Jeremy Horowitz: The Untold Truth About Shopify Plus and the App Stacks Behind 8-Figure Shopify Brands
Shopify1Percent · with Jeremy Horowitz · June 5, 2025 · 75 min
Summary
This episode dives deep into the strategic use of Shopify Plus and app ecosystems for 8-figure brands. It challenges common misconceptions about Shopify Plus, revealing that many successful brands optimize for lean app stacks rather than feature bloat. The discussion also provides invaluable insights into what makes an e-commerce brand attractive to investors, focusing on key financial metrics beyond just top-line revenue.
Key takeaways
Shopify Plus isn't just for massive enterprises; the average Shopify Plus merchant generates $2M annually, making it relevant for a broader range of scaling businesses.
Building a lean, high-impact app stack is crucial for efficiency and speed; top 3% of Shopify Plus brands typically use around five core apps, focusing on quality over quantity.
Contrary to popular belief, 45% of Shopify Plus stores don't use a reviews app, suggesting alternative, potentially more integrated, strategies for social proof.
Investors prioritize repeat purchase rates, efficient cash flow management, and accurate customer acquisition cost (CAC) calculations when evaluating e-commerce brands for acquisition or investment.
Focus on unique value propositions that competitors cannot easily replicate to enhance brand salability and attractiveness to potential acquirers or investors.
What if I told you that 45% of Shopify stores doing over $1M a year don’t use a reviews app? In this episode, I sit down with Jeremy Horowitz, ex-Gorgias, investor, and the guy who’s worked with Kim Kardashian and over 17,000 Shopify brands. We got to dig deep into the hidden data behind what 7-figure Shopify merchants are really using to grow. We talk app adoption trends, Shopify Plus vs Advanced (and why Plus might be a trap), repeat order rates that attract investors, and what most merchants are doing wrong when it comes to subscriptions and reorders. If you want to get into the top 3% of all Shopify merchants, this episode’s your blueprint.
What does this episode say about shopify & ecommerce platforms?
Shopify Plus isn't just for massive enterprises; the average Shopify Plus merchant generates $2M annually, making it relevant for a broader range of scaling businesses.
What does this episode say about founder & leadership?
Building a lean, high-impact app stack is crucial for efficiency and speed; top 3% of Shopify Plus brands typically use around five core apps, focusing on quality over quantity.
What does this episode say about finance & fundraising?
Contrary to popular belief, 45% of Shopify Plus stores don't use a reviews app, suggesting alternative, potentially more integrated, strategies for social proof.
What does this episode say about shopify & ecommerce platforms?
Investors prioritize repeat purchase rates, efficient cash flow management, and accurate customer acquisition cost (CAC) calculations when evaluating e-commerce brands for acquisition or investment.
What does this episode say about shopify & ecommerce platforms?
Focus on unique value propositions that competitors cannot easily replicate to enhance brand salability and attractiveness to potential acquirers or investors.
