How APL Scaled Globally and Boosted Sales with Shopify

Overview

Athletic Propulsion Labs (APL) launched in 2009 as a footwear brand built around performance technology. As the brand grew, its Magento setup began to show strain: deployments that once took days stretched into weeks, custom code updates broke checkout, and spike traffic during promotions risked downtime. APL needed a shift to keep pace with customer demand and deliver friction-free experiences.

Challenges

On Magento, even small tweaks required lengthy development sprints. Every holiday campaign felt precarious—would the site crash under load? Each checkout hiccup cost abandoned carts. International expansion plans stalled because adding new markets meant complex configuration and more maintenance overhead.

Solution

After vetting options, APL chose Shopify for its managed hosting, robust API, and 24/7 priority support. With Shopify’s app ecosystem they automated inventory sync, streamlined product launches, and built custom features in hours instead of weeks. The switch also moved infrastructure off their plates—no servers to patch or scale manually.

• Rapid feature rollouts: new pages and promotions in minutes
• Rock-solid uptime during high-traffic events
• Optimized checkout that cut friction
• Seamless inventory and channel integration across web and POS

Results

By moving to Shopify, APL reported immediate performance gains. Conversion rates climbed, average order value rose, and repeat purchase rates trended up. They launched flagship stores in Los Angeles and New York without missing a beat. Internationally, they scaled into over 90 markets with local currencies, languages, and payment methods configured through the Shopify Admin in days.

Looking Ahead

APL continues to leverage Shopify’s platform to refine its digital storefront and in-store experiences. The brand now focuses on data-driven marketing, personalizing outreach, and experimenting with new retail concepts—all without worrying about the underlying tech stack.