eCommerce platforms form the foundation of the Shopify Development Store, offering the back-end as well as front-end structure to support B2B as well as B2C firms. They provide a seamless customer experience and allow for a scalable growth strategy for any business that operates online.
A cloud-based application, Shopify provides full control over the design and structure of your online store. Shopify is an excellent option for companies that sell digital and physical goods or services. The flexibility of Shopify Development Store, its feature-rich capabilities, and the ability to customize are just a few reasons that over 1 million companies across more than 175 nations use it as their primary e-commerce platform.
Selecting the best eCommerce platform allows businesses to streamline client interactions, and allows for international reach and growth in revenue. Shopify is a great platform. Its features for developing stores, i.e., demo capabilities, are extremely useful for testing the design and features. If your store is selling products that each have less than 100 variants, then Shopify is an ideal choice.
What is a Shopify Development Store?
More than one million businesses employ Shopify to be their first choice eCommerce platform due to its high quality, efficiency, simplicity, and wealth of features. A Shopify account for development stores gives companies selling eCommerce the capability to test and install different themes to test their online “storefronts” before deciding to make use of the platform.
Some hosts offer only one version of their website URL, domain, and URL However, if are a Shopify Partner, you can build unlimited development stores to be used for demos. They’re not just to test how a layout appears. Additionally, you’ll have the ability to use Shopify’s discount engines in real-time, cart-calculated shopping abandoned checkout recovery as well as 50 test orders, which allows you to see the way the apps and add-ons work before going live.
The Shopify developing store offers a no-cost account that is accessible via the Partner Dashboard. It is free of time restrictions and features that are similar to that of the Advanced Shopify plan. But, until you upgrade to a paid account you’re not able to install paid applications or develop more than ten private apps. It’s beneficial to work with an agency to set up your development store!
What Features Do Shopify Development Stores Offer an eCommerce Business?
- Based on Shopify the development stores permit companies to:
- Install and test applications and themes that are in development
- Build a demo Shopify store
In essence, development stores provide the perfect test environment for developing eCommerce platforms for online stores with no trial restrictions that end after a specific amount of time. With Shopify, it is possible to create a development environment without affecting the original storefront (if you already have one) and then move your store to the new layout after you’re satisfied with the new design.
Pro-tip: All brand-new development stores are password-protected. The store’s visitors can access the store via their password through the website’s password pages, then log into the administrator of the development store or use the Shopify Theme Store or Shopify App demo store link. In contrast to the password page that can be customized for a free trial store or the paid plans, The password for the development store isn’t connected to the theme of the online store and can’t be altered.
Pros and Cons of Development Stores
Although the development store is completely free, you won’t be able to perform the following things until you upgrade to the Shopify premium plan.
- Install paid applications (except for a few partners-friendly apps)
- Develop more than ten apps for private use
- Unlock the development store password page
Only test orders are made through the Bogus Test. The Bogus Test gateway, or by activating the test mode of your payment service provider. Orders aren’t available using real transactions with the active payment provider.
As a top eCommerce platform, Shopify offers beautiful mobile-friendly storefront designs that are broken down into different industries. However, the themes are limited to ten of the free themes available. Utilizing any other template to build your store requires a one-time payment. If you’re looking for extensive customization, you’ll have to be familiar with the Shopify Liquid codes, and this, in the majority of cases, requires hiring a professional developer.
In addition, while third-party software offers additional features, however, it is possible that they won’t work with your theme or require changes. But it’s not saying that there’s no value in creating your own Shopify developing store. It’s very beneficial to have a clear idea of the way your store will function. What it’s going to look like but only if you know that. You won’t be able to fully utilize the features until you have a paying account.
How Can I Build a Shopify Development Store?
Before you can create your own Shopify Development store you’ll require a Shopify Associate account. It’s free to join and allows members to experiment with Shopify features for stores. As a Shopify Partner, you have access to training courses for free as well as other resources. That can help you make use of the platform to develop your business.
If you already have an unpaid Shopify Account, you can take these steps to set up your development store:
- Log into your Shopify Partner dashboard.
- Click Stores.
- Click Add Store.
In the section for store types Select Development store
Then, in the Login Information section. Enter the name of your store as well as a store password you’ll use to sign in.
Optional: You can turn on an open developer preview by choosing an option for the Developer version in the dropdown menu.
In the section for the store, addresses Enter your address.
Optional: Choose a reason for why you’re creating this store in the “Aims” section.
Click Save
After you’ve set up the Shopify Development store, you can save it. If you’d like to allow your Shopify Development store to be live. You must change ownership and choose the Shopify plan. Once this is done the restrictions are removed from the store that is being developed.
In the case of Shopify stores that are developing. Some businesses make use of the developer preview to have early access to brand-new Shopify features. Which means they can develop and test their apps against the upcoming features. Before being made available for the public release. Beware Developer preview stores that are created in developer preview cannot be sold to a different owner or converted to a paid subscription.
