Shopify is the fastest way to get a store online. You can pick a theme, add products and take payments in a weekend. The hard part comes after: making the store look like your brand instead of a template, organising a growing catalog, and finding out why visitors add to cart but do not check out.
I'm Aldrian Loyola, a developer in the Philippines. I build and maintain online stores on Shopify and WooCommerce, and I work directly with the store owner.
What a Shopify developer does that the theme editor cannot
The theme editor handles colors, fonts and section order. A developer works one level down, in the theme's Liquid templates, CSS and JavaScript. That is where you get:
- A product page laid out for your products, not for a generic one.
- Custom sections your team can reuse on any page.
- Size guides, bundles, product options and badges without a paid app for each.
- A faster store, by removing code left behind by apps you no longer use.
- Small fixes the editor has no setting for, such as a sticky add-to-cart bar or a cleaner mobile menu.
Shopify services
Store setup
Account and theme setup, domain connection, payments, shipping rates, taxes, policies and the legal pages every store needs. You get a store that is ready to take real orders.
Theme customization
Changes to your theme's code: new sections, layout changes, a better product page, brand styling and mobile fixes. I work on a copy of your theme and publish only when you approve.
Product uploads and organisation
Products, variants, images, collections, tags and filters set up so customers can find what they want. For large catalogs I prepare a spreadsheet import instead of entering items one by one.
Speed and app cleanup
Every app adds code. Many stores carry scripts from apps that were removed long ago. I audit what loads on each page and remove what is not earning its keep.
Conversion fixes
Clearer product pages, visible shipping and return information, trust badges that are true, and a checkout path with fewer distractions.
Migration
Moving a store from WooCommerce or another platform to Shopify, or the other way, with products, customers and redirects carried over so you keep your search rankings.
Ongoing support
Product updates, seasonal banners, sale setups and small changes handled as needed or monthly.
Related store work
My published case studies are WordPress and WooCommerce projects, which show how I handle live stores:
- Artic Flex: a design refresh and a full platform upgrade on a busy store, tested on staging first, with checkout, subscriptions and affiliate forms verified afterward.
- Muller Energy: a focused landing page for a product launch, with sale prices and Buy Now paths on every card.
- Lakeside Smile Studio: a sixteen-page website that shows my standard for design, speed and accessibility.
The same habits apply on Shopify: work on a copy, test the buying path, publish at a quiet hour.
Shopify for Philippine sellers
A few things matter more here than the default setup assumes:
- Payments. Local buyers expect GCash, Maya, cards and cash on delivery. Which of these you can offer depends on the payment providers available to your business, and I help you set up the ones that are.
- Shipping. Rates by region or island group, and clear delivery times, reduce abandoned carts.
- Mobile. Most local shoppers buy on a phone, so the product page and cart must be fast and easy to use with one hand.
- Social selling. Many stores get their traffic from Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. The landing page those visitors see should match the ad they clicked.
Shopify or WooCommerce?
Shopify is the better choice if you want the least maintenance, predictable hosting and a setup that simply works. You pay a monthly fee, and some features need paid apps.
WooCommerce is the better choice if you want full ownership, unusual features or no platform fees. It needs hosting and regular updates. See WooCommerce development.
I work with both, so my advice is not tied to one platform.
How a project runs
- A short conversation about your products, your customers and what you need.
- A written scope and fixed quote before any work begins.
- Work on a theme copy, so your live store is never half-finished.
- Your review, with a preview link you can open on your phone.
- Publish and test with a real test order.
- Support after launch for questions and adjustments.
Tell me about your store
Send your store address, or describe the store you want to open. I will reply with honest advice and a fixed quote. Start a project or send a message.
