Limely is now a Shopify Select Partner. A tier we have been building towards through our client work over the last few years, and one we are properly chuffed about.
"This is something I've personally been aiming for over the last few years, so it is great to see the work and the clients get formally recognised. The team have earned this one." - Niko, Founder
What is a Shopify Select Partner?
Shopify runs a tiered Partner programme designed to give merchants a clear signal about which agencies are genuinely capable of delivering ecommerce at scale. Every agency starts as a Shopify Partner. Select and Premier are earned, not applied for. Progression is based on a combination of factors including the volume and quality of Shopify stores launched, merchant success metrics, ongoing platform contributions, and demonstrated specialism across the wider Shopify ecosystem.
Only a small percentage of UK Shopify agencies hold Select tier or above. Being promoted to Select is a formal recognition from Shopify that our team knows the platform inside out and delivers work that stands up to their standards.
What this means for our clients
For the brands we build for, the practical benefits are concrete rather than symbolic.
- Direct partner support from Shopify. As a Select Partner we have a named partner manager and priority access to Shopify's partner support channels when we need answers on complex builds.
- Earlier access to new Shopify features. Select Partners get earlier visibility of platform changes, betas and roadmap updates, which means we can plan for them ahead of general release rather than reacting after the fact.
- A stronger trust signal for merchants. The Select badge is a proof point when you are weighing agencies against each other. It confirms Shopify itself has looked at our work and rated it.
- A deeper bench of Shopify expertise. Reaching Select is only possible because the team has been building on Shopify seriously for years, across DTC brands, B2B builds, custom checkout work on Shopify Plus, and headless storefronts on Hydrogen and Next.js.
The journey to Select
Limely started in Chester in 2015, originally focused on Magento and WordPress. Our first Shopify build shipped in 2020, and the Shopify side of the business has grown steadily since. Six years, ten-plus Shopify launches, and a growing portfolio of Shopify Plus builds for clients like Industville, JTX Fitness and Insect Lore sit behind the tier promotion.
Reaching Select on the strength of the client work alone, without any smoke and mirrors, is the part we are most proud of.
What's next
The next tier is Shopify Premier. That is the top of the UK Shopify Partner ecosystem, with fewer than twenty agencies holding it at time of writing. It is the goal.
The route there is the same route that got us to Select: more Shopify Plus builds, more measurable client outcomes, deeper platform contributions. We are already working on a couple of Plus projects that will move us closer, and we would rather earn Premier the right way than chase it.
If you are thinking about a new Shopify or Shopify Plus build, a migration onto Shopify from another platform, or ongoing Shopify support and growth work, we would love to hear about it. Get in touch or drop us a line via the contact form.
Thank you to the team, to Shopify, and to every client who has trusted us with their build over the last decade. On to the next one.
