1r

What 1r does

1r Agency is a New York-based, remote-first digital commerce agency and Shopify Platinum Partner that designs and manages e-commerce sites and integrated digital marketing campaigns for direct-to-consumer brands. Founded in 2009-2010 by Shelly Socol, the company has operated for 16+ years serving enterprise and mid-market clients across beauty, fashion, luxury, wine, food, and home goods verticals — including Maison Louis Marie, Westman Atelier, Function of Beauty, Carhartt WIP, LeSportsac, MAC Cosmetics, Silver Oak Cellars, and JOOPITER. The agency positions itself as an integrated strategic commerce partner rather than a fragmented multi-vendor relationship, with a service portfolio spanning web design and development, paid media, SEO, email/SMS marketing, UX design, content production, managed services, and platform migration.

The agency's underlying technology stack is anchored on Shopify Plus, with deep ecosystem integrations across Klaviyo, Yotpo, Nosto, ReCharge, Shopify Markets, Algolia, PerfectCorp, and Gorgias. Specialized capabilities include checkout extensibility implementation, multilingual storefront architecture via Shopify Markets and LangShop, ERP integration via Celigo, and a Design & Build SEO methodology embedded in development workflows. The agency's value proposition centers on unifying acquisition, conversion, and retention channels under a single strategic partner, with documented client outcomes including 199% organic traffic growth (Hidden Crown Hair), 493.7% loyalty sign-up increase (Maison Louis Marie), 234% increase in total orders (Makeup by Mario), and 38% revenue increase (Carhartt WIP).

1r operates a professional services revenue model with project-based fees, retainers, and managed services contracts. The agency has 11-50 employees, remains privately held and founder-owned (Shelly Socol as Founder and CEO, Paul Healion as Co-founder, with two VPs in Growth/Marketing and unspecified function), and has no disclosed external funding. The firm maintains active industry positioning through BeautyMatter, Glossy, Webby, and Yotpo award participation and a thought leadership content program targeting DTC brands in the $5M-$15M revenue stage.

Name

1r

Website

https://1r.agency

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

1r Agency is a New York-based, Shopify Platinum Partner e-commerce agency that designs, builds, and manages digital commerce experiences and integrated marketing campaigns for direct-to-consumer brands in beauty, fashion, luxury, and food/beverage.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

E-commerce Agency Services

NAICS

Advertising Agencies (541810), Media Buying Agencies (54183)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Full-Service Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• E-commerce agency
• Shopify development
• Digital marketing services
• DTC commerce strategy
• Shopify Plus partner

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Digital Marketing Services: Full-service digital marketing including paid media (Meta, Google, Pinterest), SEO, email/SMS marketing, and content strategy. Revenue generated through service fees for strategy, execution, and campaign management.
2. E-commerce Design & Development: Website design, development, and replatforming services on Shopify Plus. Includes UX/UI design, front-end development, back-end configurations, integrations, and QA/testing.
3. Managed Services: Ongoing platform management, e-commerce management, technical support, and optimization services provided on a retainer or contract basis.
4. Strategic Consulting: Discovery engagements, growth strategy, digital transformation consulting, and operational optimization services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

1r Agency is a full-service digital commerce agency and Shopify Platinum Partner that designs, develops, and manages e-commerce websites and integrated digital marketing campaigns for direct-to-consumer brands. The agency delivers web design and development, platform migrations, paid media, email and SMS marketing, SEO, UX design, content strategy, branding, and ongoing managed services, functioning as a strategic commerce partner rather than a siloed vendor. Its primary verticals are beauty, fashion, home goods, food and beverage, and real estate.

Product overview

1r Agency is a global eCommerce agency and Shopify Platinum Partner offering a comprehensive suite of digital services organized around a commerce system approach. The core service portfolio includes Web Design & Development, Onboarding, Paid Media, Email & SMS Marketing, SEO Services, UX Design, Product & Solutions, E-commerce Management, Managed Services, Strategy, Content Strategy & Production, Branding, and Migration Services. These services are delivered as interconnected modules that work together as a unified growth system rather than isolated offerings. The agency specializes in Shopify platform implementations and offers specialized features including Design & Build SEO (integrated SEO from project inception), AI Skin Diagnostic (via PerfectCorp partnership for beauty clients), Product Quiz Builder for personalization, Necklace Builder for customization, and Loyalty Program Integration. The approach connects paid media, website development, lifecycle marketing, SEO, creative, and analytics as interconnected parts of the same growth engine, with the agency's value proposition centered on being a strategic commerce partner rather than a collection of disconnected services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Web Design & Development
• Platform Migration and Onboarding Services
• Paid Media
• Email and SMS Marketing
• SEO Services
• UX Design
• Managed Services
• Strategy Services
• Content Strategy and Production
• Branding
• E-commerce Management

Quantifiable outcome

• 199% increase in organic traffic for Hidden Crown Hair after Design & Build SEO implementation
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration24 records

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• ShopifycoreTechnology or IntegrationShopify Platinum Partner status. The agency specializes in Shopify Plus implementations, migrations, and custom development including Checkout Extensibility. Deep platform expertise enabling complex e-commerce builds, multi-storefront architecture, and international expansion using Shopify Markets.
• KlaviyocoreTechnology or IntegrationPreferred email marketing platform partner. Klaviyo integrations featured across client work for welcome flows, abandoned cart sequences, post-purchase automations, and newsletter campaigns. Drives significant client revenue outcomes (56% of business revenue for SkinLocal).
• YotpocoreTechnology or IntegrationLoyalty and reviews platform integration. Used for loyalty programs, reviews, and customer retention solutions. Recognized as Yotpo Partner Awards finalist 2024 for Best Design & Dev Agency.
• NostosupportingTechnology or IntegrationPersonalization and product recommendation engine. Implemented across fashion and retail clients for customized shopping experiences and upsell/cross-sell optimization.
• ReChargecoreTechnology or IntegrationSubscription management platform. Featured prominently in Function of Beauty work where subscriptions represent 80% of the brand's business, enabling formula customization and subscription management without repeat checkout.
• PerfectCorpsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAI skin diagnostic technology partnership for Philosophy brand. Provides AI-powered skin analysis scanning 14 skin concern types in under 2 seconds for personalized product recommendations.
• LangShopsupportingTechnology or IntegrationMultilingual support application used for international expansion projects, enabling localized experiences across different markets and languages.
• Shopify MarketscoreTechnology or IntegrationNative Shopify multi-market solution enabling international expansion across multiple markets from single backend. Used for Cellcosmet (8 markets) and SMYTHE (Canadian and international consolidation).
• AlgoliasupportingTechnology or IntegrationSearch and discovery platform providing robust search recommendation engine and expansive filtering system. Implemented for Fred Segal to enhance product discovery.
• ChordsupportingTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner referenced in JOOPITER project ecosystem.
• SezzlesupportingTechnology or IntegrationInstallment payment solution implemented for SMYTHE enabling flexible payment options for customers.
• FourSixtysupportingTechnology or IntegrationUser-generated content platform integrated for SMYTHE to showcase customer content and social proof.
• GorgiassupportingTechnology or IntegrationCustomer service platform providing live chat functionality for e-commerce brands.
• CeligosupportingTechnology or IntegrationIntegration platform (iPaaS) used to connect Shopify with NetSuite ERP for Miansai, enabling automated data flow and streamlined return processes.
• ZonossupportingTechnology or IntegrationDuty and international trade compliance solution referenced in LeSportsac tech stack for international operations.
• VimeosupportingTechnology or IntegrationVideo hosting and streaming platform referenced for third-party content integration.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The Stable: Commerce agency purpose-built for DTC and CPG brands, offering integrated digital marketing, brand strategy, and Shopify-enabled commerce builds. Closely comparable in target customer (mid-market DTC), vertical mix (food/beverage, beauty, wellness), and integrated-services positioning.
• Think Big Agency: Boutique Shopify Plus agency offering design, development, and growth services for DTC and enterprise brands. Directly comparable as a Shopify-specialized boutique competing for the same DTC migration and replatform engagements.
• WeMakeWebsites: Shopify Plus agency specializing in replatforms, international expansion, and growth marketing for DTC brands. Highly comparable on Shopify Plus expertise, international multi-storefront capability, and DTC focus; geographic base differs.
• Yard: Brand and digital experience agency for retail and DTC brands, with strong Shopify Plus capability. Comparable as a similarly sized boutique offering integrated commerce, creative, and growth services.
• Eastside Co: Shopify Plus partner agency focused on design, build, and growth for DTC and enterprise merchants. Comparable in size tier, Shopify-centric offering, and beauty/fashion/lifestyle client mix.

Broad incumbents

• Huge: Global experience-driven agency operating across commerce, brand, and digital transformation for enterprise clients. Overlaps with 1r on commerce builds and DTC/beauty work but operates at substantially larger scale and scope.
• Dept: Global digital agency providing end-to-end commerce, creative, and engineering services at enterprise scale. Competes for the same Shopify Plus and enterprise commerce RFPs but with significantly larger bench and broader service portfolio.
• R/GA: Global innovation and digital agency with deep commerce, brand, and product expertise. Competes for enterprise commerce transformation programs and overlaps on creative and platform-implementation capabilities.

Emerging players

• Power Digital Marketing: Growth marketing agency combining paid media, SEO, content, and creative services for DTC and B2B brands. Comparable on the integrated marketing/paid media offering but with a heavier tilt toward performance marketing than platform builds.

Others

• Section: Adjacent commerce ecosystem player (formerly known for Shopify Plus enablement and content) often referenced alongside Shopify-centric service partners. Related as a Shopify ecosystem enabler rather than a direct services competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1ragency
• Instagraminstagram.com/1r.agency
• Facebookfacebook.com/1ragencynyc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 1r