The world of e-commerce is always changing. As we move through 2026, what customers expect from online stores is higher than ever. They want fast, easy-to-use websites that work perfectly on their phones and offer a smooth shopping experience. For business owners, this means your online platform needs to be powerful, flexible, and ready to grow with you. Many are finding that their current platforms can’t keep up, leading them to look for better options. One of the biggest trends we’re seeing is stores moving from EKM to Shopify.
This shift isn’t happening by chance. It’s a deliberate move by ambitious business owners who want to unlock their store’s full potential. In this guide, we’ll explore why so many are making the switch, the limitations of EKM, and the powerful benefits that Shopify offers.
What is EKM?
EKM is an e-commerce platform based in the UK that has helped many small businesses get started online. It’s known for being user-friendly for beginners and offering a simple way to build a web shop without needing technical skills. For many new entrepreneurs, EKM provides a solid first step into the world of online selling.
However, as a business grows, its needs become more complex. What worked for a small startup may not be enough for a business aiming for significant growth, and this is where many users start to notice the platform’s limitations.
Common Limitations Users Face on EKM
While EKM is a good starting point, many growing businesses eventually hit a ceiling. Some of the most common challenges users face include:
- Design Restrictions: Customising the look and feel of your store can be difficult. EKM’s themes can feel restrictive, making it hard to create a unique brand identity that stands out from the competition.
- Limited App Integration: The modern e-commerce world relies on apps to add functionality, from advanced marketing tools to loyalty programs. EKM’s app market is much smaller than Shopify’s, limiting your ability to add these powerful features.
- Scalability Issues: As your sales and product lines grow, you need a platform that can handle increased traffic and complexity without slowing down. Some EKM users report that the platform struggles to scale with their business.
- SEO Capabilities: While EKM offers basic SEO tools, they often lack the advanced controls needed to compete in a crowded market. This can make it harder for your store to rank high in search engine results.
These limitations can hold back a business that is ready to expand. This often prompts the search for a more robust solution, leading many to consider an EKM migration.
Why Merchants Are Choosing Shopify Instead
Shopify has become the platform of choice for businesses that want to grow without limits. It offers a powerful combination of flexibility, scalability, and an extensive feature set. Here’s why so many merchants are making the switch.
Scalability
Shopify is built to grow with you. Whether you’re processing ten orders a day or ten thousand, the platform remains stable and fast. Shopify Plus, its enterprise-level solution, powers some of the biggest brands in the world. This means you never have to worry about outgrowing your platform. You can expand your product range, handle huge spikes in traffic during sales, and grow your business with confidence.
App Ecosystem
The Shopify App Store is one of its biggest advantages. It contains thousands of apps that allow you to add almost any feature you can imagine. Want to add customer reviews, set up a loyalty program, improve your email marketing, or streamline your shipping? There’s an app for that. This vast ecosystem allows you to tailor your store precisely to your business needs and customer expectations.
Global Selling Tools
As your business grows, you may want to sell to customers in other countries. Shopify makes this easy with its built-in international commerce tools. You can sell in multiple currencies, translate your store into different languages, and manage international domains all from one place. This opens up your business to a global market, which is a major step up from the more localised features of EKM.
Real Success Stories of Migrations from EKM
We have seen firsthand how businesses can be transformed by moving from EKM to Shopify. One client, a retailer of specialised craft supplies, was struggling with EKM’s design limitations and poor mobile experience. Their website felt dated, and they couldn’t integrate the marketing tools they needed to grow.
After completing their EKM migration, their new Shopify store was a game-changer. With a fresh, modern design and a mobile-first approach, their conversion rate increased by 40% in just three months. They were also able to use Shopify apps to launch a successful customer loyalty program, which boosted repeat purchases. This is just one of many stories where switching platforms unlocked true growth potential.
How Shopify Solves EKM’s Biggest Pain Points
Shopify directly addresses the common frustrations EKM users face.
- Struggling with design? Shopify’s theme store offers hundreds of beautiful, customisable, and mobile-responsive themes. You also have full access to the theme code for complete design freedom.
- Need more features? The Shopify App Store provides endless possibilities to enhance your store’s functionality.
- Worried about growth? Shopify’s infrastructure is built for scale, ensuring your site remains fast and reliable as you grow.
- Want better SEO? Shopify provides advanced SEO tools, giving you full control over meta tags, URL structures, and redirects, which is crucial for a successful EKM migration.
Media Mole: Expert EKM → Shopify Migration Partner
Moving your entire online store from one platform to another can feel like a huge task. That’s where we come in. At Media Mole, we specialise in seamless and stress-free migrations. We have a proven process for EKM migration and Sellerdeck Migration, ensuring that none of your valuable data is lost along the way.
We handle everything, including:
- Migrating your products, customers, and order history.
- Implementing proper SEO redirects to protect your search engine rankings.
- Designing a beautiful new Shopify store that reflects your brand.
- Setting up essential apps to help you run your business more effectively.
Our goal is to make your transition to Shopify as smooth as possible so you can start enjoying the benefits right away.
Ready to Unlock Your Store’s Potential?
If you feel like your current platform is holding you back, it might be time for a change. Moving from EKM to Shopify can provide the tools, flexibility, and scalability your business needs to thrive in 2026 and beyond. You’ll gain access to a world-class e-commerce ecosystem designed for growth.
An EKM migration is a major step, but it’s one that can pay off enormously. If you’re ready to explore how Shopify can transform your business, get in touch with us today. Let’s build a store that can keep up with your ambitions.