10 best Shopify stores to inspire small manufacturers

Here’s our list of the best Shopify stores of 2019. Perfect inspiration for growing manufacturers looking to set up or improve their Shopify store.

A planning diary with a pencil nearby sits on top of the table. A phone on the table shows the Shopify site as a part of the article on the best Shopify stores.
Last updated: 27.03.2024
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Changing spending habits mean more people are shopping online. 

According to some projections, retail e-commerce sales worldwide are expected to grow 378% from 2014 to 2024, with the final forecast being estimated at a whopping $6,388 billion for 2024. It goes without saying that selling online is a must for manufacturers. So, how’re other sellers getting in on this trend? 

We’ve compiled a list of the best Shopify stores in 2019 to inspire modern manufacturers. This article is sure to satisfy your needs if you’re someone looking for: 

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The stores we have chosen come in various shapes and sizes, but all are successful Shopify stores and have earned their rightful place in this article.

However, they’re listed in no discernible order. If this was a top ten list, they would all be number one. Without further ado, Let’s get to it. Here are the top 10 best Shopify stores chosen by Katana:

1. The Critical Slide Society

Introducing The Critical Slide Society (TCSS), a business celebrating surf culture, founded in 2009 in Australia.

TCSS is a collection of artists and surfers who want to move away from the competitive nature found among surfers. They wanted to capture the joy and the sense of community by people united together by their love of surfing. 

Products 

TCSS sells its own manufactured apparel goods via Shopify and through retailers across the globe. However, they do also sell wetsuits, wax, and modifications for surfboards such as fins.

Best Shopify store - screenshot of the homepage - The Critical Slide Society.

Their prices range anywhere from $5.50 to $209.99 (Australian dollar).

Brand 

Their brand is totally, radically, tubular dude — sorry.

Best Shopify store - screenshot of the homepage - Wasted Talent.

Ancient American surfer dialect aside, their company image is one that is a part of the community.

They’re completely transparent about who they are and have countless marketing videos about their laid-back approach to how the company is perceived and life in general, for that matter. Informal, relaxed, and are constantly in touch with the public as they team up with other companies to run events around Australia.

They exist in a niche market of surfer lovers, but how they’ve created an international community comprised of creatives and surfers is only to be commended.

2. Brilliant Bicycles

Next up, Brilliant Bicycles is a company that designs and manufactures personalized bikes with a simplistic aesthetic.

You can choose bikes from their catalog and personalize an order to get the one that you want. Hell, if you’re struggling to pick out a bike, you can complete a couple of questions, and they’ll suggest the perfect bike to meet your requirements. 

Best Shopify store - screenshot of the homepage - Brilliant Bicycles.

Brilliant Bicycles eliminates the hassle of dealing with middlemen. If you order one of their products, it comes straight from the manufacturing floor to your front door.

Products

Brilliant Bicycles sell personalized bikes, but they also have the paraphernalia of biking products which are essential for anyone who often uses a bike for transport. Their prices range from $6.00 to $650.00 for one of the newer bikes.

Brand 

Best Shopify store - screenshot of the homepage - Brilliant Bicycles.

They take a simplistic approach to presentation, to design (slick, cool and metropolitan, that is), and to how customers receive their bikes. They believe bikes should be personalized, not over-designed and gaudy.

They strip away the hassle by shipping the bikes straight to the customer themselves and even detail each step of the manufacturing process with a series of mesmerizing videos from their shop floor.

3. Mariclaro

Mariclaro Reclaimed is a wonderful business that has taken upcycling and refurbishment to the next level.

Whilst the founder, Sven Schlegel, was studying for his PhD. in resource management in Mexico, he collected abandoned election banners and converted them into the first-ever Mariclaro bag. From that point onward, the small recycling project grew into a successful re-purposing company.

They’re infatuated with the stories that come with the items they re-purpose and continuing stories. If your someone with something that you don’t use but would love to give a second life, why not get in touch with Mariclaro? 

Best Shopify store - screenshot of the homepage - Mariclaro.

Products

All of their products are manufactured by hand and are created from materials that have been discarded, such as car upholstery, 8mm film, bike tubes, and even airliner seatbelts — using these items, they make bags, wallets, billfolds, and accessories. Prices range anywhere from $54.00 to $999.00 (CAD).

Best Shopify store - screenshot of the homepage - Mariclaro.

Brand

Mariclaro shows, through their online postings or website, that their refurbished items aren’t some Frankenstein-esque creation but look professional, stylish, and are high-quality goods. They even have their own collections, such as the ‘Back to Earth’ collection, which has a connecting theme. This collection link is that the materials come from the interior of different aircraft.

Mariclaro is a sophisticated company doing great work in protecting the environment.

PRO TIP: Successful manufacturers use a combination of tools to manage their business – Shopify + Xero. To take your business to the next level, you’ll need to learn how to:  

4. Evan Sharma

A neo-expressionist painter, an entrepreneur, a successful business owner, and chasing his dreams. The most impressive part? He is only 15 years old.

Evan Sharma has had a love for art since he could remember and, at 12 years old, was painting incredible landscapes and portraits. One day after visiting the Louvre and seeing the paintings there, he got home and tried replicating the feelings he felt after returning from the gallery.

From that point onward, and with support from his family, he’s been chasing his dreams, and now he’s already a success story, quickly becoming well established in the creative art industry.

Best Shopify store - screenshot of the homepage - Evan Sharma.

Products

Original paintings, though there is no set price tag, you can submit your interest in a painting. However, paintings do make it to auction and have sold for as much as $20,000.00. He also has his own book and footwear brand called RBLB.

Best Shopify store - screenshot of the homepage - Evan Sharma.

Brand

Just like other kids his age, he is very active on social media, particularly Instagram. Although, as much as he presents the glamorous side of his life via this medium, he stresses the importance of surrounding yourself in nature. His paintings and products are inspired by the idea of combining the two sides of our brains, the right (the creative side) and the left (the analytical).

This unification of the brain is reflected on his website and through his footwear.

5. Steeltown Garage Co.

For those who want to live life in the fast lane — Steeltown Garage Co. is that business for them. 

They are a business run by people with an insatiable thirst for motorbikes and coffee. No, don’t be scared. It’s not a motorbike club (MC). It’s more like a grizzled coffee shop. Though, the Steeltown Garage Co. Have built a community, a place for people to hang out and meet new friends.

Best Shopify store - screenshot of the homepage - Steeltown Garage Co.

Products

They are a retailer selling anything a motorcyclist would want and a coffee shop. However, they do sell their own in-house apparel and accessories, and their catalog is constantly expanding. Prices go from $2.00 to $950.00.

Best Shopify store - screenshot of the homepage - Steeltown Garage Co.

Brand

Under their mean and gruff exterior (well, at least that’s the impression left from the bad MC’s of yesteryear), they’re a company whose warm, welcoming, and do tons of events with the community.

Most notably, their Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride to support prostate cancer research and men’s mental health. If you love bikes, coffee, art, books, and a good time, you’ll have found a home with the Steel Garage Co.

PRO TIP: Running a coffee roastery is tricky, especially if you’re manufacturing other products too. That’s why it’s important to find coffee roasting software that can help you easily manage your finished goods and raw material inventory.

6. Press

Move over juicers. There’s a new squeezer in town.

Soft drinks manufacturer Press creates drinks and foods which go perfectly for anyone looking to have a healthy and balanced diet. Press are big believers in supporting customers who strive to improve their physical and mental health, doing this via their magazine ’The Squeeze’ and by uploading instructional videos from exercising or to professionals discussing their tips on improving health.

Best Shopify store - screenshot of the homepage - Press.

Products

They sell an arrangement of healthy smoothies, shots, soups, and superfoods. They also sell bundles, ones which you can customize to get a more personalized pack. Prices go from £3.50 to £700.00.

Brand

Best Shopify store - screenshot of the homepage - Press.

Press could be argued as a lifestyle manager store. Yes, they sell their food, beverages, and monthly meal packs, but they also have their own magazine giving you advice on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. 

On top of this, they have guests giving talks on mental health and just seem to be trying to promote ‘happier’ living, not just healthy. Press is definitely on-trend as people are constantly seeking out new diets, tips, and techniques for healthier living, and Press is aiming to provide all of that. 

7. Master & Dynamic

Manufacturers Master & Dynamic make headphones and speakers which are stylish, modern, and utilize innovative craftsmanship.

Born from the mediocrity of the headphones on the market, Master & Dynamic sets out to create products with a lifespan of decades, made from nothing but quality materials. A business that champions artists, architects, designers, and, most obviously, audio entertainment.

It is even going as far as to give you the option to add accessories to transform your headphones into a headset (perfect for gamers).

Best Shopify store - screenshot of the homepage - Master & Dynamic.

Products 

Master & Dynamic provides a range of products such as headphones, earbuds, accessories, and speakers — ones which have been designed by architects, very sophisticated. Prices range from $15.00 to $1,800.00

Best Shopify store - screenshot of the homepage - Master & Dynamic.

Brand

Master & Dynamics are all over social media channels, showcasing their sleek and unique products from blogs to videos and even SoundCloud.

Appealing to professionals or just casual users, their blog page ‘The 10,000’ isn’t to be scoffed at with articles on traveling and even interviews with people working in the creative industry. Master & Dynamics has cool, innovative, and well-engineered products, which their marketing reflects.

8. Iris Scott

Sometimes a business isn’t successful because of some innovative invention or making life easier. Some businesses can thrive from imposing limitations and offering challenges.

And Iris Scott’s beautifully finger-painted art is just an example of the fruits which can be picked when embracing limitations. After having to abandon her paintbrushes because she didn’t want to mix colors — and being too excited to take the time to clean them — she finished with her finger and was surprised by how effective the technique was.

From that point forth, she worked within the limitations of only using her finger to complete paintings.

Products

Iris Scott sells the original paintings, prints, or embellished canvas prints at various prices. Prices ranging from $47.40 to $2,880.00. However, it should be mentioned that the most expensive option is custom artist proof, so you can have a completely personalized painting.

Best Shopify store - screenshot of the homepage - Iris Scott.

Brand

Iris Scott is very active online, constantly sharing images of her work, techniques, interviews, books, and recordings of her in action.

She goes against the practice of withholding affordable prints, which is a common practice in the contemporary art scene. Her prints are accessible and affordable, so any fan of hers can have their very own painting without breaking the bank.

9. Keap

The founders of Keap quit their jobs at Google to make candles. Yes, we were thinking about it too, that’s very brave.

They’re two friends who complained about the difficulty of finding a quality scented candle to unwind to and one that wasn’t harmful to the environment. They always fantasized about forming a candle manufacturing business, and after doing their research, taking perfumery classes, and touring other factories, they took the plunge.

Now, after years of elbow grease, they produce unique candles from scents inspired by nature and with virtually no waste.

Products 

They offer a range of different candles costing $29.50 each or up to $264.50 for a set.

However, the packaging of the candles can be used in compost, and the casing converted into drinking glasses — or returned to Keap to be reused or recycled.

Best Shopify store - screenshot of the homepage - Keap.

Brand

Keap is an eco-friendly company just trying to help others unwind and know that buying their paraffin-less products means they’re helping the environment.

Not only that, 25% of their net profit goes towards the charity SolarAid. An organization that distributes solar-paneled lamps to social entrepreneurs to sell to their community in an attempt to make people less dependent on kerosene lamps.

Keap was formed by two guys with big ambitions and bigger hearts.

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10. The Flex Company

Finally, and certainly not least — The Flex Company

They’re on an epic mission to promote body positivity, empower ladies everywhere, and crush any negative connotations anyone has regarding menstruation. The Flex Company provides an alternative to menstrual products currently on the market. One, which is more durable, minimizes cramps and, most importantly, allows its users to have sex without fear of creating a mess.

There is no shaming at The Flex Company or no hidden political agenda. They’re only concerned with improving the lifestyle and well-being of women.

Best Shopify store - screenshot of the homepage - The Flex Company.

Product

The Flex Disc, costing around $15.00 for one month’s supply.

Best Shopify store - screenshot of the homepage - The Flex Company.

Brand

We might still be a step behind when it comes to being as open and as articulate as The Flex Company are when talking about the product, but we can certainly recognize how revolutionary their product is.

They present themselves with lightheartedness and a witty attitude. But, when it comes to the product, they use statistics they’ve gathered to persuade women to switch to the Flex Disc. The Flex Company recognizes that talking about menstruation is a difficult topic for some, so they try to approach it in as laid-back a manner as possible, with testimonies from current users and medical professionals for those who’re unsure about making the switch.

But, their mission to tackle fears head-on and embolden women deserves a standing ovation.

PRO TIP: Managing inventory is just one responsibility of running your business.

But, how’re you going to do your production planning?

Where are you going to store your bill of materials? How’re you going to monitor the progress of operations?

In Excel!? Good luck!

Though, how about being able to do all from one dashboard, and integrate Shopify to have all your orders in one location too?

It might sound like a fantasy, but we’ve made it a reality with our production planning software.

So, there you have it. The best Shopify stores of 2019 for their ingenuity, marketing, and their ambitions.

A list is also perfect for those trying to gather research for their store or a store they’d wish to set up. Have a scan through the sites mentioned above for inspiration or even find a Shopify theme that you’d like to take advantage of so you too can become one of the most successful Shopify stores.

If you’re looking to set up a store or take yours to the next level, take advantage of Shopify inventory management software. With smart inventory software, you can:

  1. Monitor inventory as stock adjustments happen autonomously
  2. Improve your floor-level management by drag and drop tasks with the most priority
  3. Get out of the growth restricting Excel sheets and move away from the cumbersome task of manually imputing all your data
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Katana Team

Katana’s cloud inventory platform covers the live inventory, production, accounting, and reporting features that give businesses the knowledge they need to make the right decisions.

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