CQL

What CQL does

CQL is a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based digital commerce agency founded in 1995 that positions itself as "The Unified Commerce Agency," serving mid-market to enterprise brands seeking transformation across digital and physical retail touchpoints. The firm specializes in platform implementation and integration across Shopify (where it holds Platinum Partner status — one of only 12 such agencies in the U.S. and one of the original 10), Salesforce Commerce Cloud, and Workarea Commerce Cloud. Service lines span unified commerce strategy and consulting, commerce platform build and launch, experience and design, custom development, and growth and innovation (CRO, SEO, analytics, AI optimization). Proprietary tools include POS360°, an integration solution unifying Shopify POS and Bloomreach data for centralized order orchestration, and Propel, a Shopify launch blueprint. CQL has executed 3,000+ combined site and POS launches and reports 94% on-budget delivery versus industry average.

The customer base skews toward footwear and apparel (ALDO, TOMS, Frye, Wolverine, Stride Rite, Superfeet, Bruno Magli, Brighton) with diversification into audio (Denon), fashion (Magnolia, Stüssy, Perry Ellis), sports (RUDIS, Escalade Sports/ONIX), party supplies (BuySeasons, Westrick & Co.), eyewear (Eyemart Express), beauty (e.l.f.), luxury resale (Fashionphile), office furniture (Haworth), and media (Warner Brothers Discovery). Revenue is generated through project-based professional services with multi-year contracts; pricing is quote-based and varies by scope, platform, and engagement duration.

In March 2024, CQL received a strategic investment from private equity firm Superstep Capital and installed new leadership — Dave Barr as CEO and Justin Finnegan as President and COO. In September 2025, CQL acquired Riess Group, a Shopify Platinum Partner founded in 2006 with offices in the U.S. and France, establishing EMEA presence and bringing 18 years of additional Shopify expertise under a single roof. Mike Riess joined as VP of Unified Commerce and Managing Director of EMEA.

Name

CQL

Legal name

CQL, Inc.

Website

https://cqlcorp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

CQL is a Grand Rapids-based digital commerce agency serving mid-market to enterprise brands with unified commerce strategy, platform implementation (Shopify, Salesforce, Workarea), design, and growth services across digital and physical retail touchpoints.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Digital Commerce Professional Services: CQL generates revenue through professional services engagements including strategy consulting, platform implementation, design, development, and ongoing support for digital commerce transformations. Services include unified commerce strategy, platform evaluations, ROI modeling, site design, POS implementation, and growth optimization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CQL is a full-service digital commerce agency that designs, implements, and supports unified commerce solutions connecting digital and physical retail touchpoints for mid-market and enterprise brands. Core services include unified commerce strategy and consulting, platform build and launch for Shopify, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, and Workarea, experience and design, POS integration, custom development, and growth and innovation services. The agency supplements its services with two proprietary tools: POS360°, which unifies Shopify POS and Bloomreach data, and Propel, a Shopify launch blueprint that accelerates implementations.

Product overview

CQL is a digital commerce agency that positions itself as 'The Unified Commerce Agency.' The company operates as a services-based agency rather than a single software product, offering a portfolio of professional services including unified commerce strategy and consulting, commerce platform services (Shopify, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, Workarea Commerce Cloud), experience and design, growth and innovation, and custom development. The agency has developed proprietary tools including POS360° (for Shopify POS and Bloomreach integration) and Propel (a Shopify launch blueprint). CQL is a Shopify Platinum Partner with over 30 years of experience, having completed 3000+ site and POS launches.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Unified Commerce Strategy & Consulting Strategic consulting engagement for unified commerce transformation covering unified commerce strategy, platform evaluations, ROI and total cost of ownership modeling, and unified commerce roadmaps. Targeted at mid-market and enterprise brands evaluating or executing commerce transformations.
• Commerce Platforms Services Platform build, launch, and ongoing support services for Shopify, Salesforce Commerce Cloud (Agentforce Commerce), and Workarea Commerce Cloud, including OMS, ERP, and PIM integrations. Targeted at brands implementing or migrating enterprise commerce platforms.
• Experience & Design Site and retail POS design, digital branding, UX site audits, content strategy and production, and ADA accessibility audits and remediation. Targeted at brands seeking design-led commerce experiences across digital and physical touchpoints.
• Growth & Innovation Performance optimization, AI optimization, conversion rate optimization (CRO), search engine optimization (SEO), and web analytics services. Targeted at brands seeking to grow and optimize their commerce operations after launch.
• Custom Development

Quantifiable outcome

• 94% on-budget delivery rate (3x better than industry average)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers23 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration15 records

AI capability3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and strategic.

• Riess GroupcoreOthers · 10 September 2025CQL acquired Riess Group, a Shopify Platinum Partner with 18 years of Shopify experience, in September 2025. The acquisition united two of Shopify's most respected Platinum level agencies, combining expertise in Shopify ecommerce and point-of-sale under one roof. Mike Riess joined CQL as VP of Unified Commerce and Managing Director of EMEA.
• ShopifycoreTechnology or IntegrationCQL is a Shopify Platinum Partner, one of only 12 in the U.S. and 1 of 10 original Platinum Partner agencies. CQL implements Shopify and Shopify Plus solutions for enterprise clients, specializing in unified commerce connecting digital and physical retail touchpoints.
• Salesforce Commerce CloudcoreTechnology or IntegrationCQL implements Agentforce Commerce (formerly Salesforce Commerce Cloud) solutions for enterprise clients, offering platform migrations, custom development, and ongoing support.
• BloomreachmajorTechnology or IntegrationCQL partners with Bloomreach for personalization and content management solutions, including the proprietary POS360° integration connecting Shopify POS with Bloomreach for unified commerce.
• RechargemajorTechnology or IntegrationCQL integrates Recharge subscription commerce solutions for clients requiring subscription-based business models.
• YotpomajorTechnology or IntegrationCQL integrates Yotpo loyalty, reviews, and SMS marketing solutions for ecommerce clients seeking customer engagement tools.
• KlaviyomajorTechnology or IntegrationCQL implements Klaviyo email and marketing automation solutions for ecommerce clients requiring sophisticated email marketing and customer segmentation.
• SearchspringstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCQL won Searchspring's Agency Partner of the Year in 2023 and New Partner of the Year in 2021. The partnership focuses on ecommerce search, personalization, product merchandising, and analytics solutions. CQL and Searchspring co-develop solutions for clients including Stride Rite, Frye, Brighton, and Bruno Magli.
• SalsifymajorTechnology or IntegrationCQL partners with Salsify for Product Experience Management (PXM) solutions, helping clients centralize product content, improve ecommerce experiences, and syndicate to multiple channels. Clients include Escalade Sports, Frye, Stride Rite, and Brighton.
• FeedonomicsmajorTechnology or IntegrationCQL partners with Feedonomics for product feed management and omnichannel solutions, enabling automated product listings, catalog optimization, and order/inventory management for 300+ channels.
• AttentivemajorTechnology or IntegrationCQL partners with Attentive for SMS-first marketing solutions, enabling personalized text message marketing for clients including Coldwater Creek, Frye, Chaco, Hush Puppies, Keds, and Sperry.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• DEPT®: Global digital agency providing end-to-end commerce, marketing, and technology services with significant Shopify and enterprise platform implementation practice. Comparable as a full-service digital commerce agency competing for similar enterprise transformation mandates.
• We Make Websites: London-based Shopify Plus Elite Partner agency focused on enterprise commerce builds and replatforms. Comparable as a Shopify-specialized agency competing for the same enterprise brand migrations, with stronger EMEA presence.
• Opticon Digital (formerly Opticon): Shopify Plus agency specializing in enterprise commerce implementations and replatforms. Directly competes with CQL for enterprise Shopify Plus migration and build work in the U.S.
• Astound Commerce: Global digital commerce agency specializing in enterprise Salesforce Commerce Cloud and Shopify implementations, with deep footwear, fashion, and B2B expertise. Directly comparable as a platform-agnostic commerce implementation agency serving similar enterprise brands.

Emerging players

• Underwater Studios: Boutique Shopify Plus agency focusing on DTC and emerging enterprise brands. Comparable as a Shopify-specialized boutique competing for similar mid-market and growth-stage brand engagements at potentially lower price points.

Broad incumbents

• Publicis Sapient: Global digital transformation consultancy with deep commerce platform expertise and large enterprise client base. Competes for the same enterprise commerce RFPs but operates at a much larger scale and broader capability set.
• Blue Acorn iCi (acquired by Merkle / Dentsu): Enterprise digital commerce agency (now part of Merkle/Dentsu) with deep Shopify and Adobe Commerce expertise. Comparable as a platform-specialized agency serving enterprise brands, now operating within a broader marketing services holding.
• Capgemini Engineering (formerly Lyons Consulting / Lyonscg): Global consultancy that acquired Lyonscg, a major Shopify Plus and commerce agency. Comparable as a Shopify-specialized agency that became part of a broader enterprise services platform, competing for similar large brand work.
• Accenture Song (formerly Accenture Interactive): Global consultancy with a large commerce practice spanning Shopify, Salesforce, and Adobe implementations. A broad incumbent that competes for the largest enterprise commerce transformation programs that exceed CQL's scale.

Regional players

• Electric Enjin (now part of Bounteous): Digital commerce agency with strong enterprise Shopify and Salesforce practice (now part of Bounteous). Comparable as a platform-specialized agency with similar footwear, fashion, and consumer brand clientele.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cql
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@cqlcommerce
• Facebookfacebook.com/CQLcommerce
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cql
• Instagraminstagram.com/cqlcorp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CQL