The Shopify App Show

Not every brand gets Kim Kardashian. But every brand can build a structured, impactful influencer program — and Yash Chavan from SARAL is the guy to learn from. SARAL is the end-to-end influencer OS used by consumer brands, mobile apps, and B2B companies to find, manage, and measure influencer programs at scale.Martin and Yash cover how to find the right influencers, why Snoop Dogg probably isn't the right fit for your brand, and the real reason your Google Ads suddenly seem to be performing better.SponsorThis episode is brought to you by The Support Heroes — dedicated support agents who understand the Shopify ecosystem, plugged directly into your help desk. Stop being your own support rep. Head to thesupportheroes.com today.In this episodeHow to build your "ideal creator persona" before touching any platformThe investment barbell strategy for your influencer rosterThe SARAL lookalikes feature — find the affordable version of Snoop DoggWhy AI influencers aren't actually influencersThe attribution problem — why your influencer program gets less credit than it deservesHow to talk to your CFO about influencer ROILinksSARAL — Influencer OS for consumer brandsHow to Prove ROI of Influencer Marketing to Your CFOAI Influencer Budget CalculatorThe Support HeroesChapters0:00 Intro 0:56 What verticals use influencer marketing? 3:31 How to get started 5:54 Where SARAL fits in the stack 6:50 Sponsor — The Support Heroes 7:56 Micro vs macro influencers 10:06 Finding influencers who drive buying decisions 12:37 The investment barbell strategy 15:39 The Snoop Dogg lookalike hack 16:17 Why AI companies use real influencers 20:08 Measuring ROI and proving value to your CFO 21:35 The Google Ads attribution trap 25:02 Affiliate codes only tell 20-25% of the story 26:21 Brands with great influencer programs to learn from 27:33 Wrap up + how to find SARAL

Are customer surveys conversion killers, or are they the secret weapon to understanding your buyers?In today’s episode of the Shopify App Show, I chat with Jason Zigelbaum, the solopreneur behind ZigPoll—a leading customer survey app for Shopify.We dive deep into the psychology of why customers actually want to give feedback, the magic of the post-purchase touchpoint, and how even the most "boring" brands can build highly engaging surveys.Jason also shares behind-the-scenes insights on bootstrapping a SaaS product as a solo developer, how user feedback shaped ZigPoll's UX, and how AI is revolutionizing data analysis and referral attribution.Whether you're struggling to understand your store's drop-off rates or want to know exactly who is buying your products, this episode is your crash course in collecting and leveraging zero-party data.⏱️ Chapter Breakdown[00:00] Introduction: Meet Jason Zigelbaum and discover ZigPoll, the Shopify app designed to capture feedback at every stage of the customer journey.[00:33] Overcoming Survey Fatigue: Why do people actually fill out surveys? Jason explains why context and timing are the ultimate keys to high engagement.[01:59] The Magic Touchpoints: Beyond the post-purchase survey—leveraging Exit Intent and Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) surveys based on scroll depth and time on site.[03:03] Surveys for "Boring" Brands: Tactics for increasing engagement when you sell unglamorous products, including strategic incentives and psychological question-ordering.[05:06] Designing for High Completion Rates: How ZigPoll balances complex backend analytics with a frictionless, one-question-at-a-time frontend experience.[07:15] The 3 Pillars of E-commerce Surveys: Jason’s straightforward, no-overwhelm framework for merchants setting up surveys for the first time.[09:01] Sponsor Break: A quick word from our sponsor, The Support Heroes.[09:50] Fixed Choice vs. Open-Ended Questions: The strategic balance of getting customers to commit with checkboxes before unlocking the goldmine of open-ended feedback.[11:52] Sticking to the E-commerce Niche: Why Jason prefers focusing purely on e-commerce rather than branching out into SaaS templates.[13:51] Managing SaaS Churn: The reality of seasonal app usage in e-commerce and why starting and stopping data collection is a valid merchant strategy.[16:36] The Future of AI in Surveys: Using MCP servers and AI agents to distill thousands of natural language responses into actionable trends.[18:39] Changing E-commerce Attribution: How the rise of AI chatbots (like ChatGPT and Claude) is changing how brands track where their customers come from.[20:09] The Solopreneur Journey: Jason shares his experience building and scaling ZigPoll as a team of one, and how AI tools have boosted his developer velocity.🔗 Mentioned in this EpisodeApp: ZigPollSponsor: The Support Heroes

This episode of The Shopify App Show is all about Pre-orders.I’m lucky enough to be joined by Sandesh Kulai from Stoq. He lives and breathes the topic, and has built not just the toolset but pre-defined game plans for Shopify stores to drive more sales through pre-orders.Like all the great founders we’ve talked to on this show, Sandesh hasn’t just built a set and forget product, he is working with his customers every day to help make his product better for them.There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for pre-orders. It’s obvious that pre-orders can make a big impact on an ecommerce business, but they need all parts of the business, from warehouse & supply chain to marketing & customer support to all be aligned.If you want to learn from the guru of pre-orders, you’ve come to the right place.Chapter Outline[00:00] Introduction: Martin introduces Sandesh from Stoq and the "guru" status of his pre-order expertise.[01:42] The "Evergreen" Pre-Order: Case study of a truck parts store using pre-orders to manage thousands of SKUs without holding inventory.[03:00] Pre-Orders for Startups: Using pre-orders as a "validation engine" for new brands to gauge demand before manufacturing.[06:17] Building for the Shopify Ecosystem: The philosophy of building native apps that grow with the merchant.[08:49] The Power of Shopify Flow: Using custom automations and "Sidekick" to create bespoke merchant workflows.[11:09] The Human Element in Support: Why complex apps like Stoq require 24/7 human experts alongside AI.[14:27] Sponsor Break: The Support Heroes: A word from our sponsor on how to scale your app's support without drowning in tickets.[15:10] The "Built for Shopify" Standard: Sandesh’s experience being named one of the top 25 apps on the platform.[19:54] Navigating Inventory & Logistics: Solving the "Negative Inventory" headache and downstream fulfillment challenges.[24:19] UX and Customer Trust: Ensuring customers know they are pre-ordering at every step of the journey to reduce support tickets.Thanks as always to The Support Heroes for supporting this episode, just like they support over 100 of the top Shopify Apps. If you're an app developer and want time back in your day, reach out to The Support Heroes to take over your customer support tickets with their dedicated service.Resources & Links:Stoq on the Shopify App StoreThe Support Heroes (sponsor)

In this episode, we explore how Shopify's evolving discount landscape is being shaped by innovative apps like Discount Kit. Sammy Isseyegh shares insights into the platform's capabilities, the importance of flexibility in promotions, and the future of commerce automation.Key Topics:The shift from discount codes to automated, frictionless discountsHow Shopify Functions enable powerful, developer-friendly promotionsThe role of metafields and storefront sync for customization and UXThe significance of building apps that integrate seamlessly into the platformOpportunities around multi-market, location-specific discounts, and B2BThe impact of Shopify's new AI and agentic commerce features on apps and merchantsBest practices for balancing complexity with simplicity in promotion designTimestamps: 00:00 - Introduction to Shopify discount evolution and Sammy I’s background01:02 - Are discount codes becoming obsolete? The debate01:53 - The evolution of Shopify from Scripts to Functions and the developer challenge02:18 - How Discount Kit fits the platform's expansion 04:15 - Using Discount Kit as a cheat sheet for rapid experimentation06:21 - The importance of Shopify-native data storage in app development06:45 - Support Heroes’ role in enabling global customer support for apps like Discount Kit (plug for our Sponsor, The Support Heroes)09:15 - Complex scenarios merchants face beyond standard discounting10:07 - The challenge of explaining advanced discounts to customers11:34 - Creative use cases and surprising implementations of Discount Kit14:01 - The importance of storefront UX and dynamic promotional displays15:12 - Innovations with Discount Kit Live for storefront data sync17:27 - Putting discount data into Shopify metafields for flexibility19:13 - Building better integrations with Shopify Flow and app ecosystems21:50 - The significance of app data being accessible platform-wide24:29 - How some developers reduce onboarding costs with flexible integrations26:20 - B2B, markets, and multi-location discounts28:50 - Customization challenges for geographically diverse stores30:41 - Final thoughts: the importance of balancing technical power with UX and simplicityResources & Links:Discount KitThe Support Heroes (sponsor)Connect with Sammy I:LinkedIn | TwitterEnjoy this episode for a strategic look at how apps like Discount Kit are driving Shopify toward a more flexible, automated discount future—balancing technical wizardry with great user experience.

Everyone knows that bundles are a powerful tool in ecommerce. But for many, it can be an overwhelming topic.In this episode, Prakhar from FoxSell Bundles shares his experience on the evolution of bundling technology in Shopify, operational challenges, and the exciting future shaped by AI and agent commerce. Whether you're a developer, ecommerce manager, or business owner, his perspective offers clarity on how to harness bundles for growth and innovation.manager, or business owner, his perspective offers clarity on how to harness bundles for growth and innovation.Main insights:Effective bundle strategies vary significantly by industry, with food, cosmetics, and fashion each requiring different approaches to maximize conversions.Starting with fixed, preset bundles based on customer reports and gradually evolving based on operational insights helps businesses adopt bundling without overwhelming them.Scaling bundles involves operational challenges like inventory management, preventing double discounts, and handling rapid sell-outs—solutions often require process adjustments.The future of bundling is intertwined with AI-driven agent commerce, emphasizing knowledge sharing between products and cross-store recommendations rather than UI complexity.AI's rapid evolution will make personalized, cross-store bundles more accessible, but brands need to adapt their processes and data integration.Shopify's ongoing improvements are crucial, such as native bundle reporting and component display on storefronts.The community in the bundle space remains collaborative, with competitors recognizing the value of shared knowledge and a large, growing market.Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction: The importance of customization in e-commerce bundles02:03 - Why FoxSell focused on native Shopify bundling APIs03:11 - The difference between early app development and today's native tools04:56 - FoxSell's value proposition: flexible, developer-focused bundling engine06:39 - Communicating complex bundle features to merchants07:26 - Strategies for onboarding and supporting agencies and developers09:39 - What makes an effective bundle across different industries12:55 - Overcoming operational challenges in scaling bundles15:02 - The role of support teams like Support Heroes for app success20:05 - The future of agent commerce and AI-driven bundling experiences23:31 - How AI will shift from merchant-centric to shopper-centric bundling26:19 - The evolution of FoxSell and staying relevant amidst platform changes28:35 - Next features and improvements needed from Shopify30:14 - Collaboration and competition within the bundle app ecosystem31:33 - Final thoughts: The importance of community and innovationResources & Links:FoxSell – Official websiteShopify API Documentation – Native bundling APIs and functionsSupport Heroes – Customer support for Shopify apps (proud sponsors of The Shopify App Show)Erika’s – Example of a successful bundle app brandConnect with Prakhar:LinkedIn• Twitter

Today’s episode of the Shopify App Show is as topical as they come. Search has changed more in the last 12 months than in the previous 20 years combined.Is the search bar now a chat box? Is it AI, curated, or algorithmic? Does the traditional "Results Page" even exist anymore?The answers are changing daily. But one thing is clear: a new wave of apps is rewriting the rules of discovery.My guest today is Sebastian Hooker, an ex-Google & Microsoft engineer who left the land of tech giants to build Nimstrata.Nimstrata’s proposition is simple: it puts Google’s enterprise-grade search algorithms directly onto your Shopify store, powered by Google Cloud Vertex AI.I learn something new every time I talk to Sebastian—and I’m sure you will too.Every week, the Shopify App Show showcases the independent apps that are changing ecommerce.TakeawaysThe search landscape in e-commerce is rapidly evolving, influenced by AI and changes to user behaviour.Nimstrata aims to democratize access to Google's search algorithms for Shopify stores rather than trying to reinvent the wheel.On-site search experience is crucial for converting visitors into customers, but not all stores need an enterprise tool to achieve this. A streamlined tech stack with essential apps can create a more powerful customer experience.Users are increasingly using conversational queries in search, changing how merchants should optimize their content.Data quality is foundational for effective search and merchandising in e-commerce. The future of UCP will require merchants to adapt their data structures and practices.Merchants need to be aware of the paradox of choice when presenting products to customers.It's essential to balance user needs with the fast-paced changes in technology.Chapters00:00 From Google to Nimstrata: Meet Sebastian Hooker07:02 Nimstrata's Role in E-commerce Search12:00 Personalization in Search: Enhancing User Experience14:58 The Evolution of Search Queries19:20 Conversational Commerce: Redefining User Interaction22:36 The Paradox of Choice in E-commerce26:14 Data Quality: The Foundation of Effective Search27:12 The Future of Data Quality in E-commerce33:32 Navigating Product Roadmaps in a Rapidly Changing Landscape36:29 Innovations and Challenges in E-commerce Tools43:06 Optimizing Your E-commerce Tech Stack

There haven't been many Shopify apps break onto the scene in the past few years with as much impact as Order Editing.They have struck a formula to envy - a simple product with a failsafe value proposition. They're led by a couple of savvy founders who have grown their brand in public with that perfect balance of youth, authenticity and most importantly results.Kiril is the tech guy behind the product, but he is just as comfortable behind the microphone. Surprisingly this is his first ever podcast but you wouldn't know it.This is a must listen for anyone building digital products or apps, whether you're working agency side, client side or independently. Kiril is super generous with sharing his story and learnings as he evolved from being a designer to a CTO.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Kiril Climson and Order Editing03:39 Evolution of Order Editing: Features and Growth05:40 Expanding Beyond Order Editing by understanding Customer Needs07:47 Scaling Development: Balancing Speed and Quality10:05 Leveraging AI and Automation in App Development12:34 Integration Challenges and Solutions16:44 Innovating Address Validation for E-commerce20:54 The Importance of Scoping Projects Effectively23:35 Building no-bullshit analytics for apps30:44 Future of AI in E-commerce and Shopify's RoleTakeawaysThe evolution of Order Editing reflects the growth of Shopify's API capabilities.Customer feedback is crucial for feature development and app improvement.Scaling a remote team requires trust and effective communication.Innovative features like address validation can enhance customer experience if delivered properly.Effective project scoping is essential to avoid wasted time and resources.Analytics in e-commerce is complex and requires careful planning.AI integration should be approached cautiously, considering Shopify's advancements. There's no point building stuff that is going to become outdated almost straight away, or become part of the platform.

Chatting with Josh Bitossi about Shopify POS is like talking to Steve Jobs about Apple. His knowledge as both a Shopify Alumni and indie app developer who has dedicated his expertise to building apps for Shopify POS.Every episode the Shopify App Show chats with indie app developers who are breaking new ground across the Shopify ecosystem. Whether you are a business already using Shopify POS, you're considering a move to Shopify POS or are building stuff for POS yourself, Josh's insights are worth a million bucks. We discuss the challenges and limitations of Shopify POS, the importance of indie developers in driving innovation, and the future of scanning technology. This is not a product demo show!