Freelance Shopify Developer Helping UK Stores Sell Smarter
Custom Builds, Fixes & Optimisation — Without the Agency Fluff
I’m Nigel Boulton — a freelance Shopify developer in the UK helping ambitious brands design, develop and scale Shopify stores that convert. From custom Shopify theme development and performance tuning to integrations and ongoing support, I make your e-commerce store leaner, faster and more profitable.
You get the flexibility of a freelancer with the expertise you’d expect from development agencies — minus the overheads.
Why brands choose a freelancer over development agencies
Most development agencies are great at selling retainers. I’m focused on delivering results. You’ll work directly with the developer doing the work — no account managers, no hand-offs, no slow development teams. That means faster decisions, tighter feedback loops, and a build that’s genuinely tailored to your goals.
Whether you need a lightning-fast Shopify website, a conversion-focused redesign, or a new store launched on time and on budget, I keep the process simple:
plan → design → develop → optimise.
Certified Shopify Expert – UK-Based Developer You Can Trust
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Development
As a certified Development Fundamentals expert, I build and customise Shopify stores for performance, scalability and easy content management.
Clean code, robust structure and thoughtful UX — so your team can ship updates quickly.
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Planning
With Solution Planning Fundamentals, I align business goals with the right ecommerce platform features and app stack.
Launching a new store or migrating from WooCommerce, Magento or BigCommerce? I’ll scope the risks, map the data and keep SEO intact.
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Build
As a Liquid Storefronts specialist, I deliver custom theme development that’s flexible, fast and brand-true. I design, develop and refine in short cycles so your online store looks great, loads quickly and converts consistently.
Ecommerce is built on results, not noise. I design and build Shopify websites that look great, run seamlessly and make it easy for customers to buy again and again.
How I Can Help
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Custom Shopify Theme Development
Bespoke Shopify web design and build for brands that want more than a cookie-cutter template. I translate your brand system into a fast, accessible theme, then design, develop and iterate to maximise conversions. From layout systems and product page UX to checkout micro-optimisations, every detail serves the sale.
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Store Setup and Optimisation
Launching a new store? I’ll configure payments, shipping, taxes, analytics, structured data and a logical navigation that reduces friction. Post-launch, I fine-tune speed, tracking and CRO so your ecommerce store keeps improving week after week
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App Integrations and Custom Functionality
Need subscriptions, bundles, loyalty, advanced search, B2B pricing or custom product builders? I integrate best-in-class Shopify apps or deliver custom builds when off-the-shelf won’t cut it — always with performance and maintainability in mind.
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Shopify Performance Improvements
Faster sites win more revenue. I optimise theme assets, compress and lazy-load media, streamline scripts and remove technical bloat. The result: a Shopify website that feels instant on mobile and scores strongly on Core Web Vitals.
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Ongoing Support and Maintenance
No agency retainer required. Get pragmatic support for theme updates, bug fixes, new features and seasonal campaigns. I work as an extension of your team — reliable, responsive and focused on measurable outcomes.
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SEO Optimisation for Shopify Stores
Technical SEO foundations, clean information architecture and compelling on-page content. I align your Shopify store with search intent, improve crawl efficiency and protect equity during migrations. More qualified traffic; better conversion rates. Read about Shopify Search Engine Optimisation
Process: plan, design, develop, optimise
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1. Discovery & Strategy
We clarify goals, customers and commercial priorities. I audit your online store or brief for opportunities in UX, speed, search and retention. You’ll get a clear roadmap with effort vs. impact and timelines. (Want to go deeper? Ask for a technical audit and you’ll see detailed analysis of performance, SEO and UX blockers.)
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2. Design & UX
I wireframe critical journeys (home → PLP → PDP → cart → checkout) then craft a modular system that supports growth: components, typography, spacing and states. It’s Shopify web design with a purpose — brand-consistent, accessible, conversion-centric.
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3. Development
I design, develop and test in short sprints. Clean Liquid, structured sections, minimal JavaScript and scalable settings so your team can manage content easily. Integrations with Shopify apps are implemented thoughtfully to avoid bloat.
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4. Launch & Optimisation
Staged releases, thorough QA, analytics validation and post-launch monitoring. Then ongoing testing — copy, layout, bundling, merchandising — so your ecommerce store keeps improving.
Capability highlights
Custom Shopify theme development – From scratch or refactors of Dawn-based themes with a focus on speed and maintainability.
Redesigns & replatforming – Move to Shopify’s ecommerce platform without losing organic visibility.
Product detail experiences – Variant logic, swatches, metafields, size guides, comparison, UGC, bundles and subscriptions.
Collection discovery – Faceted filtering, merchandising rules, landing pages and internal search that actually surfaces products.
International & B2B – Markets, price lists, tax/VAT rules, multi-currency and wholesale experiences.
Data & analytics – GA4/Server-side tagging readiness, conversion tracking, attribution clarity for paid and organic.
Who I work with
I partner with founders, marketers and web designers who want a technical specialist to bring ideas to life. I’m equally comfortable collaborating with development teams inside larger organisations or acting as your dedicated freelance Shopify developer UK side-by-side with your marketing team. If you already work with development agencies, I can slot in to own the Shopify track, provide code reviews or accelerate key features.
Results you can expect
Faster load times and smoother checkout flows
Cleaner theme architecture that’s easy to maintain
Higher add-to-cart and conversion rates
Better visibility for priority categories and products
Fewer support tickets and easier content updates
A Shopify website that genuinely supports growth
Expert Shopify Development Tailored for UK Brands
As a Shopify expert – UK, I help businesses build Shopify stores that are beautiful, fast and easy to manage. Whether you need custom builds, a strategic redesign, or targeted improvements to your existing online store, I’ll deliver clean, conversion-focused code that works.
FAQs
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You get direct access to the person who will design, develop and ship the work. That means faster delivery, clearer communication and better value than most development agencies.
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Absolutely. I collaborate with in-house marketers, web designers and development teams all the time, from strategy through build and optimisation.
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Yes — flexible monthly support or ad-hoc engagements for feature rollouts, seasonal campaigns and performance work.
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Yes. Whether you’re launching a new store or scaling a complex ecommerce store, I tailor the approach to your stage and goals.
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Shopify. It’s the most merchant-friendly ecommerce platform for speed, security, checkout and ecosystem. I’ll advise when custom work or specific Shopify apps make sense — and when they don’t.
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Absolutely. I work with lots of clients who already have a store but want to improve performance, fix issues, or give their design a refresh. I’ll identify the areas holding you back and make practical, results-driven improvements.