Amazon and Shopify represent two different ways to sell online: renting a marketplace or owning your store. Here is the trade off.
What is the difference?
Amazon is a marketplace with huge built in traffic but little brand control. Shopify is your own store: full control of brand, data and margins, but you bring your own traffic.
Which drives sales faster?
Amazon, because the buyers are already there searching. Shopify needs you to earn traffic through ads, content and social before sales come.
Which is better for brand and margins?
Shopify. You own the customer relationship, the data and more of the margin. Amazon takes fees and keeps the customer relationship largely to itself.
What about fees and control?
Amazon charges referral and often fulfilment fees, and controls the experience. Shopify charges a predictable subscription plus payment fees, and leaves the experience to you.
Should you do both?
Often yes. Use Amazon for reach and discovery, Shopify to build brand and own repeat customers. See related takes in TikTok Shop vs Amazon and Shopify vs WooCommerce.
Is Amazon or Shopify better for a new brand?
Amazon brings instant traffic; Shopify builds brand and margins but needs you to drive traffic. Many start on Amazon and add Shopify.
Which keeps more margin?
Shopify, usually. Amazon takes referral and fulfilment fees and keeps the customer relationship.
Do I own customer data on Amazon?
Largely no. Amazon keeps the customer relationship. Shopify gives you the data and the relationship.
Can I sell on both?
Yes, and many brands do. Amazon for reach, Shopify for brand and repeat customers.
Choosing where to sell? See our commerce work or talk to us.
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