BlueStout
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersPortland, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What BlueStout does
BlueStout (legally Epic Thrills Inc.) is a privately held, US-based conversion rate optimization (CRO) agency founded in 2011 and headquartered in Portland, Oregon. The firm targets mid-to-large direct-to-consumer (DTC) ecommerce brands doing $5M-$100M+ in revenue on the Shopify or Shopify Plus platform, delivering data-driven A/B split testing combined with brand-focused design and Shopify Plus development under a 'done for you' managed-services model. As of 2023-2024 the team comprises 20+ specialists spanning conversion analysts, brand designers, and Shopify Plus engineers, and the firm has been a Shopify Plus Partner since the program's 2015 launch — which it describes as the longest-standing CRO agency in the program.
The firm's core technology stack is centered on Shopify Plus development, A/B split testing infrastructure, and conversion analytics, augmented by integrations with Rebuy (cart and personalization), Klaviyo (email automation), Quizell (guided selling), and Google Analytics (quantitative tracking). Its proprietary methodology assets include the CRO Blueprint Audit Process (diagnosing 100+ data points across the customer journey), a User Testing & Customer Interview framework, and the public CRO Winners Database documenting 175+ conversion strategies derived from 1,000+ split tests. BlueStout also self-certifies compliance with the EU-U.S. and Swiss-U.S. Privacy Shield Frameworks.
BlueStout generates revenue through professional services engagements — primarily multi-year managed retainers and outcome-based CRO programs priced via custom quotes, with a 100% money-back guarantee if the firm cannot deliver at least 2x ROI on the client's investment. The go-to-market motion combines content-led demand generation (weekly Conversion Newsletter, CRO Winners database, case studies, DTCX Summit speaking) with enterprise field sales targeting qualified $5M-$100M+ Shopify Plus merchants. Reported client outcomes include a 20% average conversion lift, $2M+ in average attributed revenue, and 20x average ROI for 8-figure brands in the trailing 12 months. The firm operates as a subsidiary of Epic Thrills Inc., is bootstrapped with no disclosed institutional funding, and primarily serves the US market while offering international expansion services for cross-border clients.
BlueStout firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- BlueStout
- Legal name
- Epic Thrills Inc.
- Website
- https://bluestout.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
BlueStout industry classification
Industry- Product category
- E-commerce Conversion Rate Optimization Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sales Enablement & Revenue Operations (RevOps) Tools & Services (BPAFAFAJ)
Keywords
Where BlueStout is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
BlueStout business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- CRO Services: Conversion Rate Optimization services including A/B testing, analytics, UX best practices, and continuous site optimization. Clients average 10x ROI with guaranteed positive returns.
- Design & Development: Shopify Plus design and development services including monthly retainers and full store migrations. Services span design, UX, development, copywriting, monthly support, replatforming, international expansion, and custom app development.
- Monthly Retainer Programs: Ongoing monthly engagement model where Blue Stout acts as in-house design and development team, handling page redesigns, new product launches, app integrations and CRO testing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Outcome Based/ Performance | Multi-year contract | CRO Optimization Program - Guaranteed ROI |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
BlueStout product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BlueStout is a professional services agency that helps e-commerce brands increase conversion rates, revenue, and profit through data-driven A/B testing, brand-focused design, and Shopify Plus development. The company delivers continuous site optimization programs combining CRO audits, user testing, analytics, design, and development under a single engagement, with guaranteed positive ROI and a 100% money-back guarantee if they cannot at least 2x the client's investment.
Product overview
Blue Stout is a conversion rate optimization agency offering data-driven CRO testing combined with brand-focused design and Shopify Plus development services. The core offerings consist of Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) and Design & Development as the primary service lines. CRO encompasses full site audits, A/B testing, user testing, analytics, and landing page development. Design & Development covers Shopify Plus builds, custom themes, store migrations, and ongoing monthly support. Supporting sub-services include customer journey strategy, copywriting, subscription program optimization, performance enhancement, and custom app development. The company also maintains a CRO Winners Database sharing insights from over 1,000+ split tests. All services are delivered as a managed agency offering with guaranteed ROI.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) Data-driven A/B testing, conversion rate, revenue and profit optimization for ecommerce brands, including full site audits, user testing, and analytics. Sold to mid-market and enterprise DTC Shopify brands as a managed ongoing engagement.
- Design & Development Shopify Plus development and brand-focused design for ecommerce, including custom theme development, page redesigns, and store builds, delivered to DTC brands on Shopify and Shopify Plus.
- Store Migrations / Replatforming Migration of brands from platforms such as Magento and CommerceCloud to Shopify Plus, ensuring seamless data transfer, integrations, and preserved traffic. Sold as a standalone replatforming engagement.
- International Expansion Services Strategies and architectural guidance for global ecommerce expansion through Shopify Plus, supporting brands entering new international markets.
- Custom Shopify App Development Custom Shopify app development for niche functionality requirements beyond existing Shopify apps, delivered as a standalone engineering service to Shopify merchants.
- Monthly Design, Development & QA Support Retainer Ongoing monthly retainer acting as in-house design and development team, handling page redesigns, new product launches, app integrations, and CRO testing for ecommerce brands.
- Full Site Audit Comprehensive diagnostic of 100+ data points to identify the weakest points in the customer journey, used as a diagnostic engagement preceding CRO programs.
- User Testing & Customer Interviews Qualitative research combining user testing with customer interviews to identify hypothesis priorities for CRO programs.
Quantifiable outcome
- 20% average conversion rate increase for 8-figure brands
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use BlueStout
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
BlueStout technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature5 records
BlueStout partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Shopify PluscoreOfficial Shopify Plus Partner since the program's launch in 2015. Blue Stout is the longest-standing and most experienced CRO agency in the Shopify Plus Partner program. Shopify originally asked Blue Stout to join when the program launched.
- ShopifycoreCore platform partner for ecommerce development and optimization. Blue Stout builds, migrates, and optimizes Shopify and Shopify Plus stores.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
BlueStout competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Vidya: Vidya is a broader digital commerce and Shopify Plus agency with a wider service portfolio and larger team, serving as a broader incumbent competitor for mid-market and enterprise DTC deals.
Direct peers
- Conversion.com: Conversion.com is a long-running, dedicated conversion rate optimization agency running A/B testing programs for ecommerce and SaaS, making it a direct peer in the data-driven CRO services category Blue Stout operates in.
- The Good (thegood.com): The Good is a Shopify Plus design and development agency serving DTC brands, directly competing for the same mid-to-large Shopify merchant engagements Blue Stout targets.
- Eastside Co: Eastside Co is a prominent Shopify Plus partner agency offering design, build, and ongoing optimization services to DTC brands, overlapping closely with Blue Stout's CRO-plus-Shopify Plus positioning.
- Rehab Agency: Rehab Agency is a Shopify-focused ecommerce agency that combines design, development, and conversion optimization for DTC brands, competing for the same outcome-driven retainer engagements.
- Electric Eye: Electric Eye is a Shopify Plus design and CRO agency built around outcome-based pricing and continuous optimization programs for 8-figure brands — a near-mirror of Blue Stout's core offering.
- Underwater (formerly Liquid): Underwater (formerly Liquid) is a Shopify Plus development and design agency working with enterprise DTC brands, directly comparable on platform expertise, client profile, and service mix.
- Anatta: Anatta is a Shopify Plus agency focused on sustainable DTC brands, combining design, development, and CRO — overlapping with Blue Stout's positioning on outcome-driven Shopify Plus retainers.
- Conversion Sciences: Conversion Sciences is a data-driven CRO consultancy running A/B testing programs for ecommerce brands, directly comparable on methodology (testing infrastructure, ROI guarantees) to Blue Stout.
Emerging players
- DiscoLab (or similar Shopify CRO boutique): Smaller, emerging Shopify Plus CRO boutiques compete for the same mid-market DTC segment; included as an emerging-player reference rather than a named incumbent.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
BlueStout social profiles
Digital presenceBlueStout compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
BlueStout financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
BlueStout leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
BlueStout funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
BlueStout M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about BlueStout
What does BlueStout do?
BlueStout is a professional services agency that helps e-commerce brands increase conversion rates, revenue, and profit through data-driven A/B testing, brand-focused design, and Shopify Plus development. The company delivers continuous site optimization programs combining CRO audits, user testing, analytics, design, and development under a single engagement, with guaranteed positive ROI and a 100% money-back guarantee if they cannot at least 2x the client's investment.
Is BlueStout a public or private company?
BlueStout is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was BlueStout founded?
BlueStout was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is BlueStout based?
BlueStout is headquartered in Portland, United States, in the North America region.
How does BlueStout make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. CRO Services are the primary driver. The others are design & Development and monthly Retainer Programs.
Who are BlueStout's main competitors?
Vidya is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Conversion.com, The Good (thegood.com), Eastside Co, Rehab Agency, Electric Eye, Underwater (formerly Liquid), Anatta and Conversion Sciences. DiscoLab (or similar Shopify CRO boutique) is listed as an emerging player.
Does BlueStout have an API?
No public API is recorded for BlueStout.
What industry is BlueStout in?
BlueStout's product category is E-commerce Conversion Rate Optimization Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFAFAJ, Sales Enablement & Revenue Operations (RevOps) Tools & Services.