In the rapidly evolving world of ecommerce, how do you stay ahead of the competition? For Kurt Elster, a seasoned entrepreneur and the mastermind behind Ethercycle, the answer lies in continually adapting and enhancing the Shopify experience. Since launching his ecommerce agency in 2009 and his first Shopify store in 2011, Kurt has become a pivotal voice in the Shopify community through his popular “Unofficial Shopify Podcast.” In a recent conversation, Kurt shared insights into the current state of Shopify—from innovative themes and vital upgrades to engaging with user feedback. Curious about what keeps Shopify at the forefront of ecommerce? Let’s dive into his thoughts on navigating this dynamic landscape. LEARN MORE.

Kurt Elster launched his ecommerce agency in 2009 and his first Shopify store in 2011. His “Unofficial Shopify Podcast,” which he started in 2014, is now required listening for that community of merchants, developers, and vendors.
He and I recently discussed the state of Shopify — themes, upgrades, user engagement, and the overall ecosystem.
The entire audio of our conversation is embedded below. The transcript is edited for clarity and length.
Eric Bandholz: Tell our listeners who you are and what you do.
Kurt Elster: I run an agency called Ethercycle. We specialize in Shopify migrations and custom themes. Additionally, I’ve developed a few Shopify apps and host “The Unofficial Shopify Podcast,” which has over 600 episodes.
I’m a longtime Shopify partner. I’ve worked with that platform since 2011 when I built one of the earliest stores with a custom theme. It was a learning process, but Shopify’s ease of use and support immensely helped.