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Platter vs. Off-the-Shelf Shopify Themes: What Sets Us Apart

In the race to build a successful Shopify store, brands chase better conversions, and bigger sales

Written by 
Elliot Roazen
October 2, 2024

In the race to build a successful Shopify store, brands chase better conversions, bigger sales, and faster sites—all while juggling too many third-party apps and leaning on developers for minor changes.

This article examines how Platterʼs combined theme and app bundle speeds up market entry, simplifies operations, and eliminates the drag of managing a host of single-function apps.

We'll share how Platterʼs ease of customization enhances user engagement and boosts profitability without inflating costs.

Integrated Functionality: The Platter Advantage

Platterʼs theme and app bundle takes your Shopify store to the next level by seamlessly integrating cutting-edge ecommerce features, setting it well apart from the standard offerings out there. With options like Mix & Match Bundling, In-Cart Upsells, and Shoppable Videos built right in, Platter takes what could be complex add-ons and turns them into natural parts of your store's experience.

Using Platter not only makes shopping easier for customers but also improves crucial business metrics like the conversion rate and average amount spent per order. Letʼs take a quick look at some of Platter's features that you hardly find with other products.

Mix & Match Bundling

Platterʼs Mix & Match Bundling feature is designed for flexibility and increased sales. Here's what makes Platter's offering unique compared to traditional bundling options:

Customer-Centered Bundling: Unlike rigid pre-set packages, Platter allows shoppers to freely choose which products to bundle, creating a truly customized shopping experience.

Encouraging Bigger Purchases: Platterʼs tiered discounting system rewards customers as they add more items to their bundles, motivating them to increase their order size and, consequently, their spending.

Smooth Bundling Experience: The bundling feature is seamlessly integrated into Platter's Shopify theme and app. This means customers enjoy a cohesive journey from product selection to checkout, without the disjointed feel that can come from using separate bundling plugins.

Smart Inventory Sync: Platterʼs bundles sync perfectly with Shopifyʼs inventory management, ensuring accurate stock levels are maintained and the risk of overselling is minimized. This is a critical feature that not all competitors may offer.

Shoppable Videos

Platter takes the online shopping experience to new heights with its shoppable video feature, which cleverly embeds product links directly within the video. This allows customers to shop the showcased products with a simple click without ever pausing the video. Here's how this feature sets Platter apart:

  1. Interactive Experience: While watching, viewers can engage with products that catch their eye instantly, no more searching through a website to find that one item.
  2. Direct Purchasing: With interactive hotspots, videos guide customers to learn more and buy then and there, either via external pages or in-video pop-ups.
  3. Custom Video Creation: Beyond embedding, Platter allows the creation of bespoke shoppable videos. These can be strategically placed on web pages or shared on social media, extending the reach of an interactive shopping session.
  4. Engagement with Loyal Viewers: By integrating shopping directly into videos, Platter taps into an audience already engaged with the content, offering them a frictionless transition from viewing to buying.
  5. Insightful Analytics: Performance tracking is integral with Platter. Every shoppable video is a source of valuable data about customer behavior and preferences, which can fine-tune both content creation and marketing tactics.

Unlike themes where videos serve solely as visual aids, Platter's Shoppable Videos actively drive sales by simplifying the purchase process. They remove additional searching or navigation that might deter a potential buyer. With this level of integration, Platter ensures that customers move from interest to purchase in a single, fluid motion.

In-Cart Upsell

Platter's In-Cart Upsell feature transforms the typical checkout process. It cleverly recommends products that complement what the shopper already has in their cart. Whenever customers add any item to their cart, Platter's technology intelligently identifies related products or accessories that complement what they're already purchasing.

These recommendations are presented in a nonintrusive, visually appealing way within the cart itself, prompting customers to consider adding more to their purchases.

In-Checkout Upsell

Platter's in-checkout upsell feature breathes new life into the profitability strategies of Shopify stores by smartly nudging customers right before they finalize their purchases. Here are its key benefits:

  1. Last-Minute Deals: As shoppers are about to complete their purchase, Platter enables you to showcase attractive deals that can entice them to add more items to their cart.
  2. Higher Order Values: The strategic placement of offers can lead to customers buying more, effectively raising the average value of orders.
  3. Smoother Operations: Because Platter integrates this capability directly into the checkout process, you can say goodbye to relying heavily on developers to implement such features.

Speed and Cost Efficiency: Streamlining Storefront Development

Shopify store owners typically manage multiple third-party apps to expand their online stores' capabilities. Regular themes usually lack enough features, and extra apps are needed to fill in the gaps.

Platter streamlines Shopify storefront development by combining multiple apps into one platform, providing cost-saving features that enhance functionality, speed up operations, and drive sales. As Ben Sharf, Co-Founder of Platter, explains, "We've built a product suite where everything works together...saving you money by streamlining the process." This not only simplifies the tech stack but also cuts down on the costs associated with app subscriptions and external developers.

Empowering Teams: Simplifying Storefront Management

Platter comes with over 30 customizable sections for your online store. This ease of making adjustments and adding a personal touch is especially helpful for brands to keep up with changing markets.

Ben underscores the value of this feature, noting, "Allowing your marketing team to make advanced customizations quickly directly with the theme editor and app empowers your team." Platter's design is so user-friendly that even those without any coding experience can update and personalize the online store. This boosts efficiency and inspires creativity and autonomy in the team.

Continuous Improvement and Support: The Platter Ecosystem

Platter does more than offer a powerful Shopify theme—it stays in step with its users' needs by regularly rolling out new features, which are included at no extra charge. This keeps online storefronts fresh and competitive.

Platter's support is more like an alliance. As Ben puts it, "We help distill and handle the entire process of building a high-converting storefront onboarding to the evolution of the storefront." This ongoing support is crucial for businesses that need to adapt to changing ecommerce trends and consumer behaviors.

The Platter Difference in Shopify Themes

Platter enhances Shopify stores by offering a suite of features that simplify store management, improve the shopping experience, and aim to increase sales.

By integrating capabilities like Mix & Match Bundling and Shoppable Videos straight into its theme, Platter eliminates the need for customization apps, streamlining your workflow and cutting down on expenses. This isn't just about saving money—it's about getting your products to the market faster.

Even the least tech-savvy team members can make adjustments to your storefront quickly and effectively using Platter, making store management more accessible than ever. With Platter, you're not just keeping up; you're equipped with ongoing updates and support to keep you ahead of the curve.

As you plan the next steps for your online store, consider whether your current setup is actively helping you grow or simply keeping the wheels turning.

Elliot Roazen

Director of Growth

Growth marketer with over 8 years of experience working with award-winning startups and multinational corporations. Proven track record of devising, planning, and implementing strategies for customer acquisition and retention. Keen eye for details, innovation and branding.

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Wild Earth
Every Man Jack
Big Blanket
Neuro
Inbloom
House of Macadamias
Gainful
Mugsy
Tilecloud
Oh Norman
Bleacher Report
Slumberkins
Ministry of Supply
Sisu
Unilever
Nearly Natural
Openstore
Little Giant
Kaged
Bullstrap
Freewill
LAD Collective
Baden
High Pony