Supporting Shopify Partners & Creative Founders since 2012
Building and running a business is rewarding, but it's also relentless. Client work, product sprints, sales conversations, team management — the demands never stop. When you're busy serving others, the strategic work on your own business takes a back seat. Better positioning, clearer marketing, smarter pricing — all the things that actually move things forward keep getting pushed to the first of never.
That's where I come in.
Most clients come to me for one of two reasons. Something feels off and they want to improve it, or things are going well and they are navigating growth and the decisions that come with it. In both cases, the work is about strengthening the commercial core of the business so it becomes clearer, more confident, and easier to grow.
To achieve this, we concentrate our work in four key areas:
We look closely at what your business stands for and where it should focus. Then we make sure your time, energy and decisions are pointed at the things that actually matter.
We look hard at how you package and price your products and services. Then we make sure the business model actually supports the growth you're aiming for.
We shape your positioning into a clear, consistent narrative you can use everywhere, from your website and content to launches, partnerships and sales conversations.
We decide where to focus and what actually deserves attention. Then we turn that focus into campaigns, content and marketing that moves the business forward.
Most of my work is with agencies, app companies, and solo founders building products and services in the Shopify ecosystem. It's where I've spent the last 14 years, including seven at Shopify itself, and where I understand what it really takes to stand out and grow.
Most of the people I work with fall into one or more of the following:
Alongside Shopify Partners, I work with a small number of creative and digital founders who face similar challenges. These include design studios, SaaS teams, digital product businesses, and B2B marketers.
If you're building solo or leading a small team and want to make your business more memorable and more profitable, let's talk.
Engagements start from £695 p/m +VAT (if applicable)
Over the years I've refined how I work, and one thing I've learned is that fixed programmes rarely fit the kind of businesses I support. Most off-the-shelf frameworks are designed to be sold at scale, not to match the messy reality of what you're actually dealing with. I'd rather shape the work around where you are and what needs attention than force you through steps that don't apply.
Where possible, we begin with a focused kickoff workshop (ideally in person) to clarify priorities, challenge assumptions, and agree on what matters most. From there, the work continues through regular working sessions and async feedback.
Our work typically combines:
Some engagements begin with an intensive deep dive across the whole business. Others move at a steadier pace, focusing on the areas that need strengthening most.
Either way, we decide the shape of the engagement together, and it begins with a conversation.
Since starting my business, I've worked with Alvio, Archer Cooper, Beyond Tellerrand, Birmingham Museums Trust, Buunto, Cleverific, Colonna Coffee, Disco Labs, Forsberg+two, Fourth Wall Content, Gadget, Gorgias, Kno Commerce, Llanerch Vineyard, Mantle, Milk Bottle Labs, Noughts & Ones, Optizio, Recharge, RecipeKit, Space Squirrel, The Taproom, Sufio, Swanky, The Support Heroes, Three Acres, Tidio, Toward, Treen, Union Works, Venntov, We Make Websites, Whitecap SEO, Zapiet and more.
If you're wondering how this works in practice, here are answers to the questions that usually come up.
It's both (depending on what you need). A lot of my work focuses on positioning, offers, pricing, messaging, visibility, and the decisions that shape how your business grows.
I've spent 14 years working within the Shopify ecosystem, including seven at Shopify itself, and have supported dozens of agencies and app founders through positioning, pricing, and growth decisions. I bring pattern recognition from across the ecosystem, without losing sight of the reality of running a small business.
Most of my work is with Shopify Partners—agencies, app companies, theme developers, and specialist service providers. Alongside this, I work with a small number of creative and digital founders facing similar challenges, including design studios, SaaS teams, and B2B marketers.
I live and work from the city of Bath in the South West of the UK (GMT+1).
Absolutely. I work with clients in Europe, the USA (EST & PST), Canada and beyond. Some early starts and late finishes on either side may be required, but we usually make it work!
That's normal. Most people don't arrive with a perfectly defined brief which is why I offer a free consultation to help us work this out together.
No. Every business is different. Some clients begin with an intensive deep dive across positioning, pricing, and direction. Others move at a steadier pace, working through what needs strengthening over time. We define the shape of the engagement together.
Sometimes. I don't replace your team, but I do get close to the work. That can include shaping strategy, reviewing drafts, tightening messaging, refining offers, and giving clear feedback to help work ship. The level of involvement depends on what you need.
Some clients work with me for a few months. Others stay longer for ongoing advisory and accountability.
Yes! I'm happy to be added to one or two dedicated channels in your Slack workspace (preferably via Slack Connect) and make myself available via email in-between sessions. I can't promise to reply within 2 minutes or even 2 hours, but I will get back to you within 24 hours (often much sooner).
Of course, please get in touch, and I'll join the dots.
My reputation rests on the fact that I keep our conversations private. However, if you want me to sign an NDA/confidentiality agreement, please let me know in my initial survey, and we can work it out together.
Engagements typically range from £695‐£1,995 per month +VAT (if applicable), depending on the depth and level of my involvement.
Pricing depends on the breadth of the work, the level of involvement required, and the pace you want to move at. A focused advisory rhythm looks different from an intensive reset across multiple areas of the business.
Engagements often evolve over time. Some begin with concentrated work to reset positioning, pricing, and direction, then scale into a steadier rhythm focused on accountability and ensuring the right things get done. We'll agree the scope and structure together before anything begins.
No. There's no long-term tie-in unless we explicitly agree one. Most engagements are month-to-month, and we review regularly to ensure the work still makes sense.
Politely, no. Our agreement will cover a fixed period and account for the eventuality of you, and occasionally me, taking time away from our businesses. I'll ensure we recognise this at the outset, so neither of us feels hard done by!
However, you can press pause on our agreement in case of a family emergency or something of similar seriousness.
I issue all invoices on the first of the month in advance on seven-day payment terms. I will issue a pro-rata invoice if we start work halfway through a month.
Whilst direct wire transfer is preferred, I am happy to accept payment by credit/debit card. Feel free to mention this in our initial conversation.
I do. My invoice will include full details for international bank transfers. If this is a concern, let's talk about it.
I own and run a registered UK limited company incorporated in 2004. It's listed as Metro 55 Limited #05243642, and I trade as "Keir Whitaker" for simplicity.
Yes, my UK VAT registration number is #177672955. If applicable, VAT will be charged at 20% and clearly stated on the invoice.
I love to travel and am happy to get on a train or plane to meet you in person. All reasonable travel expenses will be agreed upon in advance, and I will pass on copies of all receipts with my invoice.
UK meetings outside of the South‐West generally require train fare and a single night's accommodation. For longer trips, I respectfully request flights and a minimum of two nights' accommodation (i.e. the night before the meeting and the night of our meeting. This means we can get the most from our time together).
Book a call to talk through what you're working on, ask questions, and see whether this kind of support would be useful. No pitch, no obligation — just a straightforward conversation.
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