One of our favorite parts of working with brands is the questions. The thoughtful ones. The tough ones. The “we’ve been burned before—can you explain this clearly?” ones.
This year, clients across industries asked some fantastic questions that sparked meaningful conversations about strategy, scalability, and long-term growth. Below are 10 client questions we genuinely loved answering in 2025, along with the insights we shared.
1. “Do we actually need a rebuild, or can we optimize what we already have?”
This is always our starting point—and we love it when clients ask.
The short answer: not every site needs a rebuild. We assess performance, technical debt, UX limitations, and scalability. If your current foundation can support growth, optimization is often faster and more cost-effective. Rebuilds make sense when the platform or architecture is actively holding the business back.
2. “What does ‘Shopify Plus’ really give us that regular Shopify doesn’t?”
We appreciated this question because it’s rooted in value, not hype.
Shopify Plus isn’t about aesthetics—it’s about control, automation, and scale. Think:
- Advanced checkout customization
- Automation via Shopify Flow
- Better support for complex integrations
- Higher performance during traffic spikes
If your operations are getting more complex, Plus often pays for itself.
3. “How long should a proper eCommerce project actually take?”
Honest answer? Longer than a template install—but shorter than you fear.
Most well-scoped Shopify projects take 8–14 weeks, depending on integrations, custom functionality, and content readiness. We love this question because it opens the door to realistic planning and avoids rushed decisions that create long-term issues.
4. “Why does custom development cost more than a theme?”
This one comes up a lot—and for good reason.
Themes are built for averages. Custom development is built for your business logic, workflows, and growth goals. The extra investment goes into:
- Tailored UX
- Cleaner code
- Better performance
- Fewer limitations down the road
In other words, you’re paying for fewer compromises.
5. “Can we integrate our ERP/CRM without breaking Shopify?”
Yes—and we loved walking clients through this.
With the right architecture, Shopify integrates beautifully with ERPs, CRMs, PIMs, and 3PLs. The key is planning data flow correctly (source of truth, sync frequency, error handling). When done right, integrations reduce manual work and improve accuracy—not chaos.
6. “What should we prioritize if our budget isn’t unlimited?”
We respect this question because it shows strategic thinking.
Our answer: prioritize revenue-impacting features first.
That usually means:
- Checkout optimization
- Site speed and UX clarity
- Core integrations
- Analytics and tracking
Nice-to-haves can wait. Smart sequencing protects your ROI.
7. “Will our site be easy for our internal team to manage?”
We’re always glad when clients think beyond launch day.
A great site isn’t just beautiful—it’s usable for your team. We focus on:
- Clean admin setups
- Clear documentation
- Training sessions
- Scalable content structures
If your team avoids the backend, something’s wrong.
8. “How do we avoid rebuilding again in two years?”
This is one of our favorite questions—because it’s forward-thinking.
Future-proofing comes from:
- Modular development
- Avoiding hard-coded shortcuts
- Choosing scalable apps and integrations
- Planning for growth, not just current size
The goal isn’t perfection—it’s adaptability.
9. “What does success look like after launch?”
We love this question because it shifts the conversation to outcomes.
Success isn’t just “the site is live.” It’s:
- Improved conversion rates
- Faster workflows
- Reduced support issues
- Better data visibility
We define success metrics before development starts—so everyone’s aligned.
10. “Are we ready for this project—or should we wait?”
Sometimes the best advice is patience.
If internal alignment, content, or operational readiness isn’t there yet, waiting can save time and money. We appreciated clients who asked this because it showed they cared about doing things right—not just fast.
Final Thoughts
The best client relationships are built on curiosity, transparency, and honest conversations. These questions didn’t just help our clients make better decisions—they helped us deliver better work.
If you’re asking similar questions, chances are you’re already on the right track.
Have a question you’ve been afraid to ask?
We’re always happy to answer it.
