StudioForty9
StudioForty9 is a Cork-headquartered, founder-led Irish ecommerce agency offering Shopify Plus web design, system integrations, performance marketing, and ecommerce strategy to mid-market and enterprise Irish retailers across sports, fashion, department store, and specialty verticals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersCork, Ireland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What StudioForty9 does
StudioForty9 is a Cork-headquartered, founder-led digital and ecommerce agency that has operated in Ireland since 2006. The firm delivers a full-stack set of professional services to mid-market and enterprise Irish retailers, structured around five practice areas: Solutions (business analysis, process automation, system integration, customer experience ideation), Delivery (UX/UI design, front- and back-end development, Shopify agency services), Strategy (proposition development and ecommerce strategy), Marketing (PPC, paid social, SEO, email and conversion optimization, with Klaviyo and Shopify Email as core stacks), and Audits (online store health, CRO, growth and CX audits).
The underlying technology posture is a Shopify Plus Premier Partner platform, supplemented by an integration ecosystem spanning Klaviyo, Klarna, Omnisend, Gorgias, Klevu, Rebuy, Swym, Dataships, clearer.io, Advanced Commerce, Google, Meta and Microsoft. StudioForty9 monetizes through project-based engagements (platform migrations, redesigns) and ongoing performance marketing and retainer contracts with Irish retail clients such as Intersport Elverys, Greenes Shoes, Petstop.ie, Keanes, Evergreen Healthfoods, Shaws, Rocks Jewellers, McKenna Man, Heavins, McElhinneys, Carraig Donn, DID Electrical, Co-Op Superstores, Great Outdoors, Colourtrend and KitchenKit. The go-to-market is consultative and direct, supplemented by owned media including the annual Excellence in Ecommerce conference in Dublin, the Functional & Fabulous podcast, the HUBFORTY9 blog and newsletter, and active participation in Retail Excellence Ireland events.
StudioForty9 firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- StudioForty9
- Legal name
- StudioForty9
- Website
- https://studioforty9.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- StudioForty9 is a Cork-headquartered, founder-led Irish ecommerce agency offering Shopify Plus web design, system integrations, performance marketing, and ecommerce strategy to mid-market and enterprise Irish retailers across sports, fashion, department store, and specialty verticals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where StudioForty9 is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cork
- HQ country
- Ireland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
StudioForty9 business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Professional Services: Agency fees for ecommerce consulting, strategy, web design, development, marketing services, and ongoing retainer engagements for client accounts
- Shopify Plus Agency Partnership: Certified Shopify Plus agency partner providing platform implementation and migration services
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
StudioForty9 product offering
Product offeringCore offering
StudioForty9 is an Ireland-based ecommerce agency providing professional services across Solutions (business analysis, system integration, business process automation, CX ideation), Delivery (UX/UI design, front and back end web development, Shopify agency services), Strategy (proposition and ecommerce strategy), Marketing (PPC, paid social, SEO, email marketing, CRO), and Audits (CRO, Growth, CX, Online Store Health Check). The company operates as a Shopify Plus Premier Partner delivering ecommerce build, migration, integration, and digital marketing services to mid-market and enterprise Irish retailers.
Product overview
StudioForty9 is an award-winning Irish ecommerce agency offering a comprehensive suite of professional services rather than a software product. Their core offerings include Solutions (Business Analysis, System Integration, Automation), Delivery (UX/UI Design, Web Development, Shopify Agency), Strategy, Marketing (Digital Marketing, PPC, SEO, Email Marketing), and Audits (CRO, Growth, CX). They operate primarily as a Shopify Partner/Agency, supporting retail clients with ecommerce transformations, performance marketing, and digital strategy. Additional offerings include the Functional & Fabulous podcast and Excellence in Ecommerce annual conference.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Functional & Fabulous: Podcast hosted by Ger Keohane of StudioForty9 and Gordon Newman of Omnichannel Stories, featuring special guests from the online retail world discussing tales of online retail and digital transformation.
Products and services
- Solutions Business Analysis, Business Process Automation, System Integration, and Customer Experience Ideation services that help retailers optimize their ecommerce operations.
- Delivery UX/UI Design, Front and Back End Web Development, System Integrations, Business Process Development and Automation, Support, and Shopify Agency services for ecommerce builds and migrations.
- Strategy Proposition development, Ecommerce Strategy, and Ideation services that help retailers define their market positioning and growth plans.
- Marketing Digital Marketing, Email Marketing, PPC, Social Media Marketing, Conversion Optimisation, SEO, Klaviyo, and Shopify Email Marketing services for ecommerce performance marketing.
- Audits Online Store Health Check, CRO Audits, Growth Audits, CX Audits, and Bespoke Audits to evaluate and improve ecommerce performance.
Quantifiable outcome
- 22% of client online revenue from email marketing channel (Evergreen Healthfoods)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use StudioForty9
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
StudioForty9 technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
StudioForty9 partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- ShopifycoreCertified Shopify Plus Premier Partner with deep expertise in platform implementation, migration, and optimization for Irish retailers
- KlaviyocoreEmail marketing platform integration partner specializing in email automation, customer segmentation, and revenue attribution for ecommerce brands
- Retail Excellence Ireland (REI)coreActive participation in REI events including annual Retail Retreat, positioning StudioForty9 as thought leader in Irish retail community
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
StudioForty9 competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- We Make Websites: UK-based Shopify Plus Partner agency delivering ecommerce builds, migrations, and performance marketing for mid-market and enterprise retailers. Closest geographic and service-model peer to StudioForty9, operating at a comparable scale and targeting overlapping merchant profiles.
- OuterBox: US Shopify Plus agency offering design, development, and digital marketing for ecommerce brands. Comparable in Shopify Plus partner positioning and integrated service offering (strategy, build, performance marketing).
- Limesharp: UK Shopify Plus Partner focused on ecommerce design, development, and CRO for retail and DTC brands. Comparable in Shopify Plus specialization, retail vertical focus, and boutique agency positioning.
- Sculpt: Shopify Plus agency providing ecommerce strategy, design, development, and post-launch growth services. Direct peer in Shopify Plus partner ecosystem with similar end-to-end agency model.
- The Brains: UK digital agency offering web design, ecommerce development, and digital marketing for SME and mid-market retailers. Comparable boutique-agency structure serving retail clients with similar service mix.
- Made by Shape: UK Shopify agency focused on ecommerce design and development for retail and lifestyle brands. Comparable in Shopify specialization, retail focus, and boutique agency positioning.
- Kobe Digital: Digital and ecommerce agency offering web design, development, and performance marketing. Comparable in integrated agency model targeting retailers with strategy-to-execution service mix.
- Evoluted: UK digital agency offering web design, development, ecommerce, and digital marketing. Comparable boutique-agency model serving retail and ecommerce clients with end-to-end service offering.
Broad incumbents
- Disruptive Advertising: Larger US digital marketing agency specializing in PPC, paid social, SEO, and CRO. Comparable in performance marketing depth but operates at greater scale and broader vertical scope than StudioForty9.
- WebFX: Large US digital marketing agency offering SEO, PPC, web design, and ecommerce marketing. Overlaps with StudioForty9's performance marketing services but at significantly larger scale and broader vertical coverage.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
StudioForty9 social profiles
Digital presenceStudioForty9 financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
StudioForty9 leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
StudioForty9 funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
StudioForty9 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 StudioForty9
What does StudioForty9 do?
StudioForty9 is an Ireland-based ecommerce agency providing professional services across Solutions (business analysis, system integration, business process automation, CX ideation), Delivery (UX/UI design, front and back end web development, Shopify agency services), Strategy (proposition and ecommerce strategy), Marketing (PPC, paid social, SEO, email marketing, CRO), and Audits (CRO, Growth, CX, Online Store Health Check). The company operates as a Shopify Plus Premier Partner delivering ecommerce build, migration, integration, and digital marketing services to mid-market and enterprise Irish retailers.
Is StudioForty9 a public or private company?
StudioForty9 is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was StudioForty9 founded?
StudioForty9 was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is StudioForty9 based?
StudioForty9 is headquartered in Cork, Ireland, in the Europe region.
How does StudioForty9 make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Professional Services are the primary driver. The others are shopify Plus Agency Partnership.
Who are StudioForty9's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are We Make Websites, OuterBox, Limesharp, Sculpt, The Brains, Made by Shape, Kobe Digital and Evoluted. Broad incumbents are Disruptive Advertising and WebFX.
Does StudioForty9 have an API?
No public API is recorded for StudioForty9.