Beware of Shopify 'Themes' on Etsy

The Truth About "Shopify Themes" Sold on Etsy—Why They’re Hurting Your Business

With the boom of DIY e-commerce solutions, it's no surprise that Shopify “themes” (aka templates) are being sold everywhere—especially on Etsy and across social media. While these might sound like a quick and cheap way to launch your online store, many of these so-called themes are nothing more than a dressed-up version of free Shopify templates. And unfortunately, they can do way more harm than good to your business.

Here’s the reality... most of these “themes” aren’t actually themes at all. They’re just image-heavy templates that ask you to customize graphics in Canva and upload them to Shopify. This isn't real web design—it’s a shortcut that can sabotage your brand’s online presence. Let’s break down why this practice is detrimental to your success.

Why Using Images Instead of Live Text Is a Huge Mistake
When you upload images with text to Shopify instead of using live, responsive text, you’re doing your website—and your brand—a serious disservice. Here’s why:

• Accessibility Issues - Images that contain text can’t be read by screen readers, making your site inaccessible to people who are visually impaired. By relying solely on images, you’re excluding a large group of potential customers who won’t be able to navigate or understand the content of your website. Accessibility should never be compromised for the sake of convenience. Not to mention, there are literal laws around making sites accessible to everyone.

• An SEO Hot Dumpster Fire - If your page is made up of images instead of live text, search engines like Google can’t understand what’s on your site. That means your page won’t rank well on search engines—if it ranks at all. Google values text-rich pages with relevant keywords and content that provide value to users. These Canva-heavy themes are essentially black holes when it comes to SEO, and your business will struggle to be found online.

• Poor Mobile Responsiveness - One of the biggest issues with using images for text is responsiveness. On mobile devices, images don’t adapt like text does. This means your carefully designed “text” might look fine on a desktop but becomes unreadable on a phone or tablet. In today’s world, where most people browse and shop on mobile devices, this is a huge issue. You’re missing out on conversions (sales/bookings) simply because your content isn’t accessible or legible on mobile.

Why Canva "Themes" Are a Waste of Time and Money
It might seem tempting to grab a super affordable, pre-made "theme" off Etsy, especially when the listing claims it’s perfect for estheticians, beauty salons, or small businesses. But in reality, these Canva-based templates are doing the bare minimum—and you’ll end up spending more time and money in the long run fixing these issues than if you’d invested in a real, well-designed website from the start.

Here’s the kicker,  these “themes” aren’t actual Shopify themes at all. You’re simply editing a bunch of Canva banners and uploading them as images to fill out the sections. You’re not setting up a functional website, you’re just plastering images across the screen. And that’s ✨not✨ web design.

What You Should Be Doing Instead
If you’re serious about building a successful brand, you need a real website—not a patchwork of images pretending to be one. Here’s what you should look for in a true Shopify theme or custom build:

• Responsive Design - A real Shopify theme should adapt seamlessly across devices, whether desktop, mobile, or tablet.
• Live Text - Your text should always be live to ensure accessibility, better SEO, and adaptability.
• SEO Optimization - The theme should allow for proper SEO integration, from meta tags to keyword-rich content.
• Customizable Layouts - A well-built Shopify theme offers flexibility to customize your store without relying on images to do all the work.

In the End —Invest in Quality, Not Shortcuts
If you’re using these Canva-heavy Etsy “themes,” you’re not building a sustainable website. You’re hurting your brand’s online presence, accessibility, and Google rankings. Plus, the time you think you’re saving is going to cost you in lost traffic and sales.

Instead, consider investing in a ✨real Shopify template✨ or ✨custom web design✨ that’s going to work for you, not against you. Your website is the face of your brand—make sure it’s sending the right message and performing the way it should.

Here's to trying our best,

Winnie