How MakerFlo Scaled 2,400% Revenue with Shopify in One Year

Overview

MakerFlo started as a passion project by John Modi and Marc Pendergraft, rolling custom crafting kits on a Homestead site that needed constant developer support. Every cosmetic tweak or backend integration meant six months’ wait and tens of thousands in invoices. Growth felt impossible under that model.

The Challenge

The team quickly realized their choice of platform was blocking innovation. They had to plan every code change around compatibility with existing custom builds. Adding a simple tutorial or loyalty feature meant a hefty bill. Expansion, flash sales, new products—each one meant a developer sprint and a budget sink.

Switching to Shopify

At the end of 2019 Marc experimented with Shopify’s plug-and-play world. Within days the new storefront was live, with more features than before. No backend headaches, no endless dev cycles—just fast app installs. John saw it, thought “this could work,” and they flipped the switch. The result: the same engine but greased to perfection.

Results

The performance uplift was immediate. In year one on Shopify revenue climbed 2,400% versus the prior year. A flash sale of 30,000 tumblers sold out in under ten minutes, pulling in $210,000 instantly—and the site never blinked. Pandemic demand for crafts drove new traffic surges that Shopify handled effortlessly.

They layered on apps like Tolstoy for shoppable video guides and Yotpo for AI-powered reviews. Conversions climbed further, bounce rates fell, and trust shot up with social proof. A mobile app built in partnership with Shopney launched within weeks and now makes up roughly 33% of total revenue.

Beyond Online: In-Person Events

When events returned, MakerFlo used Shopify POS to power hands-on road shows. Inventory, orders, and customer profiles synced automatically. Shoppers could try products live, buy on the spot, and their history flowed back online without a hitch.

Key Takeaways

• Moving off a heavily custom site into Shopify cut feature development from months to days, saving six-figure costs.
• Year one on Shopify saw a 2,400% increase in revenue, driven by seamless flash sales and rapid launches.
• Plug-and-play apps like Tolstoy for video and Yotpo for reviews boosted engagement and conversion rates.
• Partnering with Shopney to build a mobile app generated 33% of total revenue within 12 months.
• Shopify POS ensured smooth integration between online sales and in-person crafting events.
• Scalability and reliability of Shopify allowed MakerFlo to host massive flash sales without downtime.