The eCommerce landscape is evolving rapidly, with platforms like Shopify and Ecwid empowering businesses to establish digital storefronts amid shifting consumer demands. In a recent Forbes Advisor article, Steve Morris, founder and CEO of digital consultancy NEWMEDIA.COM, provides expert analysis on the strengths and trade-offs of these popular platforms. While both offer accessible entry points for small businesses, Morris stresses that the decision extends far beyond initial features and costs, influencing long-term scalability and operational resilience in a competitive digital retail environment.
As businesses increasingly rely on digital storefronts to adapt to changing consumer behaviors, choosing the right eCommerce platform has become a critical strategic imperative. What starts as a straightforward effort to launch online quickly can evolve into a significant challenge when initial platforms cannot accommodate growth, intricate inventory management, or multi-channel sales strategies. Forbes Advisor consulted Steve Morris for his insights on this pivotal shift. “This turns into a mess as things get more complex,” he explains in the article, referring to the pain point many merchants face when the limitations of lean platforms like Ecwid surface during periods of scale.
In contrast, Shopify, a platform NEWMEDIA.COM has extensive experience with, stands out for its comprehensive ecosystem, advanced customization options, and preparedness for enterprise-level requirements such as logistics, third-party integrations, and automated backend processes. These attributes make Shopify a more future-proof choice for digital retailers aiming to sustain momentum as they expand.
Steve Morris’s analysis in the Forbes Advisor article draws from over two decades of practical experience in digital development, where he and his team at NEWMEDIA.COM have built and refined platforms for globally recognized brands. The agency has assisted numerous clients in migrating from entry-level solutions like Ecwid or WooCommerce to robust, enterprise-grade frameworks, preventing the need for expensive re-platforming by prioritizing informed decisions early on. Unlike many development agencies that concentrate solely on coding or user interface design, NEWMEDIA.COM adopts a strategy-led methodology. This ensures that every technical choice—from SEO optimization and AI integration to checkout conversion enhancements and customer retention analytics—aligns with overarching business objectives, setting it apart in an industry often limited by siloed expertise.
• Scaling Isn’t Just Growth; It’s Complexity: As product catalogs, customer bases, and fulfillment requirements expand, merchants need platforms that can keep up with them — or risk losing sales and operational efficiency. • Shopify’s Edge Is Its Ecosystem: From powerful APIs to thousands of vetted apps, Shopify offers a modular infrastructure that grows with the merchant, not against them. • Strategy Before Stack: Morris’s quote underscores the NEWMEDIA.COM philosophy: the best technology is only valuable when it’s mapped to a clear business outcome. That means helping clients future-proof their platforms by choosing tools that won’t need to be ripped out a year later.
The insights from Steve Morris in the Forbes Advisor article serve as a timely reminder for digital retailers: selecting an eCommerce platform like Shopify or Ecwid is not merely a tactical move but a foundational step toward enduring success. By embracing a holistic, strategy-driven approach as exemplified by NEWMEDIA.COM, businesses can navigate the complexities of growth, leverage robust ecosystems for seamless operations, and position themselves to thrive in an increasingly dynamic online marketplace.
NEWMEDIA.COM is a full-service digital agency with locations in Denver, CO, New York, NY, Chicago, IL and 25 cities across North America, working with clients spanning the Fortune 500 to high-growth eCommerce startups. Specializing in eCommerce development, UX optimization, AI driven marketing, and performance SEO, NEWMEDIA.COM is known for building not just websites, but entire growth infrastructures.
TechIntelPro empowers B2B technology decision-makers with the latest industry trends, deep insights, leadership perspectives and actionable intelligence to drive both organizational and professional milestones—and thrive on the tech pulse.