Summary of our conversation with Keyven Ferland, around e-commerce and Shopify

Embarking on the entrepreneurial journey of Keyven Ferland, we uncover the transition from a design freelancer to the helm of LaWeb Shop, a Canadian e-commerce development shop that now specializes in Shopify solutions. The episode delivers an honest account of the raw challenges and strategic triumphs faced along the way.

We met Keyven through the creator of LocomotiveCMS & Maglev - both technologies we actively use at MarsBased - Didier Lafforgue, who's been on the podcast too. Here's the episode with Didier where he discussed building a new CMS from scratch.

Keyven's narrative begins with his earliest experiences in client acquisition, a crucial aspect of any budding agency. The emphasis on community and the shared struggles of bootstrapped ventures compared to their VC-backed counterparts offer a grounded perspective on the realities of entrepreneurship. As opposed to us, he started alone freelancing, before turning into an agency. We started as an agency right off the bat, proving that you can follow either path to become a bigger agency one day!

An interesting pivot occurs as LaWeb Shop transitions from SpreeCommerce to Shopify, highlighting the importance of embracing simplicity and strategic technology choices. Keyven’s anecdote about a serendipitous hockey rink encounter that led to a fruitful partnership illustrates the organic nature of business growth, especially within the context of the tech industry. Equally funny was the mention of SpreeCommerce, a platform we used to build a project in 2015-2016 before we switched to Shopify definitely.

Delving deeper, Keyven discusses the initial skepticism around Shopify, its evolving capabilities, and the platform's surprising regional appeal. His insights into salesmanship and the importance of aligning technology with client needs underscore the nuanced art of running a successful e-commerce agency. Of course, no one knew back then that Shopify would become one of the leading - if not THE leading - technologies for e-commerce on a global scale.

Furthermore, the episode touches on the no-code movement and its potential impact on web development, painting a future where the barriers to creating online platforms are significantly lowered. This notion is juxtaposed with reflections on the e-commerce boom during the pandemic and its implications for the future.

The human side of agency life doesn't escape scrutiny. Keyven shares how his team has expanded into support, launch services, and marketing, adapting to industry demands. A particularly candid moment arrives as he reflects on a harrowing technological setback that nearly cost a million dollars, emphasizing resilience and the power of recovery. Comparing this to our model, shows that both models can be successful: we have kept only a few technologies and don't offer related services like other agencies do, so each one to their own!

As the episode nears its conclusion, Keyven muses over the exciting concept of client swapping with international agencies and the strategic moves toward global collaboration. His aspirations resonate with the universal entrepreneurial dream of transcending borders and tapping into diverse markets. We also invite him to come to Barcelona some day!

Throughout the podcast, the story of LaWeb Shop serves as a microcosm for the broader e-commerce landscape, where adaptation, technology mastery, and customer-centric approaches are key to enduring success. It's a tale that offers invaluable lessons for anyone looking to navigate the tumultuous yet rewarding waters of digital entrepreneurship.

Here's the video of the entire conversation. Remember to hit the like button and share it around, if you liked it, and to subscribe to our channel to receive updates!