From country store to Shopify success: How CHO replatformed for growth

Discover how a Shopify migration supported CHO’s digital evolution, strengthened site performance, and delivered long-term marketing gains.

24 February 2026 6 minute read

Our impact.

50%

increase in total ranking keywords post-migration

576%

new keywords now ranking

50%

increase in SEO visibility since migration

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Founded in 1999 in Carlisle as Country House Outdoor, CHO has evolved into a leading UK retailer of clothing, footwear, and accessories. Supplying premium brands across lifestyle and fashion, CHO’s growth has been underpinned by strong digital investment and a loyal customer base.

 

A valued Visualsoft client since 2014, CHO became the very first brand to migrate to Shopify from our platform. The move wasn’t just about technology; it was about unlocking new opportunities to scale, improve efficiency, and future-proof their business for continued international growth.

 

 

A platform built for performance

 

The Shopify migration opened the door to a wide range of improvements: from streamlined checkout to enhanced marketing performance.

 

During the migration period, there were some natural constraints. PPC budget was reduced by 20%, affiliate partners (which had accounted for more than half of April’s revenue) were still in the process of migrating, and the brand temporarily paused international targeting.

 

Even with these adjustments, performance remained resilient and ahead of industry benchmarks, which typically show traffic drops of 15-30% in the early stages post-migration.

 

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Laying the SEO foundations

The SEO migration strategy was crucial in ensuring a seamless transition. Within the first two weeks post-launch, impressions had already increased by 16.8%, with branded rankings outperforming benchmarks.

 

While clicks dipped slightly in line with expected post-migration fluctuations, extended tracking data showed a 50% uplift in total visibility.

 

Key SEO outcomes included:

  • Total keywords up 50% (20.8k → 31.4k)

  • +6,633 new keywords ranking (+576%)

  • 6,003 keyword positions improved (+204%)

This demonstrated that while some early volatility is inevitable, the structural improvements on Shopify delivered a clear net gain.

 

 

The results: A strong step forward

 

The Shopify migration has already delivered measurable gains across CHO’s digital performance. In SEO, visibility increased by 50% post-migration, with the total number of keywords rising from 20,800 to 31,400. More than 6,600 new keywords began ranking (+576%), while over 6,000 existing positions improved (+204%). Although some keyword fluctuations were expected, the net effect has been a significant uplift in search presence.

 

Paid activity also remained efficient, even with a 20% reduction in PPC budget during the migration phase. Affiliate partners, which previously accounted for over half of April’s revenue, are now being reintegrated, thereby strengthening the multi-channel approach.

 

Despite temporarily pausing international targeting, CHO’s UK-focused campaigns continued to perform well, maintaining revenue resilience in line with - and in many cases outperforming - industry benchmarks, where early traffic drops of 15–30% are common.

 

Together, these results highlight how CHO’s move to Shopify has not only safeguarded performance during a major transition but also laid the foundation for stronger long-term growth across SEO, PPC, and marketplaces.


Migrating to Shopify was a significant step for us, and we couldn’t be happier with how it’s gone. The process was smooth, the performance has remained strong, and the SEO results have been especially impressive. The Visualsoft team guided us through every stage, and the move has given us a stronger foundation to grow in the UK.”

Anthony Irving - Managing Director, CHO
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