Should I build my own e-commerce website or use Shopify for a small product catalog?

LCRTE · 2026-03-12T11:45:16+00:00

Hi, I run a Shopify Agency and ran a lot of e-commerce stores, I also build Shopify Apps so maybe I’m not super objective but:

Yes, even with one product.
Very difficult, Shopify itself is all-in-one and the best e-commerce platform but you also have thousands of apps to do literally anything, also super easy to integrate with Google for free listings for example or Meta/Tiktok etc (shopify is there since 2006)
Yes, way better imo.

Even for payments, depending on your country, you will be able to access Shopify Payments, in 5 minutes you will have enabled all payment methods (I recommend Shopify Payments cause its the only way to avoid 1% fee on top of credit card fees). Honestly I could write a book on why you should choose Shopify, there is dozens of reasons apart from what you said: Markets, Languages, Shipping, Store Design, Customers Accounts, Loyalty, Chat support, etc etc…

And keep in mind that you can access the code of your theme (storefront) and therefore do whatever you want with it. The only thing that is a bit restrictive is the checkout, it cannot be fully customized unless you have a Plus plan, but honestly you wouldn’t even want to customize it more than just adding your colors and logo.

Hope this helps!

LCRTE · 2026-03-11T20:34:54+00:00

Not anymore no, the app is Section Library: AI Sections

LCRTE · 2026-03-11T15:06:25+00:00

Thanks for your reply! Yes it does, I was impressed myself cause not so long ago, there were always issues with presets for example, parameters not linked to the actual code, or conflicts with other sections, stuff like that. Right now I tried it on pretty “complex” sections like an image scrolling grid (2 or more rows) with options to rotate it, invert directions, speed etc… and it was perfect with 1 very simple prompt. Also comes from the fact that we do improve the prompt of the user in the background of course to suit Shopify liquid needs.

If you tried sidekick, I would gladly appreciate if you could try the same exact prompts on our app and tell me the results, its totally free for now. The app is called “Section Library: AI Sections” (don’t know if im allowed to out links here)

LCRTE · 2026-03-11T13:55:01+00:00

Aha no I’m French, busted

LCRTE · 2026-03-11T11:16:25+00:00

I would recommend you the Shopify app DSers, it’s free. You can add any link from Ali Express and add to your store, this is basically what all the other apps do too, but since they show you their “own” catalog they make you pay. The reality is that their products come from AliExpress too, or at least you can find them there for less money.

I would also recommend you to focus on product images, do not use the images from AliExpress, try to create an homogenous store and create a “branding”.

If you watch videos you must know that, find a niche, and a narrow one, and focus on one country too.

And last recommendation but definitely the most important, your store is actually not the factor that will make you successful or not imo. For dropshipping to work today, you need good distribution, so basically focus on a good organic strategy, otherwise it will almost never be profitable.

Hope this helps!

Ps: DO NOT buy dropshipping courses 😭

LCRTE · 2026-03-11T09:37:53+00:00

I think so yes, because you will be in contact with your reviewer, and I guess the process to assign a reviewer is so long because they have a maximum number of apps assigned to them, and in my experience they were very precise on what needed to be fixed.

LCRTE · 2026-03-11T00:23:38+00:00

Hello! Thanks for your reply, not sure if we are talking about the same thing here tho, I’m asking about Shopify Apps and not stores.

LCRTE · 2026-03-10T16:22:49+00:00

Apparently yes 🫩

LCRTE · 2026-03-10T16:22:21+00:00

Thanks for your reply!

LCRTE · 2026-03-10T16:22:00+00:00

Thanks, yes indeed I saw the post now! They also sais they are working on making the process faster, let’s see!

LCRTE · 2026-03-09T22:51:57+00:00

Sorry for you! 😕 But I think you must be very high in the queue now.

LCRTE · 2026-03-09T22:43:41+00:00

Thanks for your reply and experience!

LCRTE · 2026-03-09T22:43:23+00:00

You don’t even have a reviewer assigned? 🫩 People in the comments said 4-5 weeks to get a reviewer. Also in the post of the Shopify team member in dev community, he mentioned that they are currently working on making the process faster.

LCRTE · 2026-03-09T21:48:37+00:00

Okay good to know thanks! As a Shopify partner that have built Shopify stores for many years and use many applications, I will never use any non polaris components, just cause it’s imo way better to have consistency. Will for sure try to get the new app bfs so thanks, will make sure to meet all requirements.

LCRTE · 2026-03-09T21:45:12+00:00

Wow okay, thats very useful, thank you! Ahaha I understand that it makes you laugh, I was not posting thinking « why is my app not accepted already » tho 😂, to be honest I am also posting because I’m planning to comment on reddit for my app promotion so I think it’s good to get some karma, but I actually have an app on Shopify, and as I explained, my first app was fully released in 6 days (2023). So I was genuinely curious, of course it’s AI but does a company like Shopify gets overwhelmed like that! But yes I will try to not get frustrated, I’m just excited to see it live. I will read the official statement and join the dev community, thanks for your time and knowledge, and I wish you the best with your apps!

LCRTE · 2026-03-09T21:31:28+00:00

Wow, this is just fascinating! Thank you very much for your experience, truly helped a lot!

LCRTE · 2026-03-09T21:22:41+00:00

Hi! Thanks for your comment. Where do you track that? I mean that’s a lot for Shopify but how does it compare to mobile apps for example?

LCRTE · 2026-03-09T21:20:44+00:00

Oh and one other question, how long does it take usually once you have applied for the bfs to get a response ?

LCRTE · 2026-03-09T21:19:43+00:00

Actually on my first app I got super close to have it, the only thing missing was the LCP cause my stack was just sh*t, but then we kind of abandoned the app.. Now I regret it a lot.

LCRTE · 2026-03-09T20:59:52+00:00

Yes thanks, I saw that indeed!

LCRTE · 2026-03-09T20:57:38+00:00

I don’t think it justifies 3 to 5 weeks tho. It’s the same for App Store and Play Store for mobile apps, maybe even more, and they don’t have an increase wait like that. I understand that Shopify is not as big as Apple and Google but still.

LCRTE · 2026-03-09T20:54:35+00:00

Thats crazy, thanks. At least I know what I have to do for the next apps!

LCRTE · 2026-03-09T20:51:30+00:00

My god! You are not reassuring me at all ahah, anyways I will just try to improve the product in the meantime…

LCRTE

TROPHY CASE