Shopify migration Antwerp: honest advice, fixed price, no surprises

Why you're migrating your webshop (and why that feels daunting)

Moving a webshop to a different platform is no small thing. Your products, customer data, orders, URL structure, payments — everything needs to come along, ideally without visitors noticing a thing. At the same time, you don't want to be stuck for months or burn your budget on external consultants who keep billing by the hour.

I guide webshop migrations from Borgerhout, both to Shopify and away from Shopify. That last point matters: I'm not a Shopify partner with a commercial stake. I choose the platform that fits your situation, not the one that pays me the most.

Migrating to Shopify: when it makes sense

Shopify is a solid choice for webshops that want to move fast, don't want to keep tinkering with the tech side, and still want to grow. I've handled migrations from WooCommerce, Magento and even custom legacy systems.

A concrete example: a bookshop wanted off a slow, outdated platform. Within a week, the new Shopify store was live, complete with all products, customer accounts and a clean checkout. That's possible because Shopify handles a lot out of the box: payments, shipping labels, email notifications.

But Shopify isn't always the best choice. Got a simple catalogue without webshop functionality? A fast static site might be more practical. Mainly want to publish content and occasionally sell something? Then I'd look at Ghost instead. I've deliberately advised against a CMS for a client because a single landing page fit better — and was cheaper.

Migrating away from Shopify: I do that too

Sometimes Shopify simply doesn't fit anymore. One client had a content-driven site with the occasional product — Shopify felt like overkill. I guided that migration to Ghost: faster, cheaper, better SEO control. That also means custom theme development and a full cutover without data loss.

Another example: a client wanted to move away from Shopify metaobjects and was working with complex content structures. I built a fully custom Payload CMS admin environment that matched their workflow exactly. No more monthly Shopify costs for features they weren't using.

How I approach a migration

Every migration starts with an inventory: what needs to move, what can be dropped, which integrations are essential? Think payment providers, accounting software, shipping partners, marketing tools. I put together one concrete proposal with a clear scope, timeline and fixed price. No hourly rate that keeps climbing, no surprises halfway through.

I keep an eye on your budget. If a feature costs more than it delivers, I'll tell you. If a cheaper solution gets the same result, I'll choose that. I ran webshops and physical stores myself for fifteen years — at the peak with a team of twenty — so I speak from experience as an entrepreneur, not as a consultant on the sidelines.

Technically solid, commercially independent

I don't just build Shopify stores. I also develop my own SaaS applications (like Repair Manager and a Sendcloud connector), build Ghost themes, and code fully custom platforms where that's needed. That breadth means I'm not tied to one platform. I choose what works.

For a school, I handled a complete Shopify POS migration, including a temporary pop-up shop during the transition. For another client, I advised against a CMS entirely, because a simple static page was faster and maintenance-free. That flexibility exists because I don't get a commission from any software vendor.

Ready for an honest conversation?

If you're considering migrating your webshop — to Shopify, away from Shopify, or to a completely different platform — I'm happy to think it through with you. No sales pitch, just a concrete look at what fits your situation.

Want to know more about how I work? Check out Kattenberg 118 Studio or send an email. You'll get a clear proposal, a fixed budget and no surprises.