Background

Shopify wanted to prove that real people power its platform. They commissioned ClipCut for a three-part series highlighting diverse merchants—each with a uniquely compelling founder arc.

Challenge

We needed to capture three distinct journeys:

1. A local boutique pivoting online mid-pandemic

2. A hobbyist scaling to global reach

3. A first-time founder overcoming supply-chain hurdles

All told in 60 seconds each, yet maintaining emotional depth.

Approach

1. Remote Interviews: Conducted hour-long Zoom sessions to uncover each founder’s “pinch-me” moments.

2. On-Location B-roll: Sourced footage from shop floors, home offices, and warehouse runs to ground stories in reality.

3. Revenue Reveal Hooks: Each film opens with “From $0 to $50 K in 30 days” style text overlays, instantly capturing attention.

4. Editing Rhythm: Alternated founder monologues with time-lapse visuals of order fulfillment—cut to the beat of an original score.

5. Cross-Channel Release: Deployed on Shopify’s homepage, Instagram Reels, and LinkedIn with aspect-ratio and caption tweaks for each medium.

Results

• 150 K combined views

• 12 % boost in new store sign-ups

• 8 % increase in cart completion rate among viewers

Conclusion

Our “Merchant Spotlight” series proved that authentic founder narratives, when paired with strategic hooks and on-brand visuals, can drive both emotional connection and tangible growth for Shopify.