Leads for a Shopify agency: how to find new clients
A Shopify agency finds new clients in two ways: inbound, through the Shopify Partner Directory, referrals and app partners, and outbound, by looking for stores that show a signal that predicts a project. An outdated theme, a store about to launch, or a store missing the basics are the best leads, because you can say exactly what you would fix.
Step by step
-
1.
Get listed in the Shopify Partner Directory
Merchants browse the directory by service, price and location, then compare reviews, work samples and certifications. A complete profile with real work samples is the cheapest inbound channel an agency has.
-
2.
Build referral loops with app partners and freelancers
App companies get asked for setup help every day, and solo freelancers turn down projects that are too big. Agree on a simple referral fee with a few of them.
-
3.
Pick one signal that predicts a project
Outbound only works when your email names a problem the store visibly has. Pick a signal you know how to fix: a theme from before Online Store 2.0, a store behind a password page that is about to open, or a store with no reviews and no shipping policy.
-
4.
Find stores that show the signal
Check the theme in the page source (Shopify.theme names it), look for the password page, and note what is missing. For a few stores a day, do it by hand. For a list, filter a store database by theme, status and country.
The page source checks are in how to check which Shopify apps a store uses, and new stores are covered in how to find newly launched Shopify stores for cold outreach.
-
5.
Write one specific email per store
Name the signal, show what the fix looks like, and offer one small next step. A short video of the store with your notes beats a portfolio link.
Two signals, counted
Counted in StoreRadar's database on October 2, 2026, each store as of its most recent crawl:
| Signal | Stores | Typical project |
|---|---|---|
| Live store on a Shopify vintage free theme (Debut, Brooklyn, Simple, Narrative, Supply, Venture, Boundless, and Minimal) | 110,698, or 6.4% of live stores with a known theme | Migration to an Online Store 2.0 theme |
| Store behind a password page | 243,163 | Launch help, once it is about to open |
A vintage theme is a signal, not a budget. Many of these stores are small and some are abandoned: check that the store is live and selling before you write.
Limits of every method
- Crawl age. A database shows each store as of its last crawl, which can be months old. A password page may be gone and a theme may have changed since.
- Signals are not budgets. Nothing on the storefront tells you what the owner can spend.
- The directory favors reviews. A new agency with no reviews ranks behind older ones, so outbound and referrals matter more at the start.
- Contact data is thin. Store emails are usually shared inboxes, not the owner's.
Do it with StoreRadar
- Leads for Shopify agencies: how agencies use StoreRadar to find stores by theme, apps and country.
- Shopify theme detector: paste a store URL to see which theme it runs. Free.
- Discover stores: filter the database by theme, password status and country. Free account needed.
- New Shopify stores, daily: stores in their first days, before another agency writes to them.
FAQ
How do merchants choose an agency in the Partner Directory?
They filter partners by service, price and location, then read reviews, look at work samples and check certifications before they contact anyone. Your profile competes on those four things.
Which store signals predict an agency project?
An outdated theme (a migration project), a password page about to open (a launch project), missing basics such as reviews or policies (a quick-win project), and a new app stack that is half set up.
How many Shopify stores still use a vintage theme?
As of October 2, 2026, 110,698 live stores in the StoreRadar database ran a Shopify vintage free theme such as Debut or Brooklyn, each as of its most recent crawl.
Is cold outreach worth it for a Shopify agency?
Only when it is specific. An email that names one problem on the store and shows the fix gets read. A template with the store name swapped in does not.