Interview with Trudy | Co-founder of Up to Five Dev Agency and the Design Pack

In this podcast episode, Trudy, the co-founder of Up to Five Dev Agency and the co-founder of the Design Pack shares her journey in web development and specializing in Shopify.

She discusses the challenges of switching from other platforms to Shopify and the importance of understanding its limitations. Trudy also talks about the success of the Design Pack app and its collection of customizable sections for Shopify stores.

She highlights the benefits of focusing on Shopify development, such as better quality clients and a growing market. Trudy also mentions the importance of staying updated with Shopify's constant updates and the experience of attending Shopify events.

In this conversation, Trudy and Ilias discuss the opportunities and challenges in Shopify theme development. They explore the importance of product pages, the role of premium themes, and the potential for niche themes.

Trudy shares her insights on learning Shopify, the value of writing blog posts, and the advantages of being a developer in the Shopify ecosystem. They also touch on Trudy's daily routine and the flexibility of working remotely.

Show Notes:

• Switching from other platforms to Shopify can be challenging due to its limitations, but focusing on Shopify development can lead to better quality clients and a growing market.
• Staying updated with Shopify's constant updates can be challenging, but joining Slack channels and talking to other developers can help keep up with the changes.
• The Design Pack app offers a collection of customizable sections for Shopify stores, providing flexibility and ease of use for developers and store owners.
• The product page is a crucial part of an e-commerce store, and putting effort into its design and functionality can lead to better conversions and customer satisfaction.
• Attending Shopify events, such as Unite, provides opportunities to meet and network with other developers in the Shopify ecosystem. Product pages on Shopify are crucial, and having a source of information directly from the product page can be more reliable than searching the web.
• Premium themes offer great features like slide-out carts, product galleries, and mega menus, making them a good starting point for developers.
• There is still room for new Shopify themes in the Shopify Theme Store, especially for specific niches or industries that are not well-served by existing themes.
• To get started in Shopify theme development, it's recommended to dive in, explore the structure of existing themes like Dawn, and learn from the documentation and online resources.
• Writing blog posts about your experiences and insights in Shopify development can help establish your expertise and attract clients.
• Being a developer in the Shopify ecosystem provides the flexibility to work remotely and connect with like-minded individuals worldwide.

Links mentioned during the episode:

Shopify Cheat Sheet: https://www.shopify.com/partners/shopify-cheat-sheet

Code Shopify Blog: https://toomanytabs.xyz/

Shopify Partners Account: https://www.shopify.com/partners

Shopify Dev Docs: https://shopify.dev/docs

Shopify Dawn Theme: https://github.com/Shopify/dawn

Shop the look filter section: https://design-packs.com/products/shop-the-look-filter