Shopify was founded in Ottawa in 2006 to help businesses sell online.
Shopify began after Tobias Lütke, Daniel Weinand, and Scott Lake created an online store for snowboarding equipment. Dissatisfied with the available e-commerce software, they built their own platform and launched Shopify in 2006. The company later shifted from operating one store to providing tools that other merchants could use.
Shopify is often confused with online marketplaces such as Etsy. A marketplace hosts many sellers under a shared retail platform, while Shopify primarily lets a merchant create and operate a branded online store. The distinction matters for small businesses because it affects branding, customer ownership, fees, and selling channels.
The company’s growth reflects the increasing importance of digital tools for independent retailers. Its services have included storefront creation, payments, inventory management, shipping, and point-of-sale tools, allowing small firms to combine online sales with physical shops or markets.