The theme isn't thedesign

In short

A prospect wanted his store to look like a specific role model. Both stores used the same premium theme. The expectation: a few settings and it looks exactly the same. The analysis showed that the defining parts of the role model didn't come from the theme at all, but from custom code. The theme can be the foundation, but the job is still a custom rebuild.

The request

Tools that show which theme a store uses are handy. But they only show part of the truth. What you see is often a theme plus lots of customizations. Buy only the theme and you get the foundation, not the result.

What we saw in the analysis

We compared the role model section by section with the theme's standard features:

• Page layout: custom layouts the theme doesn't offer out of the box
• Search: a custom solution instead of the standard search
• Navigation: custom built
• Other building blocks: several custom elements that don't exist in the theme

Those were exactly the parts that made the look. With settings alone, the result would have been a distant relative of the role model.

What that means for the price

• The theme is still a good foundation. We build on it instead of starting from scratch.
• The missing parts become custom modules. Built so you can manage them yourself in the theme editor.
• A reliable fixed price needs access to the store. Only once we see what's already there can we say what's missing.
• An extensive rebuild isn't a small project. A budget for “a few tweaks” rarely covers it.

And one note we always give: a role model is inspiration for structure and function. Other stores' content, images and code don't get copied.

What you can take away

• Knowing a store's theme doesn't mean knowing its design. What you see is usually theme plus customizations.
• Send your agency the role model and your store. Then it's possible to say what's a setting and what's development.
• Custom modules don't have to be rigid. Built well, you manage them yourself afterward like any other block.
• Let role models inspire you, don't copy them. Your store should look like you.

Is there a store you'd love to use as a role model? Send it to us and we'll tell you what's theme and what needs to be built.