster and at a lower cost.
However, businesses may require a custom solution when existing apps cannot support their workflow, when several systems must exchange data or when a feature needs to follow specific operational rules.
Clear project scope is equally important. Both the agency and the client should understand:
- What is included in the project
- What information or access is required
- Which party is responsible for each task
- How the completed work will be tested
- What is excluded from the agreed scope
- How future changes will be managed
Communication must remain consistent and honest throughout the project. Clients should understand the current status, any blockers, potential risks and the next steps.
Sometimes the right recommendation is not to build a requested feature because it would be unreliable, unnecessarily expensive or difficult to maintain. A responsible agency should explain these trade-offs rather than agreeing to every request.
Building Shopify Stores for Long-Term Growth
A successful Shopify store should be designed around the business, its customers and its internal operations.
Our approach to Shopify store development considers much more than the appearance of the storefront. We also look at product structure, customer journeys, integrations, performance, maintainability and future growth.
For established businesses, development may involve migrating from another platform, restructuring a large product catalogue or connecting Shopify with external inventory and fulfilment systems.
For growing brands, the work may involve improving the existing theme, creating custom product experiences, introducing subscriptions or developing a dedicated Shopify mobile app.
The right solution depends on the business model. A feature that works well for one company may create unnecessary complexity for another.
Lessons for Ecommerce Businesses
After working with businesses of different sizes, I have learned several important lessons.
Define the Business Problem First
Businesses should define the problem before selecting an app or technology.
Installing multiple applications without a clear plan can increase costs, reduce performance and create conflicting workflows. Before adding an app, businesses should understand what problem it solves, which systems it affects and whether the functionality can be managed effectively over time.
Maintain Consistent Product Data
Product titles, SKUs, options, tags, collections and metafields affect search, filtering, inventory, reporting and integrations.
Inconsistent product data can cause problems across the entire business. It may affect storefront navigation, product feeds, fulfilment systems, marketplace integrations and internal reporting.
This becomes particularly important for automotive businesses, where products may need to be matched against makes, models, engines, years and fitting positions. A structured Shopify auto parts and vehicle-fitment solution can help customers find compatible products while reducing incorrect purchases.
Plan Beyond the Initial Launch
An eCommerce store is not a one-time project.
Customer expectations, product ranges, marketing strategies and business operations change over time. Stores require continuous testing, maintenance and improvement after launch.
The initial build should therefore create a stable foundation that can support future development without introducing unnecessary technical debt.
Focus on Performance, SEO and Accessibility
A visually attractive store is valuable, but appearance alone does not create a successful eCommerce experience.
Businesses should also consider technical performance, navigation, search visibility and accessibility.
Effective Shopify SEO helps search engines understand a store’s products, collections and content. However, SEO also depends on site structure, page speed, product data, internal links and the quality of the information provided to customers.
Similarly, Shopify accessibility should be treated as part of the development process rather than an optional improvement. Customers should be able to navigate, understand and interact with a store regardless of their abilities or the technology they use.
Do Not Focus Only on the Storefront
Inventory, shipping, fulfilment and order management directly affect the customer experience.
A beautiful storefront cannot compensate for unreliable operations. If stock levels are incorrect, orders are not transferred properly or fulfilment information is delayed, customers will still have a poor experience.
The best eCommerce solutions connect the customer-facing store with the systems and teams responsible for delivering the order.
When Should a Business Hire a Shopify Agency?
Not every new Shopify store needs an agency.A small business with a simple product catalogue may be able to launch using a standard Shopify theme and a few carefully selected applications.
However, a business should consider hiring a Shopify agency when:
- The store requires substantial custom functionality.
- Multiple systems need to integrate with Shopify.
- Existing apps no longer support the required workflow.
- Product and order data are becoming difficult to manage.
- The business is migrating from another eCommerce platform.
- Store performance or technical debt is affecting customers.
- Organic visibility and technical SEO need improvement.
- Accessibility issues are preventing customers from using the store effectively.
- Several freelancers are making changes without shared documentation.
- Technical problems are affecting orders, fulfilment or revenue.
- The internal team requires ongoing technical guidance and support.
The right agency should provide more than development hours. It should help the business understand risks, evaluate available options and prioritise work according to its commercial goals.
An agency should also be willing to challenge a request when there is a more reliable, cost-effective or maintainable solution available.
What Businesses Should Look for in a Shopify Agency
Before selecting an agency, businesses should review its technical experience, communication process and understanding of eCommerce operations.
A capable agency should be able to explain:
- How it approaches project discovery and planning
- Who will be responsible for the work
- How development will be tested
- How changes will be documented
- How risks and blockers will be communicated
- What support is available after launch
- Whether the team has experience with similar business models or integrations
Businesses should also review previous Shopify projects and case studies rather than making a decision based only on sales presentations.
The relationship should feel like a technical partnership, not simply a transaction based on development hours.
Conclusion
As a web developer, I have learned that technical expertise is insufficient as I have progressed to become an ecommerce team lead and started my own company, Cartmade.
Business understanding, communication, research, leadership and accountability are also key elements of successful eCommerce development.
It’s not just a website we’re entrusted with, it’s a business. They are giving us a platform with their customers, business and money.This is a role I am still in today that influences my leadership and everyone at Cartmade on every Shopify project.
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