General Shopify Store: 25+ Examples + Proven Tips for Growth

A Shopify general store is a Shopify store that sells products across multiple categories instead of focusing on one niche. 

Think of it as your online version of a neighborhood general store, or like a 7-Eleven.  A single brand where shoppers can browse home essentials, lifestyle products, accessories, wellness items, gadgets, and more. 

Customers love the convenience of shopping for many products in one place. A general store on Shopify works the same way: one brand and a mix of product categories. 

In this article, we’ll look at more than the top 10 Shopify general stores that have nailed branding and customer experience. We’ll also break down proven strategies you can use to grow your general store in Shopify. 

What is a Shopify General Store?

Shopify general stores are online stores built on Shopify that sell a wide range of products across different categories. They don’t focus on specific categories. Instead, these stores sell home decor, fashion, cosmetics, food and beverages, electronics and various other items.

As a Shopify expert for over 10 years, I have seen countless benefits of running a general store over a niche store.

Benefits of Running a Shopify General Store Over a Niche Store

BenefitGeneral StoreNiche Store
Product flexibilityTest multiple products & categories easilyLimited to products within one niche
Audience reachBroader shopper base, appeals to many demographicsNarrower but more targeted audience
Scaling opportunitiesEasily expand into new verticals or create sub-brands laterMust expand within niche; harder to branch out
Upsell & cross-sell potentialWide mix of categories = more creative upsells & cross-sellsUpsells & cross-sells are limited to niche-related items

Upselling and cross-selling opportunities are huge benefits when running general stores. 

Shopify upsell apps like iCart help store owners to add upsells and cross-sells in their cart drawer. Every Shopify merchant has praised its simple drag and drop functionality that allows you to add upsell & cross-sell offers.

iCart, the best Shopify upsell app.

25+ Shopify General Stores That are Killing it in 2025

Rooftop Fruit

Rooftop Fruit, the Shopify general store

What it does: Consciously curated gifts, zero-waste goods, natural skincare, and various other lifestyle items that highlight AAPI/BIPOC/LGBTQIA+/women-owned brands. 

Why it works: This store’s editorial feel (journal, curation) plus a variety of products make their catalog feel intentional and mission-driven. Flat-rate shipping and clear names for product bundles increase the chance of buying. 

The General Store Spokane

The General Store Spokane's homepage

What it does: This general store has been running since 1946. The General Store Spokane is a family-run destination offering apparel & footwear, automotive, hardware, sporting goods, toys, and far more.

Why it works: The site leads with tens of thousands of products and free shipping thresholds. The long-standing local brand story and omnichannel presence (multiple departments and hardware tie-in) drive credibility and repeat visits. 

Best Choice Products

Best Choice Products, the Shopify general store

What it does: They have an in-house catalog spanning outdoor, toys, furniture, seasonal décor, gifts, and more, with free shipping worldwide. 

Why it works: This general store has a great mega-menu architecture. Plus, their “Trending Now” section routes shoppers fast to products. Clear FAQs (shipping, payments, manuals) and marketplace availability (Amazon, Walmart, Target) easily reinforce trust in customers. 

Mohawk General Store

Mohawk General Store's homepage

What it does: This is a Los Angeles retailer selling men’s/women’s clothing, accessories, footwear, bags, and beauty products from famous designer labels.

Why it works: Minimal layout, strong photography, and a precise mix of different brands work really well here. I especially liked their store’s grid layout that keeps discovery easy across many premium categories.

Treaty General Store

Treaty General Store, the Shopify general store

What it does: This is an American-made clothing brand, denim, and homewares with multiple store locations in Maryland and Delaware. 

Why it works: This store uses testimonials and “Locations & Hours” to add trust and a sense of community. The mix of apparel and home goods is tied together by an “American-made feel”. This makes the categories feel like a lifestyle store rather than a random general store.  

Tortoise General Store

Tortoise General Store's homepage

What it does: This general store sells curated Japanese home goods and lifestyle products. 

Why it works: I love this general store’s visuals. They have beautiful product art and category landing tiles that deliver a gallery-like experience. Their design also does not feel cluttered despite its huge collection of categories. 

Evita Peroni Store

Evita Peroni, the Shopify general store

What it does: This is a Danish brand known for high-quality hair accessories plus fashion jewelry, scarves, hats, and sunglasses. Evita Peroni Store has 35+ years of experience in selling fashion and accessories. 

Why it works: Their range is broad within a lifestyle category. Brand heritage, high-quality product photography, and clear sub-collections keep this store always fresh and relevant. 

MRSLM

MRSLM's homepage

What it does: A highly popular mix of categories like fashion, beauty, home & garden, and electronics with global shipping.

Why it works: This Shopify general store uses a classic general-store strategy: “always new.” Wide nav and promotional entry points funnel traffic into high-intent categories. The “free worldwide shipping” messaging also reduces friction for first-time buyers.

Brown & Hopkins

Brown & Hopkins, the Shopify general store

What it does: Rustic home décor, candles, sweets, seasonal gifts. This store is an online extension of its 1809 Rhode Island Storefront.

Why it works: Brown & Hopkins’ store design leans into the theme of heritage and seasonality (copy, imagery, merchandising). That “country” aesthetic becomes the brand glue that lets them show many categories without losing focus. 

Pearlriver 

Pearlriver's homepage

What it does: A beloved, decades-old general store in New York. It offers everything from ceramics and snacks to fashion and gifts, highlighting Asian culture.

Why it works: The catalog is broad but curated around an identity (Asian design/culture). Clear category tiles and storytelling (“About us,” press) show the variety of products available. This makes this site feel like an online department store and not a random product dump. 

#Shopify General Stores
11The Bitter Southerner 
12Shaw’s General Store
13Jefferson General Store
14Goods Store
15General Store of Minnetonka
16General Store
17St. Frank
18Happiest Baby
19Staples
20Buy it Carl
21Hauser
22Alo
23Flexfits
24Au Lit Fine Linens
25Quad Lock
26Skinny Teatox

Tips & Strategies to Run a Successful Shopify General Store

Treat it like a curated marketplace

A general store works only when it feels curated. Adding random products will lead to low trust & conversion.

Do this instead:
Pick a theme, vibe, or lifestyle anchor.
Examples: “Everyday home products”, “Modern family essentials”, “ Healthy food store”

This helps customers understand why your products belong together.

Build category pages that convert

General stores live or die by category. Your Shopify general store’s UI/UX should lead to product discovery faster. 

Best practices:

  • Use clean mega-menus
  • Build SEO-focused collections
  • Add lifestyle photos above product grids
  • Highlight “Trending”, “New”, “Best Sellers”

Test products fast

General stores typically sell many products. A successful Shopify general store doesn’t guess what the winning products are. You need to test which products are selling and which are not. 

See what buyers respond to, and slowly shape your store around the items that truly drive sales.

Follow a product validation cycle:

  • Add a test item
  • Run low-budget ads / TikTok organic
  • Track CTR, add-to-cart, and CPM
  • Scale winners
  • Remove under-performers weekly

Strengthen trust from Day 1

General stores can feel cluttered from day 1 if you're not careful. Build trust upfront from day 1.

  • Real reviews + user photos
  • Brand story page
  • Shipping & return clarity
  • Address & contact info
  • Social proof + press badges (if applicable)

Final Thoughts

A Shopify general store isn’t about selling everything. It’s about building a brand that feels curated, even if you offer a wide mix of products. 

Your store doesn't have to be perfect to grow. It just needs to keep moving, keep learning, and keep giving shoppers a reason to come back. 

Now go sharpen your product categories and make your general store stand out in a crowded marketplace. You've got this.

Shopify General Store FAQs

1. What is a general store in Shopify?

A Shopify general store is a single Shopify site that sells across multiple categories (e.g., home, accessories, gadgets) instead of focusing on one niche. 

2. How to build your general store in Shopify?

Start with Shopify’s setup checklist: pick a theme, create collections, configure navigation, add products, set payments/shipping, and launch, then analyze using Shopify vs Google Analytics.

3. What are the top 10 Shopify general store examples?

Strong, public examples often cited include Pearl River Mart, Mohawk General Store, Boston General Store, Tortoise General Store, Brentwood General Store, Best Choice Products, Rooftop Fruit, Brown & Hopkins, Treaty General Store, and The General Store Spokane. 

4. What are the best Shopify themes for general stores?

For large or mixed catalogs, merchants commonly choose premium themes like Impulse and Warehouse for mega-menus, robust filtering, and promotion blocks. 

5. What can I sell in a Shopify general store?

You can sell most physical goods across categories (home, lifestyle, apparel, gadgets), but you must comply with Shopify’s policies, payment rules, and applicable laws.

About the author

Vineet Nair

Vineet is an experienced content strategist with expertise in the ecommerce domain and a keen interest in Shopify. He aims to help Shopify merchants thrive in this competitive environment with technical solutions and thoughtfully structured content.