Getting Started With Shopify: An Ecommerce Guide

As ecommerce continues to grow in New Zealand, more small businesses are exploring how to sell products online. Choosing the right platform can be overwhelming, especially for non-technical business owners. That’s where Shopify comes in.

Shopify is one of the most popular ecommerce platforms in the world, and for good reason: it’s beginner-friendly, cost-effective, and scalable. Whether you’re a boutique brand, a food producer, or a giftware store, Shopify makes it easier to get selling online – without needing to hire a developer.

This simple guide from Adhesion covers everything you need to know about Shopify to get started with growing your business online; key features, costs, and other important factors to keep in mind.

What Is Shopify?

Shopify is a hosted ecommerce platform, which means it handles all the technical backend (like hosting and security) so you can focus on running your business. It offers a simple website builder, integrated checkout, inventory management, and payment processing, all in a user-friendly interface that’s easy to get started with.

It’s built for product-based businesses and offers a wide range of features to help you create a professional, smooth-running online store, even if you’ve never done it before.

Key Features

• Easy Setup: Choose from pre-made themes, then use Shopify’s drag-and-drop tools to customise your store.
  
  
• Built-In Payments: Your store can accept major credit cards and, through third-party integrations, payments types such as Afterpay.
  
  
• Mobile-Friendly: All themes are mobile-optimised, so your store can great on any device.
  
  
• Inventory & Shipping: Track stock levels, set shipping rates, and connect to local couriers like NZ Post and NZ Couriers.
  
  
• App Store: Access thousands of apps to add functionality – from product reviews to email marketing tools like Klaviyo.

Shopify Pricing Plans (2025)

In New Zealand, Shopify offers monthly and yearly plans, with yearly plans typically offering a 25% discount. Standard plan types include Basic, Grow, and Advanced; these will suit most online businesses, though Shopify also offers POS plans for physical retailers who only need a simple online presence.

• Basic Plan: From USD $29 (approx. NZD $48) / month — intended for solo entrepreneurs, this plan has limited data access and higher card rates.
  
  
• Grow Plan: From USD $79 (approx. NZD $130) / month — this plan has full data access and the ability to add more staff accounts onto your plan.
  
  
• Advanced Plan: From USD $299 (approx. NZD $495) / month — this plan holds greater technical capabilities, with the lowest transaction fees.
  
  
• Retail Plan: From USD $89 (approx. NZD $147) / month — this plan offers a POS system for physical retail stores, with limited ecommerce capabilities.

For most NZ ecommerce businesses, the Basic plan is a good place to start; as you begin to scale, the Grow plan will support increased functionality and expansion. Shopify also offers a trial period for these plans at USD $1 / month for three months to get you up and running – this is a great opportunity to test out the platform to see if it works for you.

Customising Your Store

Shopify offers free and paid themes that you can customise with your logo, colours, and fonts. For businesses wanting more flexibility, you can edit the theme code or work with a Shopify Partner agency (like us!).

You can also connect your own custom domain or purchase one directly through Shopify for convenience.

Keep in Mind:

• Shopify is best for product-based businesses. If you sell services or bookings, other platforms may suit you better.
  
  
• Monthly costs can add up when you start layering on paid apps or third-party plugins.
  
  
• You’ll still need to invest in marketing (like Google Ads or email marketing) – building the site is only the first step.

Conclusion

If you’re a New Zealand business wanting to start selling online, Shopify is one of the most straightforward and scalable ways to do it. From small handmade goods to expansive product ranges, Shopify gives you the tools to build a professional ecommerce site that works.

Need help setting up your Shopify store or getting the most from your ecommerce strategy? Adhesion is a Shopify Partner agency that works with Kiwi businesses to grow online. Get in touch for help with setup, email marketing, ads, or ongoing optimisation.