If you run an ecommerce brand in the UK, chances are you’ve already heard of Shopify, and possibly already use it yourself. Over the past decade, it’s become one of the most trusted and scalable ecommerce platforms in the world, with over 4 million live websites and counting. But Shopify isn’t just for side hustles and small businesses. From beauty giants and fitness labels to eco-brands and DTC disruptors, some of the world’s most influential companies are built (and thriving) on Shopify.
In this blog, we spotlight 14 well-known brands that show just how powerful Shopify can be when it comes to creating seamless, high-performing online shopping experiences. If you’re looking for inspiration, technical guidance, or just a bit of reassurance that you’re using the right platform, this blog is for you.
1. Gymshark (uk.gymshark.com)
We’re starting things off with one of the UK’s biggest Shopify success stories. Founded by Ben Francis in his parents' garage, Gymshark has evolved from a startup to a global fitness powerhouse. Built on Shopify Plus, the brand can handle high traffic volumes during peak periods like Black Friday and product launches, all while maintaining lightning-fast speeds and slick design. For UK brands in fitness or apparel, Gymshark is living proof that Shopify can scale with you from bedroom brand to billion-pound business.
2. Charlotte Tilbury (charlottetilbury.com)
This luxury British beauty brand made headlines when it migrated to Shopify Plus to support its rapid international growth. The result? Nothing short from a visually stunning, mobile-optimised online store that balances brand storytelling with sales performance. Charlotte Tilbury’s Ecommerce site supports product launches, loyalty rewards, virtual try-ons and even in-store events, all powered through Shopify’s backend.
3. Huel (uk.huel.com)
Headquartered in Hertfordshire, Huel (short for “Human Fuel”) has become a leader in the meal replacement and nutritional supplements space. Its DTC-first approach and subscription model are fully supported by Shopify’s capabilities, making it easy to manage global fulfilment, flexible purchasing options, and recurring orders. Huel’s sleek, minimalist branding is perfectly matched with a no-fuss Shopify store that’s optimised for repeat purchases.
4. Alo Yoga (aloyoga.com)
This US-based yoga and athleisure brand is a household name on Instagram and TikTok. Alo Yoga’s Shopify store offers a full lifestyle experience, from styled lookbooks and wellness tips to yoga class access. The site runs on Shopify Plus, demonstrating how the platform can support lifestyle-led branding with rich media and mobile-first shopping.
5. Function of Beauty (functionofbeauty.com)
Another great example of personalisation done right, Function of Beauty allows customers to customise everything from hair type to fragrance. Shopify’s backend enables this detailed customer journey, with smooth UX, automated formulas, and seamless checkout. It’s a great case study for UK skincare or haircare brands looking to offer tailored solutions without the hassle of a fully custom platform.
6. Boohoo (sub-brands)
While the main Boohoo site runs on custom tech, several of its sub-brands and campaign microsites use Shopify for agility. With fast launch times and easy integration with third-party tools, Shopify is a perfect fit for test-and-learn brands or capsule collections in the fast fashion space.
7. Trip Drinks (drink-trip.com)
This UK-based CBD wellness brand has quickly gained cult status, and a lot of that has to do with its clean, minimal Shopify store. Trip uses Shopify to offer subscriptions, gift sets, and flexible bundles. The platform supports their rapid growth and clean aesthetic, and also allows for easy integrations like email marketing, rewards, and delivery tracking.
8. Allbirds (allbirds.co.uk)
Founded in the US and now shipping globally, Allbirds is a sustainability-focused shoe brand built entirely on Shopify. Their online store is fast, user-friendly, and tells a strong story about their materials and eco credentials. For UK eCommerce businesses focused on conscious consumerism, this is a brilliant model to follow.
9. Glossier (uk.glossier.com)
Originally a blog, Glossier transformed into a beauty empire and runs entirely on Shopify. The brand’s success lies in its community-first strategy, every product is developed in collaboration with its audience. Its Shopify store handles international shipping, limited edition product drops, and social commerce features with ease.
10. PANGAIA (pangaia.com)
PANGAIA, a materials science company turned fashion label, blends tech innovation with eco-consciousness. Their UK-loved Shopify store uses stunning visuals, clear sustainability messaging, and strong brand tone, all supported by Shopify’s flexible design capabilities. Their shop is also optimised for accessibility and multilingual use, offering inspiration for UK brands expanding overseas.
11. Joe & The Juice (joejuice.com)
While mainly known for its high-street cafes, Joe & The Juice is now expanding its digital offering via Shopify, from merchandise to cold-pressed juice kits you can enjoy at home. This hybrid model (bricks-and-mortar meets DTC) is becoming more common and Shopify is the perfect partner for blending both seamlessly.
12. Chilly’s Bottles (chillys.com)
Based in London, Chilly’s offers stylish, reusable water bottles that combine function with fashion. Their Shopify store reflects this, clean, modern, and efficient, with a big focus on visuals. They also use Shopify for collaborations and limited drops with brands like Liberty and Emma Bridgewater.
13. Bulk (bulk.com)
Previously known as Bulk Powders, this UK sports nutrition company rebranded to Bulk and moved to Shopify Plus for a more modern eCommerce experience. Their store is fast, content-rich, and packed with bundles, fitness blogs, and flexible filtering. Shopify supports everything from subscriptions to high-volume flash sales, a must for brands in the supplements space.
14. Beauty Pie (beautypie.com)
A UK-based disruptor brand, Beauty Pie operates with a membership model that gives users access to luxury beauty at factory prices. Their Shopify site handles subscription billing, exclusive member content, and gated pricing, proving that even more complex business models can be supported by Shopify’s infrastructure.
What Do These Brands Have in Common?
All of these brands, regardless of sector, share a few key characteristics:
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Strong visual identity
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User-friendly shopping experience
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Fast, mobile-first design
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Easy integration with third-party tools (email, rewards, shipping, analytics)
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Scalability, from startup to international brand
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Data and customer insights at their fingertips
Whether you’re in fashion, wellness, fitness, food, or beauty, Shopify offers a powerful blend of simplicity and scalability. Its ecosystem of apps, themes, and integrations lets you start lean and build out your tech stack as you grow.
Why Shopify is a Smart Move for UK Brands
If you're running an ecommerce business in the UK, you’ll know just how many plates there are to keep spinning, orders, fulfilment, social content, customer service, returns, the list goes on. And while there’s no perfect platform, Shopify takes a huge amount of that weight off your shoulders. Unlike other “website builders”, Shopify is a powerful toolkit for selling, scaling, and staying organised, even when things get busy.
One of the biggest appeals of Shopify is its accessibility. You don’t need to be particularly “techy” or have a computer science degree to get started, and as your business grows, it grows with you, whether through adding subscriptions, launching new products, or selling in other countries. Features like multi-currency checkout, mobile-optimised design and an easy-to-use backend mean you can spend less time stressing over logistics and more time actually building your brand.
One of the biggest bonuses? Shopify is reliable. It doesn’t crash on launch day, it loads quickly, and it integrates with everything from Instagram to email marketing tools. For UK brands that want something solid, scalable, and straightforward, it’s hard to beat. Whether you’re just getting started or ready to expand your current ecommerce site, Shopify gives you the flexibility to run your business your way, without making things more complicated than they need to be.
Thinking of making the move to Shopify?
If you’re considering how your ecommerce brand could benefit from better UX, streamlined checkout, and increased flexibility, get in touch with us today. We’re not going to reinvent the wheel, just bringing you the right skills and tools to build your own version of success.