ChatGPT answers, unedited

• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Codal - 433 W Van Buren St Ste 205, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• SITE IT NOW - 1016 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Evolve with Digital - Web Design Chicago - 1375 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Ethercycle - 4905 Old Orchard Shopping Ctr, Skokie, IL 60077, United States
• Flamingo Agency - 3752 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States
• BlueBolt Solutions - 415 N La Salle Dr, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Marcel Digital - 445 W Erie St #200, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Elevate Studios: A Digital Design Firm - 5416 N Wayne Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• Plan B - The Agency Alternative for the AI Economy® - 10 W Hubbard St #5w, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Fresh Design Studio - 53 W Jackson Blvd, Ste 256, Chicago, IL 60604
• Allevi8 Marketing - 6127 S University Ave Ste 110K, Chicago, IL 60653, United States
• The Office of Experience, LLC - 980 N Michigan Ave Ste 1090, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

Yes. I’d narrow the field considerably for a Fulton Market ecommerce rebrand + Shopify relaunch. You want one team—or a tightly integrated team—that can handle brand positioning → identity → ecommerce UX → Shopify development → launch/CRO, rather than a branding agency that hands the site to a separate developer.

My Chicago shortlist

1. Design In Chicago — strongest local fit

• Located at 159 N Sangamon St in the West Loop, essentially in the Fulton Market ecosystem.
• Combines branding, web strategy, UX/UI, Shopify development, ecommerce, digital marketing, and creative production.
• This is probably the most natural fit if you want the rebrand and Shopify relaunch to feel like one integrated project.
• Best for: a consumer-facing brand that needs both strategic/visual repositioning and a substantial Shopify redesign.
• Codal — strongest for sophisticated ecommerce

• Based at 433 W Van Buren, in the West Loop/Fulton Market area.
• More technology/product-oriented than a traditional branding shop, with capabilities spanning strategy/discovery, UX/UI, ecommerce, Shopify/Shopify Plus, engineering and optimization.
• Best for: a relaunch where Shopify architecture, integrations, UX, and scalability matter as much as the new identity.
• Praella - eCommerce Agency — strongest Shopify-first option

• Chicago-headquartered and focused heavily on Shopify/Shopify Plus.
• Particularly relevant if the existing business already has meaningful ecommerce volume and the relaunch involves migration, integrations, subscriptions, CRO, or a more complex Shopify Plus build.
• Caveat: I'd investigate whether you want Praella to own the brand strategy itself or primarily the ecommerce side of the engagement.
• SITE IT NOW — interesting smaller-team option

• Located at 1016 W Jackson Blvd, close to Fulton Market.
• Positions itself as a brand-first web design/development agency, with branding, Shopify ecommerce, development and digital marketing under one roof.
• Best for: a smaller/mid-sized company wanting a hands-on agency rather than a large ecommerce consultancy.
• Evolve with Digital - Web Design Chicago — very local, potentially more hands-on

• Actually located at 1375 W Fulton Market.
• Offers branding, web/ecommerce and digital marketing, so geographically and functionally it checks a lot of your boxes.
• I'd put it into the pitch process if proximity and a smaller-team relationship are important, but I'd scrutinize its Shopify portfolio more heavily than I would with Praella or Codal.

Two others I'd consider

ALL FOR™ is particularly interesting if the brand transformation is the centerpiece. It's literally based in Fulton Market at 160 N. Elizabeth, and explicitly offers brand strategy/positioning, rebranding, ecommerce web design and UX/UI. All For Agency All For Agency

The catch is that I don't see the same depth of publicly demonstrated Shopify development as with Praella/Codal. I'd therefore consider ALL FOR + a Shopify specialist if the brand work is more important than having one vendor.

The Chicago Web Co. is another worth interviewing for the ecommerce side. Its portfolio demonstrates full Shopify redesigns, ecommerce strategy, brand relaunches, UX/UI, subscriptions, custom flows and CRO, including a case where a brand went through a complete Shopify transformation. The Chicago Web Co

How I'd rank them for your specific project

The important distinction

For a rebrand + relaunch, I'd avoid evaluating these as simply "Shopify agencies." Your project really has four connected workstreams:

1. Brand strategy → positioning, audience, differentiation, messaging
2. Identity → visual system, photography/art direction, packaging if relevant
3. Commerce experience → information architecture, merchandising, PDP/PLP, conversion journey
4. Shopify implementation → theme, apps/integrations, migration, analytics, SEO redirects, QA and launch

I'd make every agency pitch against that exact framework. Otherwise, you'll get beautiful brand work followed by a generic Shopify theme—or an excellent Shopify build that doesn't actually express the new brand.

For a Fulton Market-based business specifically, my first three calls would be Design In Chicago, Codal, and Praella, with ALL FOR™ as the fourth if the brand strategy/repositioning is the most important part of the engagement.

If you tell me the type of ecommerce business, approximate annual online revenue, current platform, and rough relaunch budget (e.g. $50–100k vs. $150–300k+), I can narrow this to 3 agencies and explain exactly why I'd brief each one differently.

Yes. For a rebrand + Shopify relaunch, I’d separate the Chicago market into agencies that genuinely combine brand strategy/identity + ecommerce execution versus Shopify specialists that are better as the technical partner.

Best fits to investigate

1. Design In Chicago — strongest Fulton Market-area integrated option
   • Located at 159 N Sangamon in the West Loop.
   • Offers branding, brand strategy, web design/development, ecommerce, and Shopify development under one team.
   • This is probably the closest match to your requirement if you want one agency responsible for the brand and the new store rather than coordinating two vendors.
   • Design In Chicago

2. Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding — brand-led, smaller-business oriented
   • Downtown Chicago rather than Fulton Market.
   • Does branding, web design and Shopify alongside digital marketing.
   • Better suited if the project is a brand refresh/repositioning plus Shopify redesign rather than a highly complex Shopify Plus replatform.

3. Praella — strongest Shopify/ecommerce option
   • Chicago-based Shopify/Shopify Plus agency with substantial ecommerce experience.
   • Particularly compelling if your relaunch involves subscriptions, personalization, B2B, integrations, migration, or a more sophisticated Shopify Plus build.
   • Its emphasis is more ecommerce/experience than traditional brand strategy, so I'd explicitly ask whether they'll own the positioning, messaging and identity work or bring in a brand partner.
   • Praella

4. BlueBolt Solutions — strong commerce + UX/design
   • Chicago office on N LaSalle.
   • Shopify/Shopify Plus, custom ecommerce, migrations and integrations, with an emphasis on data-informed UX and brand-aligned experiences.
   • I'd consider them if the commerce experience is the difficult part of the relaunch, but I'd verify how deeply they go into actual brand strategy.

5. Uncap — excellent for complex Shopify, less obviously a brand agency
   • Chicago HQ and Shopify Platinum Partner.
   • Particularly strong for B2B, wholesale, manufacturing, ERP integrations and unified commerce. www.uncap.com
   • Probably overkill if you're a straightforward DTC brand, but very interesting if the business has wholesale/retail operations behind the Shopify store.

Particularly relevant because you're in Fulton Market

DittaTech is actually at 616 W Fulton St, so it's physically in the neighborhood. It's positioned as a boutique digital/branding agency covering web, branding, SEO, social and digital growth. However, I would verify their depth of Shopify development before putting them on the shortlist.

LAB and Designkitchen are also in/around Fulton Market and could be interesting for the brand/creative side, but I wouldn't assume they provide the same level of Shopify implementation as Praella or Uncap without confirming it.

My shortlist for your specific project

One important distinction: "brand strategy + Shopify" can mean two very different things. Some agencies mean logo/visual refresh + Shopify design, while others will actually do positioning → audience/competitive research → naming/messaging → visual identity → ecommerce UX → Shopify development → launch/retention. For a true rebrand and relaunch, I'd favor the latter.

If you tell me roughly what the business sells, current annual ecommerce revenue, Shopify vs. another platform today, and your approximate relaunch budget, I can narrow this to 3 agencies and compare their likely fit, capabilities, location, project scale, and relevant case studies.

• Praella - eCommerce Agency - 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• Uncap - 8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave #1300, Chicago, IL 60631, United States
• Design In Chicago - 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
• Ethercycle - 4905 Old Orchard Shopping Ctr, Skokie, IL 60077, United States
• ArtVersion® Creative Agency - 211 W Wacker Dr Ste 1130, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• Elevate Studios: A Digital Design Firm - 5416 N Wayne Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
• BlueBolt Solutions - 415 N La Salle Dr, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. - 200 W Jackson Blvd Fl 22, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• 10com Web Development - 205 N Michigan Ave Suit 810, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
• All For Agency - 160 N Elizabeth St, Ste 809, Elmhurst, IL 60607
• Allevi8 Marketing - 6127 S University Ave Ste 110K, Chicago, IL 60653, United States
• Brand Vision Marketing - Web Design & Branding - 30 N Michigan Ave #504, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
• Chicago Website Design SEO Company - 10 S Riverside Plaza #875, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
• WPrime Agency - 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza #1212, Chicago, IL 60654, United States
• 1o8 - 231 S LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60604, United States
• Millennial Web Development - 329 W 18th St Ste 413, Chicago, IL 60616, United States

For a Fulton Market ecommerce rebrand + relaunch, I’d look for agencies that can own brand positioning/identity → UX/content → Shopify design & development → launch optimization, rather than pairing a branding shop with a separate developer. These Chicago-area options are the closest fits:

A few additional Shopify-specialists worth considering:

• BlueBolt Solutions — better if the relaunch involves integrations, experimentation, or a more technical commerce rebuild.
• Americaneagle.com, Inc. — better for larger organizations needing broader digital strategy, ecommerce, and ongoing support.
• 10com Web Development — broader web/branding/ecommerce support if you want a bundled digital partner.

For a Fulton Market brand relaunch specifically, I’d shortlist:

1. Praella — if the priority is Shopify performance, migration, and scaling.
2. Design In Chicago — if the priority is a complete brand expression and digital redesign from a local West Loop/Fulton Market-adjacent creative partner.
3. Uncap — if the store has operational complexity (wholesale, ERP, large catalog, Shopify Plus).
4. Ethercycle — if you already have a clear brand direction and need excellent Shopify execution.

A good agency brief for this type of project should ask for:

• brand strategy + positioning workshop
• visual identity refresh (if needed)
• Shopify UX audit
• information architecture/product merchandising
• custom Shopify theme development
• migration plan (SEO URLs, customer data, analytics)
• CRO testing roadmap after launch

One Fulton Market-based option to look at for the brand/creative side is All For Agency, which offers brand strategy, rebranding, ecommerce web design, and is located in the Fulton Market/West Loop area. Allfor Agency Allfor Agency It may pair well with a Shopify engineering specialist if you want a more brand-led relaunch.

Yes. For a rebrand + ecommerce relaunch, I’d prioritize agencies that can own both the brand/UX strategy and the Shopify build, rather than hiring a branding firm and a Shopify developer separately.

Best Chicago-area candidates

My shortlist for a Fulton Market relaunch

1. Praella — strongest first conversation

Praella - eCommerce Agency is particularly worth talking to if the project is more than a cosmetic redesign. Their positioning is ecommerce-first, and they can cover strategy, design, Shopify implementation and the technical side of a relaunch.

2. Makro — strongest for Shopify sophistication

Makro's Chicago Shopify Plus practice describes work spanning strategy, UX/UI, ecommerce development, migrations, headless commerce, CRO and analytics. That's a good match if the existing business has meaningful traffic, a substantial catalog, integrations or ambitious growth requirements. www.makroagency.com

3. Shero — strong "one agency" option

Shero's Chicago Shopify practice explicitly combines Shopify Plus, DTC, B2B, migrations, integrations and ongoing optimization. Their pitch is essentially that you don't need separate specialists for different parts of the commerce stack. sherocommerce.com

4. Neat Digital — worth considering if brand experience is central

Neat Digital's Chicago Shopify practice lays out discovery → design → custom Shopify development → launch, including QA, redirects, analytics and post-launch support. They specifically reference Fulton Market when describing their Chicago audience, which makes them particularly relevant geographically. neat.digital

5. Digital Heroes — interesting if you want positioning + ecommerce

Digital Heroes' Chicago Shopify practice describes a process covering discovery, positioning, design, Shopify Plus development and launch, with in-person kickoff/launch support available in Fulton Market. digitalheroesco.com

6. Netalico — good growth/ecommerce option

Netalico's Chicago Shopify agency page specifically combines strategy, UX/design and Shopify/Shopify Plus development, with an emphasis on conversion, AOV and sustainable ecommerce growth. netalico.com

One important distinction

If by "brand strategy" you mean a true rebrand—e.g. positioning, target audience, brand architecture, messaging, visual identity, naming, packaging/art direction—I'd put Praella / Digital Heroes / Neat ahead of agencies that are primarily Shopify engineering firms.

If you mean "rebrand" as a new visual identity + ecommerce experience, then Makro, Shero and Netalico become much more compelling.

For a Fulton Market physical/ecommerce brand, I'd probably send the same brief to Praella, Makro, Neat Digital and Digital Heroes and compare their proposed approach rather than selecting solely on Shopify credentials.

If you tell me what the business sells, approximate annual ecommerce revenue, current platform, and whether the physical Fulton Market location is part of the relaunch, I can narrow this to the 3 best agencies and compare likely project scope/pricing, relevant case studies, and who I'd contact first.

Yes. For a rebrand + ecommerce relaunch, I’d prioritize agencies that can genuinely connect brand positioning/identity → ecommerce UX → Shopify design/development → launch/growth, rather than hiring a branding shop and a Shopify shop separately.

My Chicago shortlist

A particularly interesting option is Design In Chicago because its offering explicitly spans branding, website strategy, UX/UI, ecommerce and Shopify development, and its office is at 159 N Sangamon in West Loop.

Elevate Studios is another strong candidate if you're doing a true rebrand, rather than merely refreshing the Shopify site. Its strategy work includes customer/audience research, brand messaging, ecommerce strategy and acquisition/CRM strategy, alongside Shopify Plus and other commerce platforms.

For a more enterprise/technical engagement, Praella and Codal are worth serious consideration. Praella is specifically focused on Shopify/Shopify Plus ecommerce, while Codal combines discovery/product strategy, UX/UI, engineering and Shopify development.

One important distinction

I would not automatically choose the agency physically located in Fulton Market. For this kind of project, I'd rank capabilities roughly:

1. Brand strategy/repositioning
2. Ecommerce/customer journey strategy
3. Shopify UX/UI
4. Shopify development/integrations
5. Migration, SEO redirects & analytics
6. Launch + post-launch growth

For example, Uncap is excellent if the difficult part is Shopify architecture, B2B, ERP, migration or integrations, but it is less obviously the choice if you're looking for a deeply creative consumer-brand repositioning. Its current positioning is explicitly Shopify/Shopify Plus B2B and unified commerce. www.uncap.com

Conversely, ColorJar is compelling if the heart of the assignment is "figure out what this brand should become"—it's a boutique brand-strategy/design consultancy right in Fulton Market—but I'd want to establish the Shopify delivery model before making it the lead agency.

There's also Chicago Web Co, which is unusually explicit about combining brand identity/creative direction with custom Shopify design and development, plus CRO and post-launch support. chicagoweb.co

If this were my project

I'd probably take 3 agencies into an RFP:

1. Elevate Studios — brand/ecommerce strategy-led option
2. Design In Chicago — local, integrated boutique option
3. Praella — Shopify/ecommerce-heavy option

And I'd ask all three to respond to the same brief covering:

• brand positioning and audience
• naming/messaging, if needed
• visual identity system
• ecommerce UX/customer journey
• Shopify theme/design system
• Shopify Plus vs. standard Shopify recommendation
• migration/data/SEO
• apps and integrations
• analytics/CRO
• launch plan
• 90-day post-launch growth

That will reveal very quickly whether you're talking to a brand agency that happens to build websites, a Shopify developer that happens to do design, or a genuinely integrated relaunch partner.

If you tell me roughly what the ecommerce business sells, current annual online revenue, current platform, and whether the brand identity itself needs to change, I can narrow this to the 3 best agencies and give you a likely budget/timeline range for each.

Yes. For a rebrand + Shopify relaunch, I’d prioritize agencies that can own both the brand strategy/identity and the ecommerce experience, rather than hiring a branding shop and a Shopify developer separately.

My Chicago shortlist

1. Uncap — best for Shopify-heavy, growth-oriented relaunches
   • Chicago-based and a Shopify Platinum Partner.
   • Strong on Shopify/Shopify Plus, migrations, UX, integrations, and ongoing growth.
   • Better fit if the rebrand needs to be tightly connected to ecommerce architecture and operational systems. www.shopify.com
   • Caveat: its positioning is more commerce/technology-led than classic brand-strategy-led, so I'd specifically ask who would lead positioning and identity.

2. The Office of Experience, LLC — best for strategic brand transformation
   • Stronger on research, brand strategy, customer journeys, experience design, and digital transformation.
   • I'd consider them if the business needs a fundamental repositioning, not merely a visual refresh.
   • Their Chicago presence is in the Loop/West Loop area.

3. Design In Chicago — best local boutique option
   • Particularly interesting for a Fulton Market business because they're actually in West Loop at 159 N Sangamon St.
   • Their capabilities span branding, strategy, web design/development, Shopify, ecommerce, marketing, and creative production.
   • This is probably the closest match if you want a smaller Chicago team that can keep the brand and website under one roof.

4. Praella — best Shopify specialist with sophisticated ecommerce experience
   • Chicago-headquartered, Shopify/Shopify Plus-focused ecommerce agency.
   • Particularly strong for complex ecommerce builds, migrations, subscriptions, integrations, and high-growth DTC businesses.
   • I'd shortlist them if the relaunch mechanics and conversion performance are as important as the rebrand. www.shopify.com

5. CQL — strongest enterprise-grade integrated option
   • CQL is a Chicago Shopify Platinum Partner with a notably broad combination of commerce strategy, branding/creative direction, UX, Shopify development, custom integrations and post-launch growth. www.cqlcorp.com
   • What's especially relevant: CQL has documented Shopify projects where brand refresh/repositioning and Shopify replatforming happened together. Its Kan Jam work, for example, involved new brand styles followed by a repeatable Shopify architecture. www.cqlcorp.com
   • Its Gazelle Sports case is another very close analogue: digital brand refresh + UX redesign + Shopify replatform + custom development. www.cqlcorp.com
   • I'd lean CQL if you're an established business with meaningful revenue, inventory, integrations, or multiple channels.

6. Envoy — best if the rebrand itself is the centerpiece
   • Envoy has a Chicago office at 211 N Clinton St and explicitly combines Brand & Strategy with Commerce. www.weareenvoy.com
   • Its brand practice includes positioning, consumer/market insights, visual identity and brand activation; its commerce practice includes ecommerce strategy, UX, visual design, new builds and migrations. www.weareenvoy.com
   • This is probably the most compelling option if you want a serious strategic rebrand that then gets translated into a premium ecommerce experience, rather than simply redesigning the Shopify theme.

How I'd rank them for your specific project

One important distinction: “brand strategy” can mean very different things. Some Shopify agencies mean visual identity + UX; others actually do positioning, audience research, value proposition, messaging architecture and brand platform. For a true rebrand, I'd insist on the latter.

For a Fulton Market DTC/ecommerce company, my first three calls would be CQL, Envoy, and Design In Chicago. CQL has the strongest evidence of actually executing the brand refresh → Shopify relaunch combination, while Envoy looks strongest if the brand transformation is the central challenge. www.cqlcorp.com

If you tell me your industry, approximate annual ecommerce revenue, current platform, and rough rebrand/relaunch budget, I can narrow this to 3 agencies and compare likely project scope, strengths, weaknesses, and fit.

Yes. For a rebrand + Shopify relaunch, I’d prioritize agencies that can own both the strategic/brand work and the commerce build rather than handing the Shopify portion to a separate developer.

Strongest Chicago-area candidates

1. Praella — probably the strongest fit if this is a substantial Shopify/Shopify Plus relaunch. They’re Chicago-headquartered and specialize in Shopify/Plus, with strategy, UX/design, development, migrations, and integrations. Good choice if the business has meaningful operational complexity or ambitions beyond a simple storefront.

2. Uncap — particularly compelling if the business has B2B, wholesale, inventory, ERP, or other complicated commerce requirements. They combine ecommerce strategy, Shopify development, UX, and systems integration. Their positioning is more commerce-engineering-heavy than traditional brand-agency-heavy.

3. Design In Chicago — the most geographically relevant option for Fulton Market: their office is at 159 N Sangamon St in West Loop, essentially right in the neighborhood. They combine branding, web strategy, UI/UX, Shopify development, marketing, and creative production. This is worth a serious look if you want an agency that can participate closely in the physical/local side of the relaunch.

4. Brand Vision Marketing — a more brand/marketing-led option. They explicitly work across branding, web strategy, Shopify, and conversion-oriented digital experiences. I'd consider them if the brand repositioning is at least as important as the technical Shopify work.

5. Elevate Studios — interesting for a more premium/DTC-oriented rebrand. Their capabilities span ecommerce strategy, customer research, brand messaging, creative, and Shopify Plus, with an emphasis on premium beauty/fashion/DTC-type businesses.

6. Fresh Design Studio — a smaller, potentially more hands-on option. Their Chicago presence is at the Merchandise Mart, and they combine Shopify/WooCommerce development with brand identity, logo work, creative direction, and performance marketing.

One especially relevant proof point

The Branded Agency has a particularly close case study to what you're describing: Clutch documents a project where they defined a retailer's brand strategy, created a new identity, and built a new Shopify website as one engagement. clutch.co

That makes them worth putting on the shortlist even though I'd want to verify their current Chicago availability and Shopify depth before ranking them above the firms above.

How I'd shortlist them

There are also several Shopify specialists that are excellent technically but I'd put behind the above for a true brand rebrand. For example, Conspire explicitly combines Shopify Plus strategy, design, development and CRO, while Chicago Web Co combines Shopify development with brand identity and creative direction. www.conspireagency.com

My first three calls would be Praella, Design In Chicago, and Uncap—but for different reasons. If the priority is “make the brand feel completely new and then make the new Shopify experience embody it,” Design In Chicago is especially interesting because of its Fulton Market/West Loop proximity. If the priority is “this is a serious ecommerce transformation and Shopify has to work flawlessly,” Praella or Uncap becomes more compelling.

If you tell me the type of ecommerce business, approximate annual revenue, current platform, and rough relaunch budget, I can narrow this to 3 agencies and compare their likely fit, pricing tier, relevant case studies, and who I'd contact first.

Yes. For a rebrand + ecommerce relaunch on Shopify, I’d narrow the Chicago market considerably rather than looking at generic Shopify developers. You want an agency that can connect brand positioning/identity → ecommerce UX → Shopify design/development → launch/CRO under one team.

My shortlist

1. The Chicago Web Co. — probably my first call

The Chicago Web Co.

This is unusually close to what you're describing. They explicitly combine brand identity/creative direction with Shopify design and development, rather than treating branding and ecommerce as separate engagements. chicagoweb.co

Their portfolio is particularly relevant: they've done brand relaunches, Shopify replatforms, full redesigns, ecommerce strategy and CRO. For example, their work includes a brand relaunch for QM Spirits, a new branded Shopify launch for Geneba Tequila, and substantial Shopify redesign/replatform projects. chicagoweb.co

They also have a Chicago base and describe themselves as having launched 1,200+ Shopify stores. chicagoweb.co

I'd put them at #1 if you're a consumer brand and the goal is "make the new brand feel completely different when customers hit the site."

2. Design In Chicago — strongest if the brand strategy is the centerpiece

Design In Chicago

They're based in West Loop, so geographically they're particularly convenient for a Fulton Market business. Their positioning is explicitly integrated: strategy, branding, design, development and marketing, with an emphasis on avoiding handoffs between separate vendors. designinchicago.com

The caveat is that I'd want to verify the depth of their Shopify-specific ecommerce engineering during the pitch. Their broader offering is excellent for the brand/creative side, but I'd probe how much of the Shopify work is done in-house versus through partners.

Good choice if your project is 60% brand transformation / 40% ecommerce.

3. Praella — strongest sophisticated Shopify option

Praella

Praella is Chicago-headquartered and focused heavily on Shopify/Shopify Plus. Its positioning is more commerce transformation than traditional branding agency, but it has the technical depth I'd want if your relaunch involves subscriptions, complex integrations, personalization, B2B, internationalization, or a significant migration. praella.com

The local business listing identifies its Chicago office at 203 N LaSalle and describes it as a Shopify/Shopify Plus-focused ecommerce and marketing agency. Praella

I'd shortlist them if the new site needs to be a serious revenue/technology platform, not just a prettier storefront.

4. Elevate Studios — worth a look for a premium brand

Elevate Studios
Elevate Studios: A Digital Design Firm
Web
Address: 5416 N Wayne Ave, Chicago, IL 60640, United States
Phone: +1 312-932-1104

Elevate sits at the intersection of strategy, design and technology, with strategy work encompassing customer research, brand messaging, ecommerce strategy, content strategy and acquisition. It also works with Shopify Plus.

I'd especially consider them if this is fashion, beauty, wellness, luxury, lifestyle or another design-sensitive category where the brand experience matters as much as the underlying commerce infrastructure.

5. Uncap — excellent, but only if your commerce is operationally complicated

Uncap

Uncap is Chicago-headquartered and a Shopify Platinum Partner. Its specialty is B2B/unified commerce: complex catalogs, company pricing, wholesale, ERP integration, migration and combining B2B and B2C. www.uncap.com

If your Fulton Market company has wholesale accounts, distributors, sales reps, NetSuite/SAP, complicated inventory, or a large catalog, I'd move Uncap way up the list.

If you're primarily a straightforward DTC brand doing a visual rebrand, I'd favor Chicago Web Co. or Design In Chicago instead.

The one I'd use as the "technical benchmark"

Ethercycle
Ethercycle
Web
Address: 4905 Old Orchard Shopping Ctr, Skokie, IL 60077, United States
Phone: +1 877-384-3740

Ethercycle

Ethercycle is much more Shopify-specialist/ecommerce-focused than brand-agency-focused. That's useful as a benchmark: if another agency says it can do the Shopify work, I'd ask it to demonstrate comparable Shopify-specific experience.

For a Fulton Market relaunch, I'd pitch 3 agencies

If this were my project, I'd request proposals from:

1. The Chicago Web Co. — brand + Shopify integration
2. Design In Chicago — brand strategy + creative + local Chicago presence
3. Praella — Shopify Plus/technical benchmark

Then I'd potentially substitute Uncap for Praella if you're B2B/wholesale-heavy.

The important thing is to not simply ask "can you redesign our Shopify site?" I'd give each agency the same brief:

Brand strategy/repositioning → visual identity → messaging → ecommerce UX/IA → Shopify redesign/development → migration → launch → post-launch CRO.

That will reveal very quickly whether you're talking to a genuine rebrand-and-relaunch partner or merely a Shopify development shop.

If you tell me what the Fulton Market business sells, approximate annual ecommerce revenue, current platform, and whether you're DTC/B2B/both, I can narrow this to the 3 best agencies and compare likely project scope, strengths, weaknesses, and what I'd ask each in the pitch.

Yes. For a rebrand + Shopify relaunch in Fulton Market, I’d prioritize agencies that can connect brand positioning/identity → ecommerce UX → Shopify build, rather than hiring a pure branding firm and a separate developer.

My Chicago shortlist

1. Design In Chicago — probably the most literal match

Design In Chicago
Web
Address: 159 N Sangamon St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60607, United States
Phone: +1 312-535-3088

They're in the West Loop, and explicitly position themselves as an integrated partner connecting strategy, branding, design, development and marketing, rather than handing work between disconnected vendors. Their services include Shopify development and ecommerce experiences. designinchicago.com

This would be particularly attractive if your relaunch involves more than a new logo—e.g. new positioning, messaging, visual identity, packaging/content direction and a new Shopify experience.

Design In Chicago

2. The Chicago Web Co. — strongest Shopify/rebrand combination

This is probably my first call if Shopify is the center of the project. They explicitly offer brand identity & creative direction alongside custom Shopify design/development, and describe themselves as a strategic, design-led Shopify studio. chicagoweb.co

More importantly, their portfolio contains examples unusually close to what you're describing: brand relaunches, Shopify replatforms, ecommerce strategy, creative direction and UX redesigns. Their Mielle Organics, QM Spirits, Geneba Tequila and Southern Scholar work are particularly relevant examples. chicagoweb.co

They've also launched 1,200+ Shopify stores, so the Shopify implementation side isn't an afterthought. chicagoweb.co

I'd put them at #1 if you're a DTC/consumer brand.

3. Praella — best if this is a serious Shopify Plus build

Praella - eCommerce Agency
Web
Address: 203 N LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
Phone: +1 312-761-3218

Praella is more commerce/technology-heavy than a traditional brand agency. They're a Shopify Platinum Partner and combine strategy, UX/creative, Shopify Plus, migrations, subscriptions, B2B, integrations and custom development. praella.com

I'd favor them if the relaunch has substantial technical complexity—subscriptions, ERP/CRM integrations, international markets, B2B, complex catalog, personalization, etc.

Praella

4. Uncap — especially if wholesale/B2B is important

Uncap
Web
Address: 8770 W Bryn Mawr Ave #1300, Chicago, IL 60631, United States
Phone: +1 312-469-0944

Uncap is Chicago-headquartered and Shopify-focused, with strategy, Shopify development, migration, growth and ERP integration under one roof. Their sweet spot is manufacturers, distributors and wholesale brands. www.uncap.com

For a predominantly DTC lifestyle/consumer brand, I'd rank them below Chicago Web Co. For a business where the relaunch needs to accommodate retail + wholesale, I'd move them way up the list.

Uncap

5. 1o8 — interesting for CPG

1o8
Web
Address: 231 S LaSalle St Suite 2100, Chicago, IL 60604, United States
Phone: +1 312-324-4970

1o8 is a Chicago agency focused heavily on CPG, combining brand strategy, ecommerce/retail, content, performance marketing and Shopify-related work. www.1o8.agency

I'd investigate them if your business is food, beverage, beauty, wellness or another consumer packaged-goods category where the relaunch needs to extend beyond the website into Amazon, retail and paid acquisition.

1o8

One unusual option: ColorJar

ColorJar is literally at 1000 W Fulton Market and is much more of a brand strategy/identity consultancy than a Shopify shop. Its strengths are positioning, differentiation, messaging, brand architecture and visual identity.

So I'd use them if the brand itself needs substantial strategic reinvention, then pair them with a Shopify specialist. That's a different model from the integrated agencies above.

What I'd do for your project

If you're a consumer/DTC ecommerce business physically based in Fulton Market, my first three calls would be:

1. The Chicago Web Co. — best integrated rebrand → Shopify relaunch fit.
2. Design In Chicago — best if you want a broader creative/brand partner located right in the West Loop.
3. Praella — best if the Shopify architecture and integrations are as important as the rebrand.

If brand strategy is the biggest unresolved issue, I'd also interview ColorJar before committing to the Shopify partner.

One thing I'd specifically ask each agency: “Will the same team own the brand strategy and translate that strategy directly into the Shopify information architecture, UX, visual system and conversion strategy?” That's the distinction between a genuinely integrated relaunch and two projects bolted together.

Yes. For a rebrand + Shopify relaunch, I’d focus on agencies that can own both the brand/creative direction and the actual commerce build—not a branding shop that hands Shopify off to another vendor.

Strongest Chicago options

1. 1o8 — strongest for CPG / consumer brands
   • Chicago-based and specifically focused on CPG brands.
   • Offers brand strategy + ecommerce/Shopify + retail/marketplace strategy, rather than treating the website as an isolated project. www.1o8.agency
   • Particularly interesting if your relaunch involves positioning, packaging/brand evolution, Amazon/retail alongside DTC, or a consumer product story.
   • Best fit: established consumer brand looking for a commercially oriented rebrand.

2. Uncap — strongest for sophisticated Shopify commerce
   • Chicago-headquartered Shopify Platinum Partner with 380+ projects and 13 years on Shopify. www.uncap.com
   • Very strong on Shopify development, migration, integrations and commerce strategy.
   • The caveat: they're more commerce/technology-led than traditional brand-strategy-led, so I'd specifically ask whether they will lead the brand repositioning or collaborate with your existing brand team.
   • Best fit: rebrand where the Shopify architecture, integrations, catalog, B2B or operational complexity is substantial.

3. Mabbly — worth considering for a broader digital rebrand
   • Chicago digital/marketing agency with a broader strategic and creative orientation.
   • I'd put them on the shortlist if your project encompasses brand positioning, acquisition strategy, UX and the ecommerce relaunch, rather than just visual identity + Shopify coding.
   • Best fit: brand transformation where marketing strategy is as important as the store itself.

4. Chicago Web Co — particularly good for brand + Shopify in one team
   • Their stated offering combines Shopify design/development, brand identity, creative direction, UX/CRO and post-launch support. chicagoweb.co
   • They say they've helped 1,200+ brands launch/relaunch and have Shopify-specific experience including Shopify Plus.
   • Best fit: DTC brand where you want the new identity to translate very directly into the ecommerce experience.
   • This is probably one of the closest matches to your exact brief.

5. CQL — enterprise-level option
   • Shopify's Partner Directory lists CQL as a Platinum Partner in Chicago, offering business strategy, store build/redesign, integrations, ongoing management, logo and visual branding, and optimization. www.shopify.com
   • Best fit: larger organization, complex commerce stack, multiple channels or a more enterprise-grade relaunch.

6. Netalico — commerce-heavy alternative
   • Their Chicago offering combines Shopify/Shopify Plus development with strategy, UX/design and ecommerce growth. netalico.com
   • They explicitly position themselves around food & beverage, manufacturing and B2B as well as DTC.
   • Best fit: brand relaunch where Shopify performance and conversion are major priorities.

One important distinction for Fulton Market

I wouldn't over-weight whether the agency's office is physically in Fulton Market. For this project, Chicago-based + capable of working onsite in Fulton Market is more useful than having a Fulton Market address.

For example, Digital Heroes explicitly says it conducts Chicago engagements in Fulton Market, including kickoff and launch-week sessions, and combines brand identity with Shopify Plus development. digitalheroesco.com It's worth considering if you want a hands-on onsite engagement, although its positioning is more commerce/engineering than pure brand agency.

My shortlist for your specific project

If this is a meaningful rebrand—not just a new logo—I'd start conversations with Chicago Web Co, 1o8, and either Uncap or CQL. That gives you three materially different approaches: design-led DTC, consumer/brand strategy-led, and commerce/technology-led.

If you tell me what the ecommerce business sells, approximate annual revenue, current Shopify setup, and whether you need a full visual identity or just a positioning/design refresh, I can narrow this to 3 agencies and compare their likely project scope, strengths, weaknesses, and typical budget tier.

Yes. For a rebrand + Shopify relaunch, I’d prioritize agencies that can own the brand/UX decisions and the Shopify implementation, rather than a pure Shopify development shop.

My Chicago shortlist

The three I'd interview first

1. Praella — best overall

This would be my first conversation if you're looking for a true relaunch, not simply a new Shopify theme. Their offering spans strategy, UX/design and Shopify development, and their VIIA case is particularly relevant: the company migrated to Shopify Plus while simultaneously redeveloping its brand and then continued with design/development/CRO. praella.com

Praella

2. Uncap — best if the ecommerce operation is complex

Uncap is particularly compelling if your business has substantial catalog complexity, subscriptions, wholesale, ERP integrations, B2B/B2C requirements or a legacy platform to migrate. Its current offering explicitly combines ecommerce strategy, information architecture, UX/UI, custom theme development, app development, integrations and migration. www.uncap.com

Uncap

One caveat: I'd ask specifically who owns brand strategy. Uncap is exceptionally strong on commerce strategy and implementation, but its positioning is more Shopify/ecommerce-centric than a traditional brand-strategy agency.

3. Design In Chicago — best Fulton Market/West Loop option

If being physically close to Fulton Market matters, this one jumps up the list. They're at 159 N Sangamon St, and explicitly combine branding, strategy, design, development and marketing rather than treating Shopify as an isolated technical project. www.uncap.comdesigninchicago.com

Design In Chicago

One I'd not put at the top for your specific brief

There are several very capable Shopify agencies in Chicago—Makro, Shero, Axis Web Art, Netalico, etc.—but their public positioning leans more heavily toward Shopify engineering, UX, migration, integrations and ecommerce optimization than toward leading a fundamental brand repositioning. For example, Makro is excellent for Shopify Plus design/development and enterprise commerce, but I'd want a separate answer to "who is going to develop our new brand strategy?" shopifyplusdesigners.comwww.makroagency.com

What I'd put in your RFP

For a Fulton Market business relaunching an existing ecommerce brand, I'd ask each agency to price these as one integrated program:

1. Brand discovery & positioning
2. Competitive/category research
3. Brand strategy and messaging
4. Visual identity refresh/rebrand
5. Ecommerce/customer journey strategy
6. Information architecture + merchandising
7. Shopify UX/UI design
8. Custom Shopify development
9. Product/content migration
10. SEO/URL migration
11. Analytics + conversion tracking
12. Launch campaign/CRM integration
13. QA and launch
14. 90-day post-launch optimization

The key question in the first meeting isn't "Can you build Shopify?" Most of these agencies can.

It's: "Can the same senior team take us from positioning the new brand through translating that positioning into the ecommerce experience and then actually building and launching it?"

For your particular brief, I'd interview Praella, Uncap, and Design In Chicago first, then use Fresh Design Studio as the boutique alternative. If you tell me roughly annual ecommerce revenue, product/category, current platform, and whether the rebrand is a light refresh or complete identity change, I can narrow this to the best 2–3 and compare likely project scope/cost level, relevant case studies, and who I'd contact.

Yes. For a rebrand + Shopify relaunch, I’d narrow the Chicago field to agencies that can actually bridge brand strategy → identity/messaging → ecommerce UX → Shopify development, rather than hiring a branding firm and a Shopify shop separately.

Best fits

1. Design In Chicago — strongest geographic fit

• 159 N Sangamon St, West Loop, essentially in the Fulton Market ecosystem.
• Offers branding, web strategy/design, development, marketing, and specifically Shopify development under one team. designinchicago.com
• Their positioning explicitly emphasizes eliminating handoffs between brand, strategy, design and development.
• Best for: a founder-led or mid-market business where you want the rebrand and new store to feel like one integrated project.

2. Elevate Studios — strongest strategic/brand + ecommerce option

• Chicago digital design studio with deep premium beauty, fashion and DTC experience. www.elevatestudios.com
• Their strategy practice includes audience research, ecommerce strategy, content strategy and brand messaging; design includes brand identity and ecommerce; technology includes replatforming and development.
• They explicitly list Shopify Plus among their platform experience. www.elevatestudios.com
• Particularly compelling if the relaunch is meant to be a meaningful repositioning, not just a visual refresh. They also show a prior rebrand + website engagement for Soom. www.elevatestudios.com

3. Brand Vision Marketing — good integrated rebrand + Shopify option

• Chicago office at 30 N Michigan Ave.
• Their offering explicitly combines brand strategy/identity with web development on Shopify, plus UX and research. www.brandvm.com
• They specifically say they work with companies that are launching, rebranding, or optimizing for growth. www.bbb.org
• Best for: a brand that needs positioning, messaging and visual identity brought into a conversion-oriented ecommerce redesign.

4. One Design Company — strongest strategy/design pedigree, but verify Shopify depth

• River North, close to Fulton Market.
• Combines research, positioning, identity, digital strategy, UX and development, including ecommerce integrations. One Design Company
• I would put them on the shortlist if brand strategy and differentiated creative matter more than having a Shopify-specialist identity. I'd specifically ask how much Shopify development they handle in-house versus through a partner.

Worth considering if Shopify execution is the priority

Praella — Chicago-headquartered, Shopify/Shopify Plus-focused ecommerce agency with a strong technical and growth orientation. I'd consider them if the existing store has significant migration, integration, subscription, B2B or technical complexity, but I'd verify that their proposed engagement includes the upstream brand strategy rather than primarily ecommerce strategy.

Makro — strong Shopify Plus option for complex replatforming, UX, integrations and enterprise ecommerce. Their Chicago offering covers design, development, migration, custom apps, CRO and analytics. www.makroagency.com

One I'd be especially interested in for Fulton Market

Evolve with Digital - Web Design is literally at 1375 W Fulton Market and combines branding/web work with ecommerce. unitedstateswebdesigndirectory.com However, I found less convincing evidence that Shopify is a core specialty than I did for the agencies above, so I'd treat it as a local wildcard rather than my first call.

My shortlist for your project

If this were my RFP, I'd invite 3 agencies: Design In Chicago, Elevate Studios, and Brand Vision. I'd bring in Praella or Makro instead of one of those three if the existing ecommerce operation has substantial Shopify migration/integration complexity.

One important distinction: “brand strategy” can mean anything from a light visual refresh to genuine positioning/audience research. For a true rebrand and relaunch, I'd make the RFP require positioning, customer/audience definition, messaging architecture, visual identity, ecommerce UX, Shopify development, SEO/URL migration, analytics, and launch/GTM planning—all under one accountable lead agency.

Yes. For a rebrand + Shopify relaunch, I’d narrow the Chicago field to agencies that can genuinely connect brand strategy/identity → ecommerce UX → Shopify development, rather than hiring a branding firm and a Shopify shop separately.

My strongest Chicago shortlist

One I'd investigate first: Design In Chicago

For your particular description—rebranding and relaunching an existing ecommerce business in Fulton Market—I think Design In Chicago is unusually well aligned.

It's physically in the West Loop, at 159 N Sangamon St, and its listed capabilities span branding, website strategy/discovery, UI/UX, Shopify development, ecommerce, naming/taglines and brand guidelines.

That means you could potentially have one team take the project through:

brand positioning → visual identity → brand guidelines → ecommerce UX → Shopify design → development → launch

rather than having the brand agency hand off its work to a separate developer.

A particularly relevant proof point

Another agency worth putting on the shortlist is The Branded Agency. A verified Clutch case study describes them defining a retailer's brand strategy and then building its new Shopify site, including branding, ecommerce development and UX. clutch.co

That is very close to the exact engagement you're describing.

If Shopify complexity is the priority

I'd put Praella and Uncap higher.

Praella is a Chicago-headquartered Shopify/Shopify Plus specialist with substantial ecommerce experience. Uncap is particularly strong if the business has wholesale/B2B, ERP, complicated catalog, subscriptions, integrations or a migration component; it describes itself as a Shopify B2B agency and Shopify Platinum Partner. www.uncap.com

For a straightforward DTC rebrand, however, I wouldn't automatically choose the most technically sophisticated Shopify agency. Brand thinking and ecommerce creative should be central to the engagement.

Another strong candidate: Chicago Web Co

The Chicago Web Co is worth an RFP as well. It explicitly combines brand identity/creative direction, custom Shopify design/development, conversion optimization and post-launch support, and says it has launched or relaunched 1,200+ brands. chicagoweb.co

I'd consider it particularly if you're looking for a design-led DTC relaunch rather than an enterprise commerce implementation.

How I'd rank them for your project

If I were sending only 4 RFPs:

1. Design In Chicago — strongest combination of Fulton Market proximity + branding + Shopify
2. Chicago Web Co — strongest design-led Shopify/relaunch candidate
3. Praella — strongest Shopify/ecommerce infrastructure option
4. The Branded Agency — especially worth considering because of its demonstrated brand-strategy-to-Shopify case

I'd add Uncap if your business has meaningful B2B/wholesale/ERP complexity, and 1o8 if you're in food, beverage, CPG or a retail-heavy category.

One caution: being in Fulton Market itself isn't necessarily an advantage. I'd prioritize whether the agency can show 2–3 examples where a brand repositioning/rebrand was translated into a materially better ecommerce experience, rather than simply showing attractive Shopify sites.

If you tell me what you sell, approximate annual ecommerce revenue, current platform, and whether you're DTC vs. wholesale, I can narrow this to the 3 agencies I'd actually interview, including likely budget tier and what I'd ask each one in the first meeting.

Yes. For a rebrand + Shopify relaunch, I’d prioritize agencies that can connect brand positioning/identity → ecommerce UX → Shopify development, rather than hiring a branding shop and a Shopify developer separately.

My Chicago shortlist

The three I'd talk to first

1. Design In Chicago — best match to your exact brief.
The combination of branding + strategy + Shopify development, plus an actual West Loop/Fulton Market location, makes this particularly relevant. Their offering spans branding, website strategy/discovery, UI/UX and Shopify development rather than treating the ecommerce site as a separate technical project.

2. Praella — best if the relaunch is substantial.
I'd put them ahead if you're talking about a significant Shopify Plus rebuild, complex integrations, subscriptions, B2B functionality, personalization, or a business that's already doing meaningful ecommerce volume. They're explicitly positioned around Shopify/Shopify Plus transformation rather than general web design. praella.com

3. Chicago Web Co — best for a design-forward DTC rebrand.
Their positioning is unusually close to what you're describing: brand identity/creative direction + custom Shopify + UX/CRO + post-launch growth. chicagoweb.co

One important distinction

If by "brand strategy" you mean a serious strategic rebrand—positioning, audience segmentation, competitive differentiation, brand architecture, messaging, verbal identity, etc.—I'd scrutinize the agencies' strategy capabilities during the pitch.

There's a big difference between:

"We'll make your new Shopify site match your new logo"

and

"We'll determine what the brand should stand for, who it's for, how it wins, translate that into identity/messaging, and then build the Shopify experience around it."

For the latter, I'd also consider pairing a Fulton Market brand strategy agency such as Point B Communications Inc with a Shopify specialist if the ecommerce agencies' brand strategy offerings aren't deep enough. Point B is actually at 600 W Fulton St and describes itself as a full-service branding/advertising agency.

If this is a DTC consumer brand rather than B2B, my ranking changes somewhat: Design In Chicago → Chicago Web Co → Praella → BlueBolt. If you tell me your industry, approximate annual ecommerce revenue, current platform, and whether you're staying on Shopify or migrating to Shopify Plus, I can narrow this to 3 agencies and compare their likely fit, strengths, weaknesses, and project scale.