OTTAWA, ONTARIO— March 5, 2010 – Shopify, a leading global provider of turnkey, hosted ecommerce solutions, announced today that retailers on the Shopify platform have reached a major milestone, netting $100 million in total sales since the company’s elegant and simple shopping cart system launched in 2007.
“We are very excited to reach this incredible milestone in such a short period of time,” said Tobi Lütke, CEO of Shopify. “It’s a testament to the ease and simplicity of our system that helps both large and small businesses succeed online every day.”
More than 6,000 retailers use Shopify to power their online retail stores. The system has been recognized by CNet.com and TechCrunch for its simplicity and ease of use that eliminates the feeling of overwhelm and fear of the unknown many prospective online business owners feel. With customizable, contemporary design templates, easy-to-integrate rich feature set and industry-leading security, Shopify allows even a relative novice to launch a visually spectacular, well-designed and user-friendly online store in mere minutes.
“Our entire system is built around making it quick and easy to start and run an online store, even for those with no ecommerce background,” Lütke said. “And, with our Build a Business Contest going on now, there’s never been a better time to start the online business you’ve always wanted to help drive sales around the clock-even while you sleep.”
Shopify’s Build a Business contest will award $100,000 to the highest grossing new business launched on the Shopify platform between January 1 and June 30. The winner will be selected based on the best two months for each contestant. Additional prizes will be handed out to the top grossing businesses in each of four categories: digital goods (including downloadable media), apparel, electronics and miscellaneous. Contestants may enter the contest at any time, but are encouraged to sign up now in order to make the most of the six-month span.
By automating many of the more complicated processes, including back-end website management, product sourcing, payment processing and reporting, Shopify is ideal for both small and large businesses. Shopify sites are exceptionally affordable, typically allowing businesses to recoup the cost of the site with the margins from the first sale of each month. A 30-day risk-free trial can be upgraded quickly and easily to one of five plans that start at just $24 per month, with no setup fees. Elegant, flexible and scalable, Shopify’s platform powers thousands of startups, as well as some of the largest retail brands in fashion, automobiles, entertainment and media, including Tesla Motors, the Foo Fighters and The Indianapolis Star newspaper.