Founded over four decades ago, Intermoda celebrated another year as the largest fashion business exhibition in Latin America. Twice a year, it becomes the most important meeting point for designers, producers, and anyone involved in—or interested in—the industry. At Getmore , we were present with various activities, one of which (and our favorite) was interviewing different designers. Among them were some who have already made Shopify their ally for growth in the world of e-commerce.
Why are fashion brands in Latin America exploring e-commerce?
In recent years, the fashion industry in Latin America has undergone a remarkable transformation, driven by the growing interest in e-commerce. Many brands, which previously relied on brick-and-mortar stores and traditional sales models, are now embracing digital platforms to reach more customers and a wider range of users.
Undoubtedly, this change goes hand in hand with the internet revolution, which is affecting consumer needs and behaviors. Now we all prioritize convenience and spend a large part of our time immersed in the digital world.
E-commerce consumers in Latin America
According to a study conducted by the Mexican Online Sales Association (AMVO), Latin America leads the growth of online sales worldwide.
To position ourselves effectively, we must leverage all these factors to our advantage. Today, e-commerce is essential for growth, as the landscape is increasingly competitive and users are becoming ever more demanding.
What makes e-commerce on Shopify so attractive for Latin American fashion brands?
E-commerce offers an alternative to expanding physical stores, and Shopify is becoming a favorite among businesses in this hemisphere. Latin American fashion brands are increasingly choosing this platform to enter the world of online sales due to its ease and speed of use.
What I love most about Shopify is that I built the store myself and didn't have to hire anyone else. I'm happy because I manage it myself, I see results month by month and day by day, you can win back customers, and it offers all the options.
- Mariana Rodríguez, from Hanger Concept Store.
Ease and speed of use
Hanger Concept Store and Hooey are already enamored with the platform for its user-friendly and self-managed nature. Brands like Menos 117 have found it difficult to learn how to use their own content management system. For this reason, Shopify is an ideal solution.
Order and clarity
Grecia Soto also told us that Shopify has given her the opportunity to present a formal image to users and to showcase her catalog more clearly, as it allows for a creative and organized approach to improve the user experience.
Personalized customer service
Other brands with stores on Shopify, such as LOB, mentioned their appreciation for the attention and prompt response on the platform, an important point for satisfying their customers.
Large capacity for purchase orders
For its part, its large order processing capacity is one of the advantages that brands like BALAM enjoy with Shopify. In addition, they have access to a metrics dashboard that allows them to analyze their conversion rate, average order value, average products per purchase, and many other analytics.
Metrics for growth
At Shopify, there are no limits [...]. There's excellent inventory management, statistics, and financial reports—all crucial for a business. It's a database.
- Leny from Mexicanartes
Retail or wholesale model
One of Shopify's advantages is the ability to adapt your business model to the website. Sebastián, head of OKEY Moda, told us that the platform has allowed him to reach customers outside the main region, throughout the rest of the country. It has also enabled him to explore other clothing styles that aren't readily available locally.
Challenges for brands to put their store online
During our interview days at Intermoda, different designers and brands gave us their points of view regarding e-commerce, some on Shopify, others on WooCommerce, however, there are those who have not entered this universe and present some challenges.
Traditional sales approach
Rodrigo Marcos and Andrés, representatives of Luciano Ferreti, told us about their traditional sales approach, coming from a generation they described as "not very modern." Therefore, their sales channel is still largely digital. As the third (and youngest) generation to lead the brand, they already have plans to expand into the digital world.
Silvestre, head of Silver Moose, presented the same challenge. He told us how his children, being a younger generation and more aware of trends, helped him boost his brand in e-commerce, but it was difficult to achieve.
Shopify allows you to integrate the traditional approach with the digital one
Shopify helps overcome the challenges some brands face by integrating traditional and digital approaches to help businesses create an omnichannel experience. In other words, it acts as a powerful ally and complement to a physical store or social media presence, allowing businesses to reach diverse users and boost sales. Here are some advantages:
- Unified inventory management: Shopify synchronizes inventory between physical stores and online platforms in real time.
- Shopify POS (Point of Sale): The Shopify POS system acts as a bridge between offline and online operations, allowing businesses to accept in-store payments while keeping all transactions connected to the same system.
- Customer experience and loyalty: Customers can enjoy flexible options like buy online, pick up in store (BOPIS), or return items in-store regardless of where they were purchased. Shopify also allows you to create customer profiles to track purchase history across all channels.
- Marketing and sales integration: Businesses can leverage online marketing strategies—such as social media ads and email campaigns—to drive traffic to their physical stores, and vice versa. Shopify provides tools to track these efforts across both channels.
- Data insights across different channels: Shopify offers analytics that combine physical and online sales data, helping businesses understand customer behavior across all touchpoints and make informed decisions.
Conclusion
Shopify is a great way to establish a presence in the digital world, expand your brand, and stand out from the competition. While it's easy to use, creating a website that reflects your brand and provides a user-friendly shopping experience can present some challenges. If you're unsure, contact us . At Getmore, we're Shopify Partners and can help.
