Articles and guides

A focused guide to the Israeli market, payments, shipping, VAT, localization, and apps that save time and money. Reading time: ~6 minutes TL;DR: For most businesses in Israel, Shopify is a great value: the strengths are quick setup, scale, a huge app ecosystem, connection to sales channels, and simple operation. The challenges are costs that can grow with apps, advanced content management, and local payment considerations. With the right choices in the app set and payment and shipping connections tailored to Israel, this is an excellent platform for growth. What is Shopify and how is it relevant to Israel? Shopify is a managed eCommerce platform that takes the headache out of servers, security, and updates. This allows you to focus on your product, marketing, and operations. This is significant for the Israeli market, because you can go live quickly with a store in Hebrew, RTL, and in shekel currency. Quick setup: A basic store can be up and running in just a few days. Hebrew and RTL: Right-to-left orientation support, including Hebrew phonetics. Currency: ILS, with local display of prices and tax display. Payments in Israel, what is important to know In Israel, we work with local clearing providers and digital wallet solutions alongside PayPal and credit cards. Common clearinghouses: PayPlus, CardCom, Tranzila, Pelecard, Meshulam. Wallets and Express: PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay as supported by the carrier and browser. Tax invoices: Integrations to services such as iCount, Green Invoice, Priority, SAP Business One using connectors. 18% VAT: Correct presentation of prices with or without VAT according to the target audience, and compliance with local tax requirements. Tip!: Set up payments with a minimum of clicks, verify policy pages in Hebrew, and receive confirmation of proper management of fees and returns. Shipping and distribution, Israeli players Connecting to local logistics saves money and time for the Israeli customer who expects fast delivery. Common shipping companies: HFD, Israel Post, Boxit Lockers, Gett Delivery for urban deliveries, UPS and DHL abroad. Delivery options: pickup from the store, delivery to your home, locker close to home. Show delivery times: Transparency about time windows and delivery estimates reduces abandonment. Apps for Israel: Recommended Starter Set Shopify covers the bases. Everyone else has apps. Keep it lean and measured. Payment and Settlement: Integration with your chosen settlement provider, check App Blocks and up-to-date documentation. Tax invoices and receipts: connection to iCount or Green Invoice, or integration to an Israeli ERP. Shipping: Integrations to HFD, Boxit, or an aggregator solution that manages labels and tracking. Marketing and conversion: email marketing, product reviews, giveaways and bundles. SEO and content: tools for schema, meta, and redirects, especially for bilingual sites. Rule of thumb: New store - 5 to 6 apps. Active store around 10. Complex store 15 or more. Don't install without measuring! Scale, Omnichannel and Multichannel for Israel Scale: SaaS-based, fast and stable in campaigns and loads. Shopify POS: Suitable for retailers with physical stores and online sales, check hardware availability and payment support in Israel. Channels: Selling on the website, Facebook and Instagram, connecting to relevant marketplaces, with inventory synchronization and orders in one place. Disadvantages and considerations for Israel Advanced content management: Complex, multilingual blogs sometimes require CMS applications or a headless approach. App dependency: Too many apps slow you down. Choose only what proves valuable, and forgo everything else. Costs: Paid templates, apps, clearing fees, currency conversions, and shipping. Build a realistic annual budget in shekels. Platform lock-in: Future migration to another platform can be complex. Document processes and data from day one. Who is Shopify suitable for in Israel? SMB: Businesses that are willing to invest in design, operations, and marketing to grow measurably. B2C and D2C: Brands that sell directly, with the need for local payments and fast shipping. B2B: Pricing by customer, minimum order, price quotes, and special payment terms through apps and customized checkout processes. Who is it less suitable for: Those who are starting without a budget at all, or those who need very heavy development in the first stage. Frequently Asked Questions for Israel Is it possible to sell only in shekels and display prices in other currencies? Yes. The final price is charged in ILS, and additional currencies can be displayed for global customers for convenience. How do you handle 18 percent VAT? Determine whether the price to the consumer includes or excludes VAT according to the type of customer, define correct tax calculation, and set up a legal tax invoicing system. Which shipping is the most profitable in Israel? It depends on your volume, goals, and SLA. Usually, a combination of lockers/pickup points and home delivery provides good coverage and a reasonable cost. Summary Shopify remains a strong solution for the Israeli market. If you set up a local payments and shipping infrastructure, build a lean and scalable set of apps, and manage data properly, the project will move quickly and grow healthily. For those looking for scale, omnichannel, and clean operations, this is an excellent choice.

Online store price, how much does it really cost to set up an online store? We break down the costs, from the platform to CRO, so you can go live without surprises. Reading time: ~5 minutes TL;DR: Cost depends on scale and needs. You can start basic with relatively low costs, or invest in custom design and development to maximize conversions in the long run. It's important to plan ahead for platform, plugins, checkout, shipping, and CRO. Why is everyone asking now how much does an online store cost? More businesses are moving to online sales and are asking the obvious question, how much does it cost to set up an online store? Here we will help you target your budget and avoid surprises. What affects the final price? Commerce platform: Shopify, WooCommerce or another solution. Design and development: ready-made template or custom design. Plugins and integrations: payments, shipping, marketing. CRO: Improvements that actually increase conversions. Hosting and domain: ongoing costs. Marketing and promotion: SEO, campaigns, content. Sample cost ranges Basic store Shopify Basic, $29/month Ready-made template, $100 to $200 one-time Basic setup, 5,000 to 10,000 NIS Custom shop Design and development, respectively, 15,000 to 60,000 NIS Special integrations, 2,000 to 10,000 NIS as needed CRO to increase sales, 5,000 to 20,000 NIS CRO, how to turn more visitors into customers An online store is a shopping experience. Many stores convert only 1 to 3 percent of their visitors. To improve: Short buying process: fewer steps to payment, fewer abandonments. User reviews: Trust that translates into purchases. Photos and descriptions: high-quality, clear and convincing. Tempting offers: coupons, promotions, and bundles that increase your basket. Mobile is great: Most purchases happen on a smartphone. Summary The cost depends on the scope of the project and goals. You can start with a basic store for a few thousand, or you can invest in customized design and development that will generate more sales over time. Proper planning and budget allocation between platform, user experience, and CRO will help you reach your goals faster. Want your online store to sell more? At Spiky, we will tailor a setup or upgrade to your exact needs and budget. Talk to us Tags Budget CRO Shopify Online Store

How much does it cost to set up an online store, the complete guide to pricing an online store Everything that affects the price, from the platform and design to integrations, SEO and CRO, to choose a path that suits your business and budget. Reading time: ~3 minutes TL;DR: A basic store ranges from 5,000 to 10,000 NIS, customization 15,000 to 30,000 NIS, and complex developments starting at 30,000 NIS. Monthly costs, platform, plugins, and marketing should also be considered. Choose a stable platform, a good template, a lean app set, and CRO measurement. Why is this question important? More business owners are getting into e-commerce and asking how much it costs to set up an online store. The answer depends on the platform, design, development, user experience, plugins, and integrations. Here we break down the costs and provide guidelines for making a smart choice. Factors that affect the price Commerce platform: Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, each has advantages and disadvantages. Design and development: ready-made template vs. custom design. Functionality and integrations: clearing, inventory management, shipping, CRM, mailing, analytics. SEO and digital marketing: campaigns, content, technical optimization and keywords. CRO and user experience: shortening the buying process, social proof, mobile, converting product pages. What does a basic package include? Building a store with a responsive design optimized for mobile. Connection to a clearing system. Product and category management. Coupons and discounts. Basic SEO settings for Google. Add-ons that increase conversions and customer lifetime value Advanced SEO: keyword research, content, optimization for terms such as building a virtual store, setting up a sales website, online store pricing. Connections to third-party systems: CRM, mailing, advanced analytics. Automations: cart abandonment flows, review collection, personalization. Price comparison, how much does it actually cost? Basic store: 5,000 to 10,000 NIS. Custom store: 15,000 to 30,000 NIS. Store with complex developments and advanced integrations: 30,000 NIS and up. Remember to include ongoing costs , platform, plugins, domain and storage, marketing tools, and campaigns. How to choose the right route Mapping needs and goals: catalog, channels, automations, audience. A lean set of plugins: Install only what proves valuable and measure performance. Focus on CRO: form shortening, checkout trust, reviews, complementary offers. Annual budget planning: Build a model of establishment plus maintenance and marketing. Want an accurate quote for a store that suits your business? Spiky's experts will help you choose a platform, build a converting store, and configure an effective set of plugins. Talk to us

Choosing a Shopify template is a strategic decision that shapes the user experience, impacts site speed, and improves the sales process. While free templates provide a basic solution, paid templates offer advanced functionality, custom designs, and professional support. Before you upgrade, it is important to understand the advantages, disadvantages, and costs involved, as well as choose the template that best suits your field of activity. 1. What do paid templates on Shopify include? Paid templates offer a wide range of Advanced features which are not always available in free templates, which improves customer experience and business performance. Key features of paid templates: Responsive design – Fully compatible with all types of screens, including mobile and tablets. Advanced navigation menus – Mega Menu support for large and extensive menus. Dynamic product display – Customizable video, animations, and images. Customization options – Choice of colors, fonts, and diverse layouts. Full SEO support – Code structure optimized for search engines to improve Google rankings. Built-in integration with social networks – Tools for sharing and creating engagement. Inventory counter – Displays the number of items remaining for sale in real time, to create a sense of urgency. Built-in blog – Allows the creation of content for organic promotion (SEO). Regular updates and technical support – Access to technical support from the template developers. 2. Popular Template Categories on Shopify Choosing the right template depends on the industry your store is in. Shopify offers different templates tailored to specific needs: category Description Fashion and Lifestyle Large product displays, minimalist design, and advanced filters. Electronics and gadgets Templates with technical specifications, product reviews, and advanced navigation. Furniture and interior design Templates with large catalogs, 3D visualizations, and a clean style. Jewelry and accessories Luxurious designs, close-up displays, and features for customized product display. Food and drinks Nutritional information, repeat orders, and the possibility of building customer clubs. Health and beauty Large product images, branded content, and support for monthly subscriptions. 3. Recommended Shopify Templates by Industry Prestige – ideal for luxury fashion stores ✓ Modern and elegant appearance ✓ Impressive product display with the option for brand stories ✓ Functions tailored to luxury retail Motion – Perfect for creative brands ✓ Video displays and dynamic animations ✓ Advanced user experience with smooth movement ✓ Suitable for stores that focus on visuals Empire – for stores with a wide product catalog ✓ Smart filtering tools and advanced hierarchical structure ✓ Suitable for stores with a large number of categories ✓ Smooth user experience for high traffic websites Pipeline – Fast and modern user experience ✓ Ultra-fast charging ✓ Dynamic layouts with easy navigation ✓ Suitable for interior design, furniture and accessories stores Impulse – for websites with strong branding ✓ Suitable for sports, fashion and lifestyle businesses ✓ Possibility of advanced marketing campaigns ✓ Intuitive navigation to improve the customer experience 4. Why is it recommended to purchase an original template from the official Shopify store? Some users consider purchasing templates from third-party providers like ThemeForest. However, official Shopify templates offer several significant advantages over third-party templates. Updates and stability Official Shopify templates are updated regularly, maintaining full compatibility with platform upgrades. Templates from ThemeForest sometimes don't update in a timely manner, which can cause compatibility issues after Shopify updates. Technical support Official templates come with direct support from Shopify or the template developers, including comprehensive documentation. Third-party templates provide limited support, and support is often dependent on an independent developer who may stop maintaining the template. Code quality and performance The official templates are tested by Shopify and offer clean and optimized code, optimized for high performance and fast loading. External templates may contain suboptimal code or be loaded with unnecessary add-ons, which could harm site speed and user experience. Shopify platform compatibility Official templates are perfectly adapted to all Shopify changes and updates, including a responsive user experience. External templates are not always compatible with new versions of Shopify, which can cause errors in website functionality. Security and reliability Official templates are approved by Shopify, so they are considered safe and free of problematic code. Third-party templates may contain custom code that could be problematic in terms of website security. Integrations and plugins Official templates integrate well with most Shopify apps and tools, ensuring a seamless user experience. External templates are not always compatible with Shopify tools and sometimes require manual adjustments. Conclusion: Choose wisely and play it safe. Although external templates may be cheaper, they can cause future problems. If you want A stable, fast, secure and well-maintained website , it is recommended to invest in a template Official Shopify . This way you will ensure a professional store that will stay up to date and functional over time. 💡 Our recommendation: It is always better to buy Original templates from the official Shopify store , because they are carefully tested, receive regular updates, and are optimally compatible with the entire platform. 5. Bottom line – How to choose the most suitable template? If you are looking for a significant upgrade that will strengthen your brand , Will improve the purchasing experience To optimize performance , a paid template is a cost-effective choice. On the other hand, if your store is still in the growth stages, you can start with a free template and move to a paid template later. How to choose the right template? ✔ Check which functions you need – don’t pay for what’s not necessary. ✔ Try the demo version of the template before purchasing. ✔ Make sure the template is mobile-friendly and fast-loading. ✔ Choose a template that suits the nature of your business, not just the design. ✔ Always prefer Official Shopify Templates To avoid crashes and compatibility issues. Have you decided to upgrade? Don't forget to check your metrics! ✔ Bounce rate – Do customers stay on the site longer? ✔ Charging time – Does the site load faster? ✔ Conversions and purchases – Did the change increase sales? In conclusion , switching to a paid Shopify template can be A smart strategic move If you choose correctly and adapt it to the goals of the business. The important question is Not whether to upgrade – but when and how . successfully! Nissan Mizrahi SPIKY DIGITAL Team

Challenges in Shopify Plus, what's important to know before upgrading Shopify Plus provides power and growth, but requires technical and operational preparation. This way you know what to expect and how to overcome obstacles. Reading time: ~6 minutes TL;DR: Plus adds Checkout Extensibility, Functions, and B2B capabilities, but still has limitations in dynamic pricing, ERP integrations, variants, and support. Build a hybrid solution, Functions for rules, Apps where it saves time, Flow for automation, and a technical partner who knows the nuances. 1) Flexibility on the payment page More advanced customizations are possible than standard programs, but customized fields and deep integrations require Extensions or Functions. Solution: Use Shopify Functions to define rules, Checkout UI Extensions for components, and dedicated apps where needed. 2) Discounts and dynamic pricing There are Scripts and Functions, but full differential pricing by user or group is not fully built in. Solution: Discount rules in Functions, price tables through Apps, and B2B policies by customer groups. 3) Integration with ERP and CRM Deep joins often require intermediaries or dedicated development, especially in field mapping and error control. Solution: Custom API, Integrator.io or Celigo for varitory scheduling, and Flow for pre-send validations. 4) B2B budget and order management Shopify B2B is powerful, but there is no built-in mechanism for monthly or quarterly budgets. Solution: Metafields for per-customer budget, Flows for basket limitation and approval, and customized budget reports. 5) Variants and inventory Complex variant management or advanced kitting will often require third-party applications. Solution: Matrixify for massive catalog management, apps for extended variants, and display rules with Functions. 6) Technical support Dedicated support is available, but for integration or architecture issues you will sometimes need an expert partner. Solution: Working with a Plus Partner agency, defining an internal SLA, and fully documenting integrations. Table of challenges and solutions challenge How to solve Owner Custom fields at checkout Checkout UI Extensions, validations with Functions Frontend Pricing by groups Apps for differential pricing, general functions for discounts Commerce Two-way ERP Integrator.io, Field Mapping, Retry, and Scheduling Windows Integrations B2B budget management Metafields, Order Blocking Flow, Multi-Layer Approval Oops Complex variants Matrixify, Bundling Apps, Smart Display Rules Catalog Support for complex questions Plus Partner, internal playbooks and documentation PM Best Practices for Upgrading a Part Proof of Concept: Build a test environment with POS, B2B, and pricing flows before a full transition. Organized catalog: uniform option names, handling problematic variations in advance. Integrations in stages: start with one-way reads, add writes only after monitoring. Measurement: Set KPIs, CVR at checkout, AOV, load time, number of integration failures. Fallback: Playbook for rollback, and customer service ready for exceptions in the first week. Considering upgrading to Shopify Plus At SPIKY DIGITAL, we will build the right architecture, implement functions and extensions, connect ERP and CRM, and measure results. Talk to us

Moving an e-commerce store from one platform to another is A complex strategic process that requires early planning, precise data management, and full customization for user experience. Not only in transferring products and data , but in ensuring Business continuity , maintaining organic rankings on Google, and improving the purchasing processes on the site.