0.8s LCP is possible on Shopify. Not with a standard theme.
Standard Shopify themes have a structural performance ceiling. Headless removes it — but adds cost and complexity. We build headless when the performance targets, content requirements, or UX ambition genuinely justify it. Not as a default.
0.8s
LCP (headless build)
+210%
Organic traffic lift
4.2%
CVR achieved
Six capabilities you only get headless.
Every headless engagement starts with a business case. These are the outcomes we target — and the ones we use to assess whether headless is the right call.
Shopify Hydrogen & Remix
Shopify's own headless framework — full Storefront API access, streaming server rendering, and built-in commerce primitives designed for Shopify's data model.
Next.js + Storefront API
React-based storefronts with ISR, edge caching, and Shopify Storefront API — flexible architecture for complex content requirements and custom data sources.
Edge-deployed storefronts
Cloudflare Workers or Vercel Edge — your storefront executes close to the customer, not from a single origin region with 200ms added latency.
Composable CMS & search stack
Shopify for commerce, Sanity or Contentful for content, Algolia for search — best-of-breed components, structured to replace individual pieces without rebuilding everything.
Custom design systems
Pixel-perfect UI with a full design system — zero theme constraints, every interaction custom-built for your brand, every component documented.
GraphQL API layer
Custom data layer for real-time inventory, personalisation, product recommendations, and subscription data — unified across all channels and touchpoints.
We'll tell you if you don't need headless.
Headless adds real cost and real complexity. We won't recommend it unless the business case is clear: performance targets standard themes can't hit, complex content architecture, or a UX that no theme delivers. If standard Shopify — done correctly — can meet your needs, we'll build that instead.
- Honest assessment before we scope it
- Performance targets documented before build starts
- Full Hydrogen and Next.js capability
- Edge deployment as standard
Right fit if…
Use this to quickly gauge whether this is the right engagement for your situation.
- Performance targets that standard Shopify themes structurally cannot meet (sub-1s LCP)
- Complex content architecture with multiple content models or localisation at scale
- Brand experiences requiring full creative control and custom interactions
- High-traffic stores where performance is directly correlated with revenue
Not sure if this is the right fit? Let's talk it through.
What clients say.
“We'd worked with two agencies before Vela. Neither of them actually understood our business. Radwan did — within the first call. The platform he built us is still the best thing we've done for our online revenue.”
Thomas K.
Head of eCommerce · Danish apparel brand
“Straightforward, technically excellent, and he tells you what he actually thinks. We asked for a migration, he spotted three things we hadn't noticed that would have cost us later. That kind of honesty is rare.”
Maria S.
Founder · DTC homeware brand
“Our previous platform was a mess of custom workarounds. Radwan rebuilt the whole thing cleanly and on budget. The site is faster, the team can actually manage it, and conversions are up.”
Frederik L.
COO · Nordic B2B retailer
Questions we always get.
It starts with a free 30-minute discovery call — no sales pitch, just an honest conversation about your situation and what you're trying to achieve. From there we scope the work, agree on a fixed price, and start. No surprises.
Fixed scope, fixed price for project work. We don't do open-ended T&M retainers — if the scope changes, we discuss it and agree a new price. Ongoing support and maintenance plans are monthly flat-rate.
You communicate directly with the person doing the work — not an account manager. We use a shared Slack channel, weekly async updates, and milestone check-ins. You'll always know exactly where things stand.
We assemble a small team of senior specialists specific to your needs — typically 2-4 people. Everyone on your project has deep experience in their domain. No juniors learning on your budget.
Yes. We offer flexible support plans from ad-hoc hours to dedicated monthly retainers. Most clients stay with us after launch for ongoing iteration, optimisation, and platform management.
Absolutely. We're comfortable in hybrid setups — working alongside your designers, marketers, or developers. We can integrate into your existing tools and workflow.
Is headless the right architecture?
We'll run an honest assessment of your performance targets, content needs, and current constraints — and tell you whether headless is worth it before you commit.