GUGUshop - Migration from Shoper to Shopify

About the Client

GUGUshop.pl is the official online store of Szpaku and the GUGU brand. It offers streetwear with character-limited drops, preorder collections, and music. Every product tells a story and carries meaning. The store combines fashion, emotion, and freedom of expression, creating a unique vibe for those who want to stand out.

Challenges

GUGU was looking for a partner who would do more than just migrate the store from Shoper to Shopify. It was crucial to understand how their world works - a fusion of a music brand and e-commerce. Their sales are driven by emotion, preorders, and drop-based campaigns.

GUGU needed a partner who:

• Understands impulse-driven sales (preorders, product launches, limited editions),

• Can advise not only on the technical side but also on strategy and UX,

• Offers tailored solutions, not cookie-cutter templates.

Hatimeria presented a clear migration roadmap and realistic development scenarios on Shopify - focusing on growing traffic, automation, and integrations with music platforms.

Migration from Shoper to Shopify

For GUGU, moving from Shoper to Shopify was a step toward greater freedom and scalability. As the brand grew, the existing platform became a limitation - lack of flexibility, integration difficulties, and limited technical capabilities became a burden, especially during preorder and drop campaigns.

Shopify offered what they needed: stability during high traffic, full design control, mobile performance, and access to hundreds of apps supporting marketing, fulfillment, and automation. Integrations with platforms like Spotify and YouTube were also key, allowing seamless connection between merch sales and artistic content. This migration gave GUGU a flexible platform that scales with the brand and truly supports business growth.

Our Approach

The migration began with a thorough audit of the Shoper store. Hatimeria’s team identified all features not natively supported by Shopify and highlighted where theme customizations or apps would be needed. We analyzed the product catalog structure and informed the client of upcoming legal changes (Omnibus Directive, GPSR, digital accessibility requirements). Everything was included in a detailed project estimate.

Key migration elements:

• Product data transfer via Shoper API to Shopify, preceded by category creation.

• Customer data migration via CSV, followed by activation emails prompting users to set new passwords.

• Custom login banner and a dedicated landing page explaining the account activation process.

• SEO 301 redirects to preserve search engine rankings.

• Order history left in Shoper at the client’s request for easier handling.

Theme Customization and Feature Development

We selected one of Shopify’s 244 available themes and extensively customized it.

Implemented features and improvements:

• Legal compliance updates (Omnibus, GPSR, accessibility).

• Payment integrations (Przelewy24), shipping methods, and BaseLinker integration (with ERP-readiness).

New features developed by Hatimeria:

• Full store redesign based on theme and client feedback.
• Wishlist (via Shopify app).
• Google, Facebook, and Spotify login options.
• Native dark mode implementation (no external apps).
• YouTube Shopping integration – displaying products directly on the brand’s channel.
• Spotify integration – merch displayed on artist profile.
• Automated ALT text generation for images.
• Loyalty program (test phase, via app).
• Gift cards and discount codes (not supported by Shoper).
• Modal size chart available on product pages.
• Age verification on selected pages with customized template behavior.
• Reworked navigation and a new mega menu.
• Tree-style collection filters (via Shopify Search & Discovery).
• Product bundles – simplified via BaseLinker.

Shopping Experience Enhancements

• "Buy Now" button to shorten the purchase path.

• Modal cart display for faster checkout without page reloads.

• Shopify Payments + Przelewy24 – test implementation of seamless checkout (no external redirects).

Technical Migration & Shopify Customization

Hatimeria handled the full migration of data from Shoper to Shopify. Using a custom-built API integration app, we preserved category structures and implemented SEO redirects. Customer data was imported via CSV, with Shoper IDs stored as metafields. Since accounts were inactive, we ensured clear communication via emails, banners, and instructions. Order history remained in Shoper at the client's request.

Applications & Integrations Implemented:

• Loyalty program
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Wishlist
• Social login (Google, Facebook, Spotify)
• App to support 100+ product variants (e.g., phone case models)

Custom Solutions:

• Dark mode implemented natively for better performance and no extra cost.

SEO

We ensured complete URL redirection and manually added all CMS pages. Everything was tested to maintain search engine rankings.

Results

After the migration, GUGU now operates on a modern, scalable platform ready for growth and dynamic sales campaigns. Post-development, Hatimeria conducted thorough testing. We then integrated the store with YouTube and Spotify, significantly expanding the brand’s promotional and sales reach.

The new GUGU store is launching soon - with an improved shopping experience and a fresh collection that merges fashion with music. Launch to follow official announcement.