A Step-by-Step Guide to Planning a Shopify Store Redesign

Get your store ready for its next big leap.

Redesigning your Shopify store isn’t just about making it “look better.”
A well-planned redesign can boost conversions, improve user experience, strengthen your brand identity, and even reduce your dependency on apps.

But here’s the catch:
Most merchants start redesigning without a plan, and end up spending more time, money, and energy than they should.

To help you avoid that, here’s a simple, clear, step-by-step guide to planning a Shopify store redesign the right way.

Step 1: Identify Why You Need a Redesign

Before you touch anything, understand why a redesign is needed.

Ask yourself:

• Is your conversion rate lower than industry standards?
  

• Is your website slow, cluttered, or outdated?
  

• Is your brand identity evolving?
  

• Are customers complaining about navigation issues?
  

• Do you need to implement new features?
  

Clarity here will define the entire direction of your project.

Step 2: Review Your Current Store’s Performance

Gather data, don’t rely on guesswork.

Focus on:

• Google Analytics (bounce rate, sessions, conversion rate)
  

• Hotjar or Lucky Orange (session recordings & heatmaps)
  

• Shopify Analytics (top-performing pages, drop-off points)
  

• User feedback (DMs, emails, support tickets)
  

This helps you understand what’s working and what’s hurting your store.

Step 3: Create a Feature & Functionality Wishlist

A redesign is an opportunity to add or upgrade the things you’ve always wanted.

Your wishlist may include:

• A modern homepage layout
  

• Mega menu or improved navigation
  

• Better collection filtering
  

• Faster page load
  

• Personalized product options
  

• Custom sections or automation
  

• Reducing heavy apps with custom code
  

List everything first, later you’ll prioritize.

Step 4: Study Competitors & Global Brands

Before designing anything new, understand what others in your niche are doing.

Look at:

• Homepage layouts
  

• Collection filters
  

• Product page structures
  

• Mobile experience
  

• Cart & checkout flow
  

• Micro-interactions (badges, banners, pop-ups)
  

You’ll get clarity on what customers expect today.

Step 5: Define the Redesign Scope

Now bring together what you need + what your customers want + what’s achievable.

Your scope should include:

• Pages to redesign
  

• New sections or components
  

• Navigation structure
  

• Brand changes (colors, fonts, tone)
  

• Mobile UI improvements
  

• Speed optimization requirements
  

This is where you finalize your roadmap.

Step 6: Wireframes & UI/UX Design

A great redesign starts with structure, not colors.

1. Wireframes – skeleton structure of each page
   

2. High-fidelity designs – final visual look
   

3. Mobile-first approach – because 70%+ traffic is mobile
   

4. Brand alignment – consistent fonts, colors, imagery
   

This stage matters the most, good design solves problems before development begins.

Step 7: Development & Theme Setup

Once designs are approved, your developers begin turning pixels into a functioning store.

This includes:

• Custom code for unique features
  

• Lightweight, optimized theme setup
  

• Replacing heavy apps where possible
  

• Responsive styling
  

• SEO-friendly builds
  

• Accessibility enhancements
  

Remember: Good development should make your store faster, not heavier.

Step 8: Testing Before Go-Live

Never skip this step.

Test everything:

• Mobile responsiveness
  

• Page speed
  

• Broken links
  

• Add-to-cart & checkout
  

• Forms
  

• Filters & search
  

• App integrations
  

• Browser compatibility
  

A Shopify store redesign is successful only when it works perfectly across devices.

Step 9: Go-Live With a Plan

Choose a low-traffic time to launch.
Make backups.
Have your developer team standby.

After launching:

• Monitor analytics
  

• Check conversion rate and user behavior
  

• Fix any unexpected issues immediately
  

A smooth launch builds customer trust.

Step 10: Post-Launch Optimization

A redesign is not a final destination, it’s the beginning of better performance.

Do this regularly:

• Track heatmaps
  

• Simplify steps where users drop
  

• Test new layouts (A/B testing)
  

• Improve SEO
  

• Optimize images & content
  

• Introduce new features gradually
  

Continuous improvement = continuous growth.

Final Thoughts

A Shopify store redesign isn’t just a “design project.”
It’s a business growth initiative.

When planned properly, it:

• Increases conversions
  

• Improves user satisfaction
  

• Strengthens your brand
  

• Speeds up your store
  

• Reduces app dependency
  

• Prepares your business for scaling
  

At Propero Consulting, we help D2C brands transform their Shopify stores with clean UI, fast performance, and custom functionality, without relying on 20 different apps.

If you’re planning a redesign and want expert support from a Shopify Partner agency,
book a free consultation with us and get a tailored redesign roadmap.