Teddy Blake: Magento 1 to Shopify migration

Teddy Blake is a well-established business with a large customer base, so the migration process wasn’t just a straightforward data transfer. It involved development, design, and several other tasks to deliver a complete and improved online store on the new platform.

We began the migration process by transferring the store data, followed by migrating the online store itself, including its design and functionality. Our focus was on customizing the theme and creating new applications. In this case study, we’ll cover the migration process to the Shopify platform.

At first, our client had to choose between two e-commerce platforms: Magento 2 and Shopify. We provided them with detailed information to assist in their decision-making process.

Magento is a self-hosted solution, meaning users have to download the source code and manage hosting themselves, without platform support. On the other hand, Shopify is a Software-as-a-Service solution that takes care of everything from hosting to security and offers 24/7 live technical support.

Considering the expensive cost of Magento development services and the complexities involved in migrating to Magento 2, we recommended Shopify as a more convenient and attractive option for both development and maintenance, even with the higher-priced Shopify Plus plan.

With Shopify, our client can focus on their business, knowing that their website will be supported by a reliable platform and enjoy hassle-free maintenance.

When it comes to migrating data, we consider two important factors: the specific requirements of the client’s store and the differences in database structures between Magento and Shopify.

In Shopify, the software is centrally managed and follows a standard subscription model, which means that all stores have a uniform database structure. However, Magento allows for customization, resulting in different database structures for each Magento store. This makes it challenging to migrate to another eCommerce platform because a simple copy-paste approach won’t work, and an unprofessional migration could lead to data loss.

To ensure a smooth migration, we use a process called mapping. First, we analyze the client’s Magento store to understand how the information is stored and where it’s located. Then, we establish connections between specific columns and values in Magento and their corresponding counterparts in Shopify, even if they have different names. Finally, we transfer the store data from Magento to the new Shopify store.

For transferring the client’s store, we developed a custom migration app due to the unique aspects of their business and the large data volume. Our tailored solution handles the nuances of their database, ensuring a secure and smooth migration without data loss. With our app, we successfully migrated all store data, including customers, products, collections, reviews, discounts, orders, product tags, SEO URLs, redirects, and more.

Migrating an existing store to a new platform is a complex process that involves transferring both the frontend (user interface) and the backend (store functionality). Teddy Blake quickly realized this during their store’s data migration, understanding it was just the first step. However, they also saw an opportunity to improve their store’s design and enhance user engagement.

To help Teddy Blake achieve their goals, our team assisted in selecting the right theme and creating website page layouts that aligned perfectly with their vision. This not only enhanced the store’s design but also optimized development costs for future implementation.

One of the challenges encountered was the difference in technologies between the original platform, Magento, and the new platform, Shopify. To overcome this, we developed custom applications that seamlessly transferred the necessary functionality to the new Shopify store.