How Big Commerce Can Compete With Shopify

Here are some ideas on how

1) Fight the battle on two fronts – upmarket AND downmarket

BigCommerce has explicitly stated they’re catering to larger stores because they are more profitable accounts.
However, ecommerce platforms are sticky – switching platforms is a HUGE deal.

BigCommerce cannot completely abandoned the lower end of the market. Even if a lot of new accounts die, some will make it and will stick with BigCommerce.

2) BigCommerce needs to improve design + headless capability

This is a big one!

The worst part of the BigCommerce experience is the design capability. Without a developer it’s really hard to make a good looking website.

The BigCommerce executive team needs to be honest with themselves about this.

Exactly zero of the current themes, free or paid, look good without custom development on top.

Ecommerce stores are all about engagement and Shopify Shops are getting more beautiful by the second. Visitors are expecting more. This is hindering the conversion rate of every BigCommerce store.

3) Empower sellers to thrive in an omnichannel world

It’s a fatal mistake that Shopify is trying to go head-to-head with Amazon. They will lose that battle.
It’s also short-sighted.

No matter how great Shopify gets, Amazon is already embedded in customer behavior. Ignoring that is naive.

BigCommerce should accept that we live in an omnichannel world and build their platform to allow their customers to take full advantage. Buy With Prime was a great first step.

4) Turn best-selling Shopify Apps into native BigCommerce features

Shopify has outstanding apps. Many of them are just features presented as apps.
BigCommerce should copy-paste the best-selling apps that are just glorified features and incorporate them natively into BigCommerce.

One of the biggest advantages of BigCommerce is not having to purchase an abundance of apps. They should lean into that 110%.

5) Make it way more lucrative for app developers to publish on BigCommerce
There are many third party Shopify apps that are true apps, not just features. But they don’t publish on BigCommerce because the marketplace is too small.

BigCommerce should do everything they can to ensure app developers are publishing on Shopify AND BigCommerce.