Introduction
In 2025, Shopify continues to power some of the fastest-growing direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands, legacy brands going digital, and niche stores turning into major players. What’s remarkable is how many used smart strategies — from community building to AI, flash drops to sustainable branding — to scale. In this post, I’ll highlight a few Shopify stores that “made it big” recently, how they grew, what sets them apart, and what you can learn from them.
What “Made It Big” Means
Before diving into examples, what counts as “making it big”?
- High revenue growth year-over-year
- Strong brand recognition or buzz
- Viral/flash-sale success or influencer impact
- Scaling via Shopify Plus or enterprise-level operations
- Expanding product lines, markets, or both
Examples of Shopify Stores That Scaled Big in 2025
Here are several brands that stand out in 2025 for their scale, growth, and use of Shopify to enable that growth.
Gymshark
- Niche/Industry: Fitness apparel
- What they did: Gymshark has long been a poster child for scaling via influencer marketing, community engagement, and strong social media presence. In 2025, they continue refining their customer experience (CX), optimizing for global markets, and using Shopify Plus to handle traffic spikes and drops.
- Why they stand out: Their ability to scale without sacrificing brand identity; strong use of limited-edition drops; fast, mobile-friendly shopping experience.
Allbirds
- Niche/Industry: Sustainable footwear & apparel
- What they did in 2025: Allbirds is one of the brands pulling strong revenues (over US$250 million from Shopify in recent reports) by leaning heavily on sustainability, transparent supply chains, and great omnichannel integration (online + physical stores).
- Key strategies: Clean, trust-building design; using Shopify for both commerce and POS to unify customer experiences; clear messaging about environment, materials.
Kylie Cosmetics
- Niche/Industry: Beauty & Personal Care
- What they did: Kylie Cosmetics continues to use drops/releases, social media (especially viral content), and exclusive collaborations. Their Shopify store handles high demand during product launches and capitalizes on influencer collaborations.
- What makes them “big” in 2025: Their ability to maintain hype while expanding product lines (beauty + skincare) and optimizing checkout, fulfillment, and marketing.
Huel
- Niche/Industry: Nutrition / Meal Replacements / Health Food
- What they did: Huel is often cited as one of the more successful Shopify-powered brands in terms of consistent growth. Using subscriptions, a wide product range (powders, bars, etc.), strong brand positioning for those looking for convenient nutrition, and scaling to multiple territories.
- What stands out: Strong retention via subscription, clarity in product value, good use of Shopify infrastructure to support logistics and inventory.
Steve Madden
- Niche/Industry: Footwear and fashion accessories
- What they did: Steve Madden, being a legacy brand, migrated more of its commerce toward Shopify, especially for its direct-to-consumer (DTC) channels. Their mobile store traffic is strong, and their Shopify site is optimized for campaigns, flash sales, and frequent promotions.
- Why they’ve scaled: They embraced digital, streamline UX, used Shopify Plus to handle load, and invested in mobile experience.
Red Bull
- Niche/Industry: Lifestyle / Energy Drink & Experiences + Merch
- What they did: While their core business is drinks and events, their Shopify store for merch, accessories, and limited-edition drops has become a revenue and brand amplifier. They leverage strong visuals, event tie-ins, and fan loyalty.
- What makes them successful: They connect brand identity (extreme sports, events) strongly with product drops; they make merch feel like collectibles.
What These Stores Have in Common
From these examples, there are clear patterns in what enables scaling:
- Strong Brand Identity & Story
Brands like Allbirds or Red Bull aren’t just selling products—they sell beliefs, lifestyles, values. - Community / Influencer Marketing & Social Proof
Gymshark, Kylie Cosmetics, etc., use influencers, community engagement, or user content heavily. - Optimized Product Launches / Drops
Flash releases, limited-edition products, and seasonal campaigns build urgency and hype. - Excellent UX & Site Performance
Sites are fast, mobile optimized, handle high traffic, and Shopify Plus or equivalent scaling tools are leveraged. - Diversified Revenue Streams
Subscriptions, physical retail, merch, DTC channels beyond just the online store. - Transparency & Values
Sustainability, ethical sourcing, or environmental messaging help with loyalty and repeat purchases.
What You Can Learn & Apply
If you’re building your store or scaling one, here are some actionable lessons inspired by these “big” stores:
- Build a strong, recognizable brand from day one. Consistency in visuals, messaging, values matters.
- Invest in community & influencer relationships early. Even micro-influencers or customers as evangelists help.
- Make product launches/Drops special. Limited supply, countdowns, early access can help generate buzz.
- Prioritize site speed, mobile UX, checkout smoothness — every friction point loses conversions.
- Try subscription or recurring revenue models if applicable — helps with cash flow and retention.
- Lean into transparency — customers often reward brands that are open about sourcing, sustainability, pricing.
Conclusion
2025 has shown that scaling with Shopify is more possible than ever. The brands above aren’t just “big” because they had big starts—they adapted, innovated, and stayed close to customer expectations. They leaned on Shopify’s strengths (speed, scalability, global reach) and added human, emotional, or ethical elements that customers respond to.
If you’re building your Shopify store now, let these examples be your roadmap—not to copy, but to inspire. With the right niche, message, UX, and strategy, there’s plenty of room to make it big.
Ready to join the list of Shopify stores that made it big in 2025? Start building and scaling your own success story today!
