How to Leverage Shopify UNITE 2019 Announcements: Complete Guide
By Braincuber Team
Published on April 10, 2026
Shopify UNITE is a yearly developer and business conference for Shopify partners who build businesses in the Shopify ecosystem. This event brings together app developers, theme designers, agency partners, and Shopify experts from around the world to learn about the latest platform updates, share insights, and collaborate on the future of ecommerce. This complete tutorial covers the key announcements from Shopify UNITE 2019, including game-changing features that transformed how merchants build and scale their online stores.
What You'll Learn:
- What Shopify UNITE is and why it matters for the ecommerce ecosystem
- 5 key Shopify UNITE 2019 announcements that transformed the platform
- Step by step guide to leveraging sections everywhere on your store
- How to use the new Shopify Experts Marketplace to find help
- Understanding Shopify Plus new features for enterprise merchants
- Cross-border commerce strategies from the fully translated App Store
What is Shopify UNITE?
Shopify UNITE is Shopify's annual conference specifically designed for partners who build businesses within the Shopify ecosystem. This includes app developers, theme designers, Shopify Experts, agencies, and service providers who help merchants succeed on the platform. The event features keynote presentations from Shopify leadership, technical deep-dives into new platform capabilities, networking opportunities with fellow partners, and previews of upcoming features.
For Shopify UNITE 2019, Toronto was chosen as the host city. Partners from around the world, including teams from Asia, Europe, and North America, gathered to learn about the future of the platform. The ticket price was USD $599 for early bird registration, with final pricing around USD $677 including taxes. Tickets typically sell out 2 weeks before the event, so planning ahead is essential.
Network with Partners
Connect with app developers, theme designers, and agencies from around the world who are building on Shopify.
Learn Platform Updates
Get exclusive previews of new Shopify features and platform capabilities before public release.
Technical Deep-Dives
Attend hands-on workshops and technical sessions led by Shopify engineers and product teams.
Global Perspective
Understand how ecommerce is evolving globally and what opportunities exist for Shopify partners.
5 Key Shopify UNITE 2019 Announcements
During Shopify UNITE 2019, several major announcements were made that would reshape how merchants build and operate their online stores. Here are the five most impactful announcements and what they mean for your Shopify store.
Sections Everywhere
This was one of the most anticipated announcements at Shopify UNITE 2019. Starting from Fall 2019, Shopify merchants gained the ability to create sections not just for the homepage, but for any page across the entire online store.
Previously, sections were limited to the homepage only. This announcement pushed Shopify forward with customization abilities that rivaled other solutions like WordPress. The new mechanism also allowed merchants to add specific apps directly to any page.
What this means for you: If you create a landing page and want to add reviews to a specific part of that page, it is now possible and easy. This opens up endless possibilities for creating unique page layouts without needing custom development.
Shopify Experts Marketplace
Shopify launched a revamped Experts Marketplace where merchants can find qualified professionals for their projects. If you are a Shopify Expert, you can access the Services menu item in Navigation, where new service requests go directly to the Jobs sub-menu section.
Step by step guide to using the marketplace:
- Visit the Shopify Experts section in your Partner Dashboard
- Browse categories including design, development, marketing, and setup
- Review expert profiles, portfolios, and client reviews
- Post a job request describing your project needs
- Receive proposals from qualified experts
- Select the best fit for your budget and timeline
New Shopify Plus Features
Shopify Plus, the enterprise solution for high-volume merchants, received significant updates. Two main points defined the coming Shopify Plus update: Multiple-store management and better user permissions inside the organization.
Multiple-store management: Enterprise merchants often operate multiple brands or stores across different markets. The new Shopify Plus features make it easier to manage all stores from a single dashboard, reducing operational complexity and improving efficiency.
User permissions: Organizations can now have more granular control over who can access what within their Shopify organization. This improves security and ensures the right people have access to the right tools for their roles.
These features were expected to be available for Shopify Plus customers by the end of 2019, with beta signup available through Shopify Plus beta program.
Shopify Fulfillment Network
Shopify announced the launch of an AI-based fulfillment network for Shopify merchants. This was a major strategic move that addressed one of the biggest pain points in ecommerce: fulfillment and shipping.
How it works: When an order is placed, the merchant only needs to send goods to the Shopify fulfillment center. Shopify handles the rest, including picking, packing, and shipping directly to customers.
Key benefits:
- Affordable pricing compared to traditional 3PL providers
- Faster shipping times through strategically located warehouses
- AI-powered inventory management and demand prediction
- Reduced overall ecommerce conversion rate issues related to shipping
Fully Translated Shopify App Store
Cross-border commerce was gaining popularity, and Shopify recognized that more customers were buying from merchants in other countries. The fully translated Shopify App Store was a strategic move to support merchants expanding into non-English speaking markets.
Impact for merchants:
- App developers could now submit translations for their app descriptions
- Merchants in non-English speaking countries could discover apps in their native language
- Higher installation rates expected as language barriers decreased
- Opportunity for apps to differentiate by offering quality localized experiences
This announcement was particularly exciting for partners like PageFly, who could now showcase their value proposition to Shopify merchants worldwide in their native languages.
Partner Day: Facebook and Google Insights
During Shopify UNITE, select partners were invited to exclusive sessions at Facebook and Google headquarters. The Facebook session covered the customer's behavior across three key stages: Discovery, Purchase, and Post-Purchase.
| Stage | Key Strategy | Platform Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery | Target customers based on interests and behaviors | Facebook Ads targeting |
| Purchase | Minimize friction in buying process | Facebook Checkout |
| Post-Purchase | Retarget and build customer loyalty | Dynamic retargeting ads |
One particularly innovative feature highlighted was Facebook Checkout, which allows users to complete purchases without leaving the Facebook platform. This means less friction for customers and higher conversion rates for merchants.
APAC Partner Collaboration
Before the main UNITE event, partners from the Asian-Pacific (APAC) region gathered to discuss Shopify announcements and propose ideas for organizing regional meetups. The initiative came from Jumpstart Shopify Plus Expert Xavier, who proposed partner meetups to exchange experiences when working in the Shopify ecosystem.
Why Regional Collaboration Matters
Tight collaboration among Shopify partners creates more trust for potential Shopify clients. By sharing knowledge, supporting each other, and maintaining high standards, the entire ecosystem benefits. This is especially important in emerging markets where merchants may be new to ecommerce.
Post-UNITE Meetups Around the World
The spirit of UNITE continued after the main event with post-UNITE meetups happening worldwide. The first Shopify post-UNITE meetup gathered over 100 partners including theme developers, app developers, and service providers. Topics covered at the panel discussion included:
Themes and Frontend
Discussions on the future of Shopify theme development and frontend technologies.
App Development
Technical deep-dives into building apps that solve merchant pain points.
The Shopify Economy
Understanding the business model and economic opportunities in the Shopify ecosystem.
The Future of Commerce
Vision for how ecommerce will evolve and what opportunities lie ahead.
Step by Step: Leveraging UNITE Announcements for Your Store
Now that you understand the key Shopify UNITE 2019 announcements, here is how to leverage them for your Shopify store:
Start Using Sections Everywhere
Explore the new section capabilities in your Shopify admin. Go to any page in your store and look for the new section options. Experiment with adding different sections to product pages, collection pages, and blog posts to create more engaging content layouts.
Find Expert Help When Needed
If you need custom development or design work, visit the Shopify Experts Marketplace. Post a clear job description with your requirements, budget, and timeline. Review multiple proposals before making a decision.
Consider Shopify Fulfillment Network
If shipping costs and delivery times are hurting your conversion rate, explore Shopify Fulfillment Network. Calculate whether the cost savings and improved delivery times make sense for your product types and customer locations.
Expand to International Markets
With the fully translated App Store, apps are now more accessible in local languages. Look for apps that support your target international markets. Consider translating your store content into local languages to improve conversion rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Shopify UNITE?
Shopify UNITE is an annual conference for Shopify partners including app developers, theme designers, Shopify Experts, and agencies. It features keynote presentations, technical workshops, and networking opportunities to learn about new Shopify platform features and collaborate with the partner community.
What was sections everywhere in Shopify?
Sections Everywhere was an announcement from Shopify UNITE 2019 that allowed merchants to add sections to any page on their store, not just the homepage. This dramatically increased customization capabilities, enabling unique page layouts for landing pages, product pages, and more without custom development.
How do I find Shopify Experts for my project?
Visit the Shopify Experts Marketplace through your Partner Dashboard or Shopify admin. Browse categories by service type, review expert profiles and portfolios, and post a job request describing your project needs. You will receive proposals from qualified experts to review.
What is Shopify Fulfillment Network?
Shopify Fulfillment Network is an AI-powered fulfillment service where Shopify handles picking, packing, and shipping for merchants. You send inventory to Shopify warehouses, and they manage the entire fulfillment process with competitive pricing and faster delivery times.
How has Shopify Plus improved for enterprise merchants?
Shopify Plus improvements announced at UNITE 2019 included better multiple-store management capabilities for merchants operating several brands, and more granular user permissions for improved security and organizational control. These features helped enterprise merchants scale operations more efficiently.
Want to Learn More About Shopify Partner Ecosystem?
The Shopify ecosystem continues to evolve with new features and opportunities announced at each UNITE conference. Whether you are a merchant looking to scale your store or an agency building client sites, staying informed about platform updates is crucial. Let us help you leverage the latest Shopify features for your business.