MARCA Media

What MARCA Media does

MARCA Media is a Manchester-based, for-profit private agency that helps direct-to-consumer (DTC) ecommerce brands scale on Shopify and Shopify Plus. Founded in 2021 by Sam James and Charlie Timlin, the company operates four service lines: Conversion Rate Optimisation (CRO), Theme Build, Custom App Development, and Creative Services. Its core deliverable is professional engagements - audits, roadmap design, A/B testing, custom Liquid templating, bespoke app builds, and brand design - rather than a packaged software product. Underlying the offering is a proprietary Custom Shopify Framework (v4.2.1) featuring a Dynamic Cart Engine with tiered reward logic and free-shipping threshold tracking, complemented by a 100-Point Heuristic Audit, Bayesian statistical modelling for A/B tests, and an ICE (Impact/Carbon/Effort) prioritisation methodology.

Name

MARCA Media

Legal name

MARCA Media Limited

Website

https://marcamedia.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MARCA Media is a Manchester-based Shopify and Shopify Plus agency that helps DTC ecommerce brands scale through conversion rate optimisation, custom theme and app development, and creative services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ecommerce Conversion Optimization Services

NAICS

Advertising Agencies (541810), Software Publishers (513210)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Customer Journey Orchestration & Campaign Management (BPAFAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Shopper/Commerce Creative Agencies (Retail & Marketplace Creative) (MPAAAAAH)

Keywords

• Shopify development
• Conversion rate optimization
• Custom app development
• Ecommerce theme building
• DTC growth services

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. CRO Services: Conversion Rate Optimization services including audits, testing roadmaps, competitor analysis, implementation, and ongoing optimization with bi-weekly reporting
2. Theme Development: Custom Shopify theme build services including bespoke and template customization, competitor analysis, customer journey mapping, and CRO-first design
3. Custom App Development: Bespoke Shopify app development including back-end features, API integrations, front-end experiences, and private/public app submission and maintenance
4. Creative Services: Brand identity, visual identity, 3D design, motion and interaction, and brand guidelines development

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

MARCA Media is a Shopify and Shopify Plus ecommerce growth agency that sells four core professional services: Conversion Rate Optimisation (CRO) using heatmaps, session recordings, Bayesian A/B testing, and a 100-point heuristic audit; Theme Build (bespoke or templated Shopify storefront design); Custom App Development (backend features, API integrations with CRMs/ERPs, product configurators, subscription tools); and Creative Services (brand identity, 3D design, motion graphics, brand guidelines). Engagements are delivered as consulting and implementation projects powered by MARCA's proprietary Custom Shopify Framework v4.2.1, targeting DTC ecommerce brands seeking to improve conversion rate, ARPU, AOV, and subscription uptake.

Product overview

MARCA Media is an ecommerce growth agency specialising in conversion rate optimisation for Shopify and Shopify Plus merchants. The company operates four core service lines: CRO (Conversion Rate Optimisation), Theme Build, Custom App Development, and Creative Services. Built on a proprietary Custom Shopify Framework (v4.2.1), the agency combines behavioural economics with design to help DTC brands improve profitability. Services are delivered as consulting and implementation engagements rather than a SaaS product, with the Theme Build and Custom App services powered by internal development frameworks and integrations with platforms like Klaviyo (email), Loop (subscriptions), and Chatloop (support).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Conversion Rate Optimisation (CRO) Professional service combining analytics, heatmaps, session recordings, and A/B testing to increase conversion rates, ARPU, and AOV for Shopify and Shopify Plus merchants. Includes a 100-point heuristic audit and testing roadmap using Bayesian modelling and ICE methodology for prioritisation.
• Theme Build Shopify and Shopify Plus theme development service offering both bespoke and template customisation. Includes competitor analysis, customer journey mapping, CRO-first design, and app integration for subscriptions, bundles, and loyalty programmes.
• Custom App Development Bespoke Shopify application development including custom back-end features, API integrations with CRMs, ERPs and inventory systems, and enhanced front-end experiences such as product configurators, interactive bundles, and subscription tools. Includes private/public app submission and maintenance.
• Creative Services Visual identity and brand design services including logos, colour palettes, typography, 3D design, motion graphics, and comprehensive brand guidelines, delivered in build-ready formats for Shopify implementation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Client Retention Rate: 90%
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Eastside Co: Eastside Co is a leading UK-based Shopify Plus agency delivering design, development, and CRO services. It competes head-to-head with MARCA in the UK Shopify Plus market with a similar boutique positioning and DTC-focused customer base.
• Coalition Technologies: Coalition Technologies is a US ecommerce design, development, and SEO agency with significant Shopify work. It overlaps with MARCA on ecommerce website builds and performance optimization, though at larger scale and broader service scope.
• OuterBox: OuterBox is a US-based Shopify Plus design and development agency serving mid-market and enterprise DTC brands. It overlaps with MARCA on Shopify theme builds, custom development, and CRO engagements for higher-spend merchants.
• The Stable: The Stable is a Shopify Plus-focused digital commerce agency offering strategy, design, development, and CRO. Its enterprise DTC customer base and Shopify Plus specialization make it a directly comparable peer to MARCA.
• Blue Stout: Blue Stout is a Shopify Plus agency providing ecommerce design, development, and CRO services to DTC brands. It shares MARCA's positioning as a Shopify-native agency with strong emphasis on conversion outcomes.
• Conversion.com: Conversion.com is a well-known Shopify-focused conversion rate optimization agency offering CRO, design, and development services to DTC merchants. It is directly comparable to MARCA in target customer (Shopify DTC brands), core methodology (CRO-first), and service mix.
• We Make Websites: We Make Websites is an Australia-based Shopify Plus partner agency focused on design, build, and CRO for premium DTC brands. It is a direct peer to MARCA in target customer (Shopify Plus merchants) and service mix, despite different geography.
• 2X eCommerce: 2X eCommerce is a Shopify Plus agency delivering development, design, and growth services to DTC merchants. It is directly comparable to MARCA on Shopify-native service offerings and DTC target customers.

Broad incumbents

• KlientBoost: KlientBoost is a broader performance marketing and CRO agency working across paid media, landing page optimization, and experimentation. It overlaps with MARCA on the CRO discipline but addresses a wider set of channels and customer types.
• Disruptive Advertising: Disruptive Advertising is a full-service digital marketing agency offering CRO, paid media, and lifecycle services. It shares MARCA's CRO heritage and ecommerce focus but operates at larger scale with a broader service portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MarcaDigitalMedia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/marca-media1
• Instagraminstagram.com/marca_media
• TikToktiktok.com/@marcamedia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about MARCA Media